Q and A
Who is on a Sojourn in the Middle East?
While our organization primarily supports Middle East churches, anyone from anywhere can be on a sojourn in the Middle East. A local Middle East shopkeeper, a Middle East pastor, an American student, an American tourist, a Nigerian church worker, a Japanese journalist. Anyone. If you feel called-out and you're on a sojourn in the Middle East, we want to support you.
Why have you started a new organization?
In short, efficiency and effectiveness for the long-term. After getting married, Abla and Brennen searched for an organization that shared their convictions and interests and understanding of life and work in the Middle East. Both Abla and Brennen wanted to find an organization that would engage Middle East communities with a higher level of cultural understanding and cultural competence than they had seen and experienced. Ultimately, they decided the most efficient use of their time and partners’ donations would be to start an organization.
Why is “support” in the name of this organization?
After so many years of interaction with the international community of Middle East workers, one of the primary needs we observed was the need for support: spiritual, relational, and academic support. That's what we want to provide.
Do you realize the initials of this organization spell “mess?”
Middle East Sojourn Support’s acronym, MESS, is a light-hearted acknowledgement that people everywhere, ourselves included, can be a mess! The Middle East, in particular, with it’s millennia of history, cosmopolitan mega-cities, varied and sometimes harsh arid climate, ethnic and religious diversity and conflict, competing media and political narratives, can seem like an extraordinary “mess.” Life is mess-y. We love life and love the Middle East and want to offer loving support.
Will MIDDLE EAST SOJOURN SUPPORT only be comprised of Brennen and Abla, or can others join?
We definitely want others to join! If you have a heart for blessing all peoples of the Middle East, and are looking for an organization to support you, please reach out to us. mess@messvision.org
How long will MIDDLE EAST SOJOURN SUPPORT last?
We’re in it for the long haul. We have life-long relationships with people in the Middle East, and people who work to bless people in the Middle East. Our plan is that the rest of our lives will be spent working for MIDDLE EAST SOJOURN SUPPORT.
Are you a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit?
Not yet. Allegro Solutions is a 501(c)3 organization that is able to handle our finances and offer our donor partners receipts for tax purposes. Allegro's capacity is quite large and will definitely be able to handle all of our finances and compliance issues until some point in the future when MIDDLE EAST SOJOURN SUPPORT has not only attained 501(c)3 status, but has the capacity to handle the financial receipting and reporting on our own.
What are some big future goals?
In the coming years we hope that other likeminded workers will join MIDDLE EAST SOJOURN SUPPORT as we seek to provide spiritual, relational, and academic support to those called to bless all peoples of the Middle East. We want MIDDLE EAST SOJOURN SUPPORT to be a place known for engaging the Middle East with a high level of cultural understanding and cultural competence.
We would like to raise enough financial support to be able to sponsor two-years of language study at the Kelsey Arabic Program for young people or two years of academic study in Jerusalem study for others. While young people undergo their studies, we can provide support and mentoring.
We hope that our organization will be a strong resource for anyone who is interested in blessing the Middle East.
We also hope to expand our supervisory board. If you have experience that you think would be supportive of MIDDLE EAST SOJOURN SUPPORT and you would like to participate in supervising us, please let us know.
Have you raised financial support before? How did you live all those years in Jordan and Jerusalem?
Over the past two decades, both Brennen and Abla have found livelihoods that included support raised as well as jobs worked. Brennen, in particular, was able to save money from his US government job that paid for his language schooling in Amman, and Master of Arts degree in Jerusalem.
What are your favorite places in the Middle East?
Brennen: Mount of Olives, because that is where Abla and I decided to get married! Also, it’s a great view of Jerusalem.
Abla: Marj Al Hamam in Amman, because it was a beautiful neighborhood that was my first home away from home.
Is the Middle East dangerous?
No and Yes. Not like media narratives would have you believe. Having said that, while we lived in Jerusalem, there was violence around us. With our years of experience in the Middle East culture, we understand how to avoid most dangerous situations.
Brennen previously worked for the US Government, speaks Arabic, and got a M.A. at Hebrew University. Would he consider using his degree and language skills to work for the US Government?
No, Brennen and Abla both plan to work for MIDDLE EAST SOJOURN SUPPORT the rest of their lives. Brennen thoroughly enjoyed working for the US Government for a period of three years and is very thankful for what he learned about the Middle East and diplomacy during those years. The faith-based, community-oriented work of MIDDLE EAST SOJOURN SUPPORT could be seen by many as "soft diplomacy." Politics and foreign policy affect the lives of us all, sometimes affecting Middle East lives on a daily basis. MIDDLE EAST SOJOURN SUPPORT will acknowledge political conversations that take place and participate where appropriate.
Do you have a question that you wish was answered here? Please email it to us at mess@messvision.org