Building Sustainable Churches and Ministries in the Middle East

Unlocking Capacity, Accelerating Sustainability

Across the Middle East, churches and ministries live under constant tension: how to sustain their mission in the face of scarce resources, fragile structures, and heavy dependence on foreign support. Many leaders serve faithfully but carry a deep burden, never knowing if tomorrow’s needs will be met or if external funding will suddenly disappear.

This challenge is not simply financial; it is spiritual and strategic. Without reliable models of sustainability, ministries often remain vulnerable, unable to plan for the long term, and limited in their capacity to reach their full Kingdom potential.

The NABLA Initiative, launched in 2018, was founded to respond to this urgent challenge. We believe the situation must change. Our mission is to “build the capacity of churches, ministries, and businesses in the Middle East to advance sustainability and expand Kingdom impact.” Guided by the motto “Unlocking Capacity, Accelerating Sustainability,” we equip leaders with the vision, theology, and tools to thrive in their God-given mission.

The NABLA Sustainability Cycle: A Pathway Forward

Three years ago, out of this pressing challenge, we began developing the NABLA Sustainability Cycle, a framework that connects biblical truth with practical strategies. The cycle rests on four interconnected areas:

1. Generosity – Cultivating a joyful culture of giving rooted in God’s grace.

2. Financial Discipleship – Training believers to align daily financial decisions with biblical stewardship.

3. Resourcing – Mobilizing funding creatively through partnerships, hybrid models, and entrepreneurial initiatives.

4. Accountability – Building transparency and governance that earn trust and strengthen witness.

Together, these four areas form a cycle that empowers ministries to move from fragile dependency to resilient, self-sustaining impact.

Linking to the Hybrid Model: Lessons from ASM601

This past year, as part of my Executive MBA studies at Bakke Graduate University, I engaged in ASM601: Organizational Assessment. The course was transformative. It provided me with tools to evaluate organizational health, diagnose strengths and weaknesses, and frame strategic questions.

Applying these insights to NABLA was eye-opening. It confirmed that donor dependency is not sustainable. If ministries in the Middle East are to flourish, they must adopt a hybrid funding model that integrates generous giving with income-generating projects.

This hybrid approach is now shaping NABLA’s journey, anchoring us more deeply in the four areas of the Sustainability Cycle while offering churches and ministries a practical, faith-driven path forward.

Launching the Diploma and Looking Ahead with Prayer

As part of advancing this vision, we are launching the Diploma in Biblical Fundraising and Steward Leadership, a one-year program delivered in partnership with The Focus Group, a global consulting firm that has trained and coached leaders in biblical fundraising worldwide.

Together, we will serve 20 churches and ministries from across the Middle East through 12 modules that connect biblical stewardship with practical fundraising capacity and steward leadership.

This diploma represents one vital side of NABLA’s hybrid model, strengthening the resourcing pillar by equipping leaders to raise funds biblically and sustainably, while the other side will grow through developing income-generating projects that provide long-term stability and resilience.

We know this vision can only be realized through God’s grace and the faithful prayers of many friends and partners. We warmly invite you to join us in prayer:

For the 20 churches and ministries who will participate, that God would prepare their leaders’ hearts and multiply the impact of their learning.
For wisdom and excellence in delivering the 12 modules, ensuring they remain biblically grounded, culturally relevant, and practically transformative.
For the funding required to deliver this program faithfully, so that no barrier stands in the way of equipping these leaders for sustainable Kingdom impact.

Together, through prayer and partnership, we believe this diploma can spark a movement of resilient, generous, and visionary leadership across the Middle East.

For further communication, we welcome you to reach out at adel.azmi@nabla-initiative.org or visit us at https://nabla-initiative.org.

Adel Azmi

EMBA Student

Egypt