Rev. Dr. Fahed Abu-Akel is Founder and Executive Director of the Atlanta Ministry with International Students Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia. He was born in Kafr Yasif, in the Galilee, of Christian Palestinian parents. He was ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church USA in 1978 and has served on the mission staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. Rev Fahed was instrumental for mission trips to Kenya, Haiti, Brazil, Egypt, Israel, and Palestine.
He has served the Presbyterian Church in numerous executive capacities including Moderator of its 214th General Assembly, General Assembly Commissioner, board member of the National Middle Eastern Ministries Committee, and member of the Outreach, Christian Education, and Peacemaking Committees of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta. He is former vice chair of its Advocacy Committee for Racial Ethnic Concerns and a past board member of the Christian Council and Interfaith Coalition of Metropolitan Atlanta. Rev. Fahed has been honored for his life-long dedication to interfaith dialogue and international understanding by many organizations. The National Conference of Christians and Jews honored him with the Clergy of the Year Award, the Arab-American Community with its Georgia Award, and the Greater Atlanta Presbytery with the 1998 Peace Making Award. Kiwanis International named him Outstanding Kiwanian and the National Presbyterian Men’s Organization honored him as 2003 Man of Year.
He has a BA from Southeastern University, a Master of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Divinity from the McCormick Theological Seminary. Rev. Fahed has served as Adjunct Professor of World Religions at the Interdenominational Theological Center and currently serves a member of the HCEF Advisory Board.