Carl MedearisThirty years of living in and traveling to the Middle East have given Carl Medearis (www.carlmedearis.com) a true insider's view of the region, making him one of a handful of American expert voices in the field of Arab-American and Muslim-Chritian relations.

Carl serves as a catalyst for a number of current movements in the Middle East that come together around the life and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth in order to promote peacemaking, as well as cultural, political, and religious dialogue leading toward understanding and reconciliation. He is the author of the acclaimed books on these issues: Muslims, Christians, and Jesus as well as Tea with Hezbollah, and most recently, Speaking of Jesus: the Art of Not-Evangelism.

Carl, his wife, Chris, and their three kids lived in Beirut, Lebanon, for 12 years. Through their unique and strategic approach around the Arab world, they encouraged university students, business professionals, and political leaders to live their lives by the principles and teachings of Jesus in order to change their societies and nations.

Today Carl spends much of his time working with leaders both in the Arab world and in the West with the hope of seeing the Middle East and the West experience full and fruitful relationships through Jesus of Nazareth. He is also the director of The Middle East Studies Program at William Jessup University.

Carl leads a grass-roots movement in America to reconnect with Jesus called "Simply Jesus," anchored in a yearly conference. Speakers include N. T. Wright, Philip Yancey, and Tony Campolo. Learn more at the website www.SimplyJesusGathering.com.

Carl has spoken several times at Harvard, been the Chairman of an Arab League meeting (in Baghdad), preached in mosques, churches, and universities across the Western world, and most of all he's loved Jesus, his wife, and his three kids. Read More Read Less