KUWAIT: Kuwait’s first Christian pastor, Emmanuel Benjamin Gharib, who has been shepherding the National Evangelical Church for 25 years, recalled how he started his journey of deepening his faith and knowledge of Christianity in 1986. It was then that he felt he received what he called “God’s calling,” urging him to make a life-changing decision by quitting his job in the petroleum sector and pursuing a theology degree at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo.

Ever since, his goal has been to continue spreading love and peace within the Kuwaiti community, which he describes as an already “open and tolerant society.” Reflecting on Kuwait’s unique social fabric, he noted: “Since its early days, Kuwait has been a melting pot of cultures, with people arriving from neighboring countries like Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, and later from other parts of the world. That is the secret to Kuwait’s success as a homeland of security, peace, and love.”

This harmony between Muslims and Christians, which he says has existed since Kuwait’s inception, is exemplified in the weekly diwaniyas held every Monday in the church. These gatherings welcome guests from all religions and segments of society to discuss various matters. Gharib follows the biblical principle that states: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

Gharib also expressed his gratitude for the freedoms Christians enjoy in Kuwait, particularly the ability to practice their faith openly. “We thank God for the freedom we have as Christians to conduct our religious practices in Kuwait,” he said. He also highlighted the government’s efforts, particularly those of the Ministry of Interior, in ensuring the safety of churches during special occasions. “We coordinate with officials who deploy patrols to ensure that worshippers can pray in safety and joy during these happy occasions,” he added.

The pastor extended his best wishes to all those celebrating religious occasions. “On these occasions, we congratulate everyone celebrating and pray that God grants them days filled with joy and happiness. It’s also a time to remember those in need and, by God’s grace, meet their needs to bring smiles to their hearts and joy to their lives.” Finally, Gharib emphasized the importance of staying rooted in religious values. He believes that adhering to these principles is essential for safeguarding oneself from impurities and harmful influences, particularly “in a world increasingly dominated by materialism, atheism, and moral deviations.” According to him, straying from these values inevitably leads to the decay of social values and morals.