Martin Accad is director of the Institute of Middle East Studies at Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Beirut.
Martin’s articles that have appeared on EthicsDaily.com are available here, and his Skype interviews are available here, here and here.
1. Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Beirut and lived my formative years (3-18) through the Lebanese Civil War (1975-90).
2. What is your favorite Bible verse, book or story? Why?
John’s Gospel generally, but in particular John 3 and 4 – Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus and his encounter with the Samaritan Woman.
These narratives contain Jesus’ greatest challenge to institutional religion in which he doesn’t discredit religious tradition, but de-prioritizes it for his followers as the foundation of their identities, which offers a tremendous platform for interfaith relations.
3. What is one of your favorite movies? Why?
“Children of Men.”
Its strong messianic symbolism.
4. Who are three of the people you admire?
Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Ghandi.
5. What is one little known fact about yourself?
From ages 15 to 21, I had long hair, wore ripped jeans and boots and played lead guitar in a Christian heavy metal band called Empty Grave. Our band ministered to drug addicts and young people deeply involved in the occult. I view these years as my most fruitful years of ministry and the time when I learned most of what I know about incarnational ministry.
