Jos Strengholt

Jesus - the comforting name of God

In Exodus 3, we read how God reveals his name to Moses. Jesus Christ appropriates this name of God, and is revealed to be the ever-present 'I am' who has come for the salvation of the weak. In this article I have used some thoughts from a sermon by Pope Benedict XVI. >>Download the article

Short history of Arab Christian radio

In 1957, the first Arabic Christian radio broadcasts began. In 2008, I wrote my doctoral thesis on the history of this segment of transnational radio. The book of 996 pages can be purchased from me – but you may be interested in reading my conclusions of 30 pages only. I describe the history of Arabic Christian radio from the perspective of contextualization and indigenization. Hopefully you enjoy reading this! The book dates from 2008. >>Download the pdf here

Beginning of Christian Radio Broadcasts to the Arab World

Radio ELWA (‘Eternal Love Winning Africa’) was the first organization that began a long-term radio ministry of Arabic

Christian programs. It did so from 1956 until 1990, when its studios and transmitters in Liberia were taken over by rebels and destroyed. This paper describes the organization and its history, its beliefs, and its programming philosophies. The central question is to what extent these programs were contextually suitable.
Download the pdf here.

First Christmas in The Netherlands in 13 years

It is 13 years ago that we were in our home country, The Netherlands, during the Christmas season. During the past 13 years we usually celebrated the birth of our Lord in Cairo, Egypt. In The Netherlands, we have the privilege of being able to use the house of a friend who is gone on a world journey. It will be great for my wife Adrienne (see pic, speeching at BibleLands in the UK), my daughter Justine (15) and me, to be united with our two daughters Stephanie (21) and Rosemarie (18). These girls study in Utrecht. Rosemary turns 19 on 13 December, so we also have to the joy of celebrating her birthday together!

Just Chatting

Copt killing this Christmas

On the evening of 6 January, when the Coptic-Orthodox celebrate Christmas, seven people were killed in front of a Church in Nag Hammady. What a tragedy. And why do journalists each time when we have incidents of this sort in Egypt, say that attacks against Christians are rare? See VOA

Surat al-Fatiha

Under 'studies' I have placed some self-study I am doing in the Qur'an - just a feeble beginning. Have a look and let me know my mistakes ;-)

Coptic Studies

Under the Studies button, you can find some lectures I have recently (February- March 2008) held in our church here in Maadi (Egypt). I will probably continue to work on them as I happen to be a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to historical truth and the shape of documents. Oh, if only I had been a native English speaker. I hope you enjoy these and the other papers of mine that will slowly appear here.