Dr. Rev. Raouf W. Ghattas, age 69, will be laid to rest on Sunday (Nov. 29, 2015).

The Murfreesboro resident passed away Wednesday, November 25, 2015. Dr. Ghattas was born in Cairo, Egypt to an Evangelical Presbyterian family. He received his B.S. from Cairo University and immigrated to the United States in 1976. He worked for 12 years as a nuclear engineer. God called him to pastor the Arabic Mission of University Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX where he served from 1985 - 1990. While pastoring, he earned both his M.Div. and D. Min. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary completing his doctorate in Muslim Evangelism.

Dr. Ghattas married the former Carol Brown in 1990 and they served together as church planters and evangelists with the International Mission Board from 1991 until 2011 living in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Egypt. They have two children, David and Nathan. The family returned to the United States in 2009 and lives in Murfreesboro, TN. In 2011, they established the Arabic Baptist Church of Murfreesboro.

Dr. Ghattas is also survived by five siblings, Samira Fahmy of Avon, CT, Ray Ghattas and his wife Heidi of Woodland Hills, CA, Aziza Ghattas of Cairo, Egypt, Ramses Ghattas and his wife Karen of San Diego, CA, and Renee Ghattas of Cairo, Egypt and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation with the family will be Saturday, November 28, 2015 from 4:00pm until 8:00pm at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be held Sunday, November 29, 2015 at 2:00pm at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery.