Arabic-speaking Christians in local churches
Arabic is the language of some of the oldest Christian communities in the world. Copts from Egypt, Chaldeans and Assyrians from Iraq, Syrian and Lebanese Christians of several traditions: many have their own churches in Britain, with liturgies in Coptic, Syriac or Arabic. But not every family lives near one, and many also join a local Anglican, Catholic or evangelical church, especially families with children at local schools.
For parents and grandparents who arrived as adults, English sermons can stay hard work for years. A live sermon translation into Arabic lets them follow the teaching, take part in a home group discussion afterwards and feel that the church speaks to them too.
Visitors and seekers
Churches that run English classes, food banks or drop-ins for asylum seekers often meet Arabic speakers from Syria, Iraq, Sudan and elsewhere. Some are Christians; others are simply curious, or come along with a friend. Offering Arabic means a first visit to church is not a matter of sitting through an hour without understanding. Be sensitive here: let people choose to listen, never push the QR code at them, and remember that some will not want their phone to show they were in a church.
How it works
- 01Scan
The QR code is on the screen or on a card. The page opens in the browser, with no account or download.
- 02Choose العربية
Arabic captions appear in Arabic script, read from right to left.
- 03Listen or read
With earbuds the Arabic voice follows the preacher by a few seconds. The original English text can be shown alongside.
Which Arabic?
Arabic speakers use very different dialects at home, from Egyptian to Iraqi to Levantine. The translation is in standard Arabic, the form of the language used in writing, news and much of church life, which educated speakers from all regions understand. It will not sound like a conversation at home, but it is widely understood. Bible names in Arabic follow traditions that differ between churches, and getting those exactly right is the hardest part; see Bible names and terms.
What the church needs
A laptop or phone for the broadcast, a feed from the mixing desk if possible, and a stable internet connection. In the settings, set English as the speaker language and add Arabic. The guide on privacy explains what happens to the audio: no recordings are stored, and text transcripts stay in the church's own archive.
Cost
A 90-minute service into Arabic uses 90 credits, regardless of how many people listen. Arabic only uses credits while someone is listening. See the pricing.