I met Elias Malki while I was pastoring in Burbank, California. The thing that impressed me most about him was his fierce faith. Having had the pleasure of welcoming Elias into my home and as a guest speaker in every church that I pastored, I can tell you that Elias was the real deal.

Elias and I had many great conversations. During those conversations, I knew that he was in my corner. He believed in me for the 14 years that we knew each other, through the good and the bad. He called me his grandson in the faith, and I called him Grandpa.

I will miss Elias in the momentary window between here and when I see Jesus. But, what comforts me and inspires me is that Elias ran the race all the way to the end. I know that there is now a party in heaven!

I know that I will see my friend one day, and we will celebrate and boast about what God has done. My hope is that his fierce faith will be a heritage for all of us to follow.

Rich Fry
Senior Pastor | East Bay Foursquare Church

I had the distinct privilege of ministering with Elias Malki in the Middle East on a number of occasions. In my estimation, he was unquestionably a bona-fide, present-day New Testament apostle according to 2 Corinthians 12:12—sent to the Arabic-speaking nations with signs and wonders following to prove his office. He was a true ambassador for Christ.

From my experiences with him, he was possibly one of the most recognized faces in the Middle East due to the television series. We couldn't stop at a light, fill up at a gas station, or sit down in a restaurant without someone recognizing him and coming up to talk. Muslims and Orthodox Christians alike called him “holy man.” He had such a great rapport with the entire region.

It wasn't just when I went overseas to minister with him; aside from the conferences and churches, it was like that all the time. He was utterly led by the Spirit, even in day-to-day activities. I remember we were driving and he suddenly slammed on the brakes. He pulled into a grocery store parking lot and said, “We’re supposed to go in there, Jim.” Bewildered, I followed him into the store. Inside, we found several people praying, just out of the blue. They were asking God, “If you’re real, send that holy man here to tell us.”And he came.

Things like this happened countless times—just these divine appointments. It was amazing to behold. Elias was constantly being supernaturally led into these encounters.

Spending time with Elias was like being caught in a startling whirlwind. Go, go, go! He was compassionate, but extremely intense as well. Two weeks of ministry with him was like a year’s worth. It was rewarding because of the God-orchestrated assignments, the experiences and encounters, but you came away completely exhausted!

Elias had an amazing passion for souls, and in his lifetime, he brought about shifts in the supernatural realm of that entire region. He has many spiritual sons and daughters, and I highly esteem his family—I have no doubt they will take the baton and carry Elias’ expression in ministry to the next level.

Renowned Bible teacher Dr. Myles Munroe – who preceded Dr. Malki into eternity by only three months - said these profound words: “We should die so successfully and leave a legacy behind that is so complete that no one will have to write anything on our tombstone.” Dr. Malki left such a spiritual legacy. No tombstone could hold the testimonies of all that God did in and throughout his life.

Elias Malki demonstrated to the world that he served a God that was as powerful as He was lovingly personal. I have often thought about the multitudes of Muslim families across the Middle East and Europe who listened to him talk about God in their native Arabic language. His descriptions of God as both loving and powerful must have sounded so foreign to their ears – not unlike Paul the Apostle talking to the Greeks on Mars Hill about the “unknown God.” They certainly did not know God as powerful or personal.

Yet with the anointing of God upon his life, Dr. Malki demonstrated that his God was powerful enough to heal cancer-riddled bodies – yet personal enough to know their names. His God was powerful enough to heal infertility and personal enough to care what troubled their soul. This was the revelation that he carried and that he broadcast on his Good News program to millions.

He impacted the lives of people in every station of life. World leaders and religious leaders were drawn to him. Poor refugees far from their homelands felt loved by him. And younger ministers – like myself, who had the privilege of traveling with him – were mentored by him just by watching and walking with him.

In Ephesians chapter 4, we are taught that the apostle,prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher - are gifts given to the church. It was clear that Dr. Malki was one of those gifts that God gave to the body of Christ. He traveled across the globe relentlessly sharing the gift of God that was within him to all who would hear. But what people often don’t realize is that when a man of God carries such a gift, it requires great sacrifice for the family to share him with the world. So to the Lord and to the Malki family, I say thank you for sharing the gift that Elias was with the rest of us.
Pastor Rita Langeland — Hidden With Christ Ministries