We are a non-denominational English–Arabic church located in Cary, North Carolina, serving the greater Raleigh area. We believe that God has ordained us to be a lighthouse in this city, shining the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all its residents, from every religious and cultural background.
We are called Ekklesia of Christ because the word ekklesia is the same term Jesus Christ used when He said, “I will build my church (ekklesia), and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
The word Ekklesia is a Greek word, the language in which the New Testament was written. It comes from two words meaning “called” and “out.” This forms the foundation of our Christian faith as the church: that Christ has called us to Himself, to come out of the circle of self-centered living and world-focused concerns, in order to reconcile us with God and to follow Him as Savior and the personal leader of our lives.
In submission to the leadership of Christ, we obey His command:
“Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15).
We believe that the church of Christ is the visible manifestation of Christ and His message to all mankind, and that message is salvation. The good news is that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world from sin.
We are Ekklesia of Christ because we are Christ’s church—called by Him to come out of the world to Him, to follow Him, and commissioned by Him to go into our city and reach all people with the message of His love, salvation, and freedom.
نحن كنيسة لا طائفية في رالي عاصمة ولاية نورث كارولينا وبالتحديد في مدينة كاري، رتب الله لنا ان نكون في هذه المدينة لكي نكون منارة تضيء بنور إنجيل يسوع المسيح لكل المقيمين فيها كل الخلفيات الدينية والثقافية المختلفة.
“إكليسيا المسيح” هو اسم كنيستنا وكلمة “إكليسيا” هي نفس المصطلح الذي استخدمه السيد المسيح عندما قال”…أبني كنيسَتي، وأبوابُ الجَحيمِ لن تقوَى علَيها.” (مَتَّى 16: 18). نحن نؤمن ان كنيسة المسيح هي الإعلان المرئي عن المسيح شخصياً ورسالته لكل بني البشر وهي الخلاص.
كلمة “إكليسيا” هي كلمة في اللغة اليونانية، اللغة التي كُتب بها العهد الجديد، مكونة من كلمتين؛ مدعوين – خارجاً. هذا هو أساس إيماننا المسيحي ككنيسة يسوع المسيح، ان المسيح دعانا إليه لنخرج من دائرة مركزية ذواتنا واهتمامات العالم ليصالحنا مع الله فنتبع المسيح كمخلص وقائد شخصي لحياتنا.
أيضاً، في خضوعنا لقيادة السيد المسيح لحياتنا، نحن نطيع وصيته عندما أمرنا “اذهَبوا إلَى العالَمِ أجمَعَ واكرِزوا بالإنجيلِ للخَليقَةِ كُلِّها.” (مَرقُسَ 16: 15). والأخبار السارة هي؛ ان يسوع المسيح هو مخلص العالم من الخطية.
لقد اخترنا اسم “إكليسيا المسيح” لأننا نؤمن اننا كنيسة المسيح التي دعانا لنخرج إليه لكي نتبعه وهو من كلفنا ان نصل لكل الذين في مدينتنا برسالة حب وخلاص وحرية المسيح.
We believe in the Nicene Creed
(the Church’s first statement of faith agreed upon by all Christian denominations)
The Nicene Creed is a foundational statement of Christian belief that originated during the First Council of Nicaea in 325 CE and was later expanded at the Council of Constantinople in 381 CE.
The doctrine presented in the Nicene Creed shaped Christian theological thought for centuries. It provided a robust, nuanced understanding of divine nature that continues to influence Christian theology, worship, and spiritual practice to this day.
We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made human.
He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried. The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead.
His kingdom will never end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life. He proceeds from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified. He spoke through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and to life in the world to come. Amen.
نحن نؤمن بقانون الإيمان النيقاوي
(أول بيان إيمان للكنيسة مُتفق عليه من جميع الطوائف المسيحية)
إن قانون الإيمان النيقاوي هو بيان أساسي للعقيدة المسيحية نشأ خلال المجمع الأول في نيقية عام 325 م وتم توسيعه لاحقًا في مجمع القسطنطينية عام 381 م.
إن العقيدة المقدمة في قانون الإيمان النيقاوي شكلت الفكر اللاهوتي المسيحي لقرون. لقد قدمت فهمًا قويًا ودقيقًا للطبيعة الإلهية التي لا تزال تؤثر على اللاهوت المسيحي والعبادة والممارسات الروحية حتى يومنا هذا.
بالحقيقة نؤمن بإله واحد، الله الآب، ضابط الكل، خالق السماء والأرض، ما يُرَى وما لا يرى.
نؤمن برب واحد يسوع المسيح، ابن الله الوحيد، المولود من الآب قبل كل الدهور، نور من نور، إله حق من إله حق، مولود غير مخلوق، مساو للآب في الجوهر،
الذي به كان كل شيء؛
هذا الذي من أجلنا نحن البشر، ومن أجل خلاصنا، نزل من السماء، وتجسد من الروح القدس ومن مريم العذراء، وتأنس؛
وصلب عنا على عهد بيلاطس البنطي. وتألم وقبر وقام من بين الأموات في اليوم الثالث كما في الكتب، وصعد إلى السماوات، وجلس عن يمين أبيه،
وأيضا يأتي في مجده ليدين الأحياء والأموات،
الذي ليس لملكه انقضاء.
نعم نؤمن بالروح القدس، الرب المحيي، المنبثق من الآب، نسجدُ له ونُمجده مع الآب والابن. الناطق في الأنبياء،
وبكنيسة واحدة مقدسة جامعة رسولية، ونعترف بمعمودية واحدة لمغفرة الخطايا، وننتظر قيامة الأموات وحياة الدهر الآتي. آمين
Pastor Mina Arsal serves as the Lead Pastor of Ekklesia of Christ. Before entering full-time ministry, he worked as a project management engineer. He holds a Master of Arts in Theology from Lucent University and has spent many years serving as a pastor throughout the Middle East, ministering in several Arabic-speaking countries.
Born in Egypt, Mina is passionate about faithfully teaching the truth of Scripture and helping others see the heart of the Father revealed through the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is deeply committed to discipleship through life-on-life relationships and believes that biblical hospitality is an essential mark of a healthy church.
Mina and his wife, Sally, are blessed with twins, Eyad and Farida. Their desire is to see healthy, gospel-centered churches planted in every country they serve around the world.
Pastor Joshua Mygatt serves as the Associate Pastor and Youth Leader at Ekklesia of Christ. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management and spent eight years living and serving in the Middle East, where he served as an elder in an Arabic-speaking church and learned Arabic.
Joshua is passionate about building healthy churches marked by a commitment to church involvement, biblical discipleship, and active engagement in the mission of God. He has a particular burden for evangelism and for raising up the next generation to joyfully serve the Lord Jesus Christ, grounded in a deep understanding of His love for them.
Joshua has been married to his wife, Kelsey, since 2012, and they are grateful to serve in ministry together as they seek to help people know Christ, grow in Christ, and make Christ known.
Kelsey Mygatt serves as the Director of Worship at Ekklesia of Christ. She has been leading worship for many years and, over the last five years, has had the privilege of leading worship in both English and Arabic contexts.
Alongside her husband, Joshua, Kelsey lived in the Middle East for eight years, where God deepened her love for cross-cultural ministry and the local church. She is passionate about worship that is rooted in sound theology, hospitality that reflects the heart of Christ, and creating spaces where people feel genuinely welcomed and cared for.
Kelsey enjoys meaningful conversations, a good theological discussion, and helping people connect with the Lord through worship. Her desire is to see the church grow in its love for God, one another, and the communities it serves.