Christianity in

UAE
- Faith on the move…
Praise Points:
Year of Tolerance
(2019)- UAE
 Every Friday in UAE, thousands of Christians
gather to pray at the same time of the Friday
prayers in the mosque.
 Muslims and Christians jostle for car-parking
space as mosque and church beside: a sight
unthinkable in many Islamic countries.
 Authorities allowing churches to be
refurbished and doubled : 35 church buildings
throughout the land. Water and electricity by
government at certain places. First church in
1968.
 Crematorium for non-muslims. Security for tens
of thousands by government.
 Kaleidoscope of denominations worship in
the same town (within same walls): strange for
Christian world; the Syrian Orthodox, Greek
Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant worship in
a big compound with small walls. Armenians
12 hours in Anglican church compound is
amazing.
Prayer Points:
Christian mission in UAE

 A diaspora community of South Asia in

Middle East: a search for greener
pastures: a mini South Asia.
 But a diaspora having a love for their
homeland, their own faith and practices.
 Vulnerable community: desperate and
lonely from home.
 An affluent vs needy missions.
 Next generation (youths) more
disappearing from churches.
Mar Thoma Church Youth
Organizations - UAE

 UAE Center: 6 Yuvajana Sakhyam sakhas.

 Some churches have both Yuvajana Sakhyam
and Youth Fellowship.
 Dubai Parish recently celebrate Golden Jubilee
50 years in UAE. Parish in Abu Dhabi celebrated
48 years and in Sharjah 40 years.
 Each Sakha has separate meetings focussing on
Worship, Study Witness and Service.
 UAE Centre meetings for both Youth Fellowships
and Yuvajana Sakhyam.
 Recently Gulf Mar Thoma Youth Conference with
more than 15 parishes across the Gulf sending
their delegates.
Abu Dhabi Mar Thoma
Yuvajana Sakhyam:
Outreach ministries
 Best Mar Thoma Yuvaja Sakhyam
continuously for more than 6 years.
 Adopted 2 mission fields in India
(long-term projects): Uppukuzhy,
Kerala and Doddabellapur,
Karnataka
 Labour camp ministry work
Thank You