Fields

• 1 Middle East ( 7 Articles )
  

  MERF's work in the Middle East is its primary region of ministry. The Middle East is a region that spans southwestern Asia, southeastern Europe, and northeastern Africa. It has no clear boundaries, often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. The Middle East generally has an arid and hot climate, with several major rivers providing for irrigation to support agriculture in limited areas. Many countries located around the Persian Gulf have large quantities of crude oil.

  The history of the Middle East dates back to ancient times, and throughout its history the Middle East has been a major centre of world affairs. The Middle East is also the historical origin of three of the world’s major religions--Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In modern times the Middle East remains a strategically, economically, politically, culturally and religiously sensitive region. Explore the various countries in which MERF is reaching out with the gospel of Jesus Christ in both word and deed.

  

• 2 Africa ( 5 Articles )
  

  North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Northern Africa includes the following seven countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, Mauritania, and Western Sahara. The Maghreb includes Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Maurtania, and Libya. The disputed territory Western Sahara (under Moroccan control) is generally included. North Africa generally is often included in common definitions of the Middle East, as both regions make up the Arab World. In addition, the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt is part of Asia, making Egypt a transcontinental country.
  
  The distinction between Northern Africa and the rest of Africa is historically significant because of the effective barrier created by the Sahara. Throughout history this barrier has culturally separated the North from the rest of Africa and, as the seafaring civilizations of the Phoenecians, Greeks, Romans and others facilitated communication and migration across the Mediterranean, the cultures of North Africa became much more closely tied to Southwestern Asia and Europe than Sub-Saharan Africa.

  

• 3 Asia ( 2 Articles )
  

  MERF ministers in South Asia and the Far East among nations that have been influenced by Islam. Presently we serve in the nations of Pakistan and Indonesia.

  Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.6% of the earth's total surface area (or 29.9% of its land area) and with approximately 4 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population. Asia is traditionally defined as part of the landmass of Eurasia - with the western portion of the latter occupied by Europe - located to the east of the Suez Canal, east of the Ural Mountains and south of the Caucasus Mountains (or the Kuma-Manych Depression) and the Caspian and Black Seas. It is bounded on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the south by the Indian Ocean and on the north by the Arctic Ocean. Given its size and diversity, Asia--a toponym dating back to classical antiquity--is more a cultural concept incorporating a number of regions and peoples than a homogeneous physical entity.