Middle East, North Africa, and Canada – Walid and Rima Bitar
| Country | Partner | Needs |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Bitar, Walid and Rima | Church Planting - Ministry to Arabs, Outreach programs, Translate teaching materials |
| Lebanon | Refugees - Housing, clothing, food, training - conferences for pastors, wives, and leaders | |
| Middle East | Training - Conferences for pastors, wives, and leaders | |
| North Africa | Training - Conferences for pastors, wives, and leaders |
Reaching Arabs for Christ – Middle East, North Africa, and Canada
Walid and Rima Bitar came to Canada for a visit and sensed God was calling them to ministry among the Arabic speaking community in Ottawa, Canada the Nation’s Capital. God used Walid to plant the first Arabic Evangelical Baptist Church in Ottawa and serve as a Missionary Pastor. Today this local church continues to grow, serve the Arabic speaking community as well receive and offer care to many refugees arriving from Syria.
Walid remains active in the Middle East and North Africa, partnering with Lebanon Intervarsity, equipping churches and leaders to reach the Arab world in this vast region. Two or three times each year he travels to the Middle East and North Africa, to conduct leadership conferences, seminars, and facilitate care to the refugees in Lebanon.
Walid’s Story
Walid Bitar was raised in Lebanon in Maasser el Chouf. When the civil war broke out in 1975, his home was struck and they had to move to Beirut. Again their home was hit, his family members sustained injuries and his eldest brother was killed as a result of the shelling. Walid found himself struggling with despair and unbelief as he wondered about his brother’s destiny after his death. For awhile, it seemed Satan had the upper hand. Walid continued on, pursued his education and felt drawn to the secular world.
Around the same time, Walid’s cousin visited and talked with him about salvation and God’s love. She gave Walid a Bible, which he put aside. February 1985, in despair because of the ongoing war and economical struggles, Walid got out of his car, looked up and saw a church. Compelled, he walked right in, heard a preacher talking about the message of repentance and faith. Walid was miraculously drawn to surrender his life to Jesus and become a child of God.
From that moment Walid started getting involved in ministry, serving in the areas of music, treasurer, and challenged to study Homiletics at Bible College in preparation for a preaching ministry. Along with exciting outreach and activity the Lord has blessed Rima and Walid with four wonderful boys, Karim, Daniel, Gabriel, and Andrew.
But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24
