Palestine (MNN) — Israel agreed four-hour daily breaks in the fighting with Hamas in Gaza City to let civilians out.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians are fleeing the city. Rev. Dr. Jack Sara, President of Bethlehem Bible College says this includes Christians.
“The Christian community in Gaza has been refugees for more than a month, hidden in churches. Many of them are actually lacking in many things. You are talking about children, women, men, the elderly, the sick.
(Photo provided by Bethlehem Bible College)
A Israeli airstrike On October 20, part of the grounds of St. Porphyry Church in Gaza City was damaged. At least 400 Palestinians, mostly Christians, had taken refuge in the church and 18 were killed.
The Palestinian Christian community is in mourning and cannot even offer tangible support between the West Bank and Gaza.
Dr Sara says: “We are unable to send anything because of the total blockade. So right now we’re hoping that something will happen so that we can send them as much as possible, whether it’s funding or food or medicine – not just especially for Christians, but also because we want to help others. communities who are suffering and struggling in the Gaza community.
Ultimately, Dr. Sara says Palestinian Christians in Gaza and the West Bank feel like a forgotten church.
“Part of the problem they see is that even Christians side with them, in some way, whether they like it or not. But that’s what the news reports…. So we feel hurt and frustrated.
“It seems like there are many – I don’t want to generalize – but my impression is that many Christians, including theologians, pastors and leaders, are on the side of war rather than on the side of peace. » Dr. Sara shakes her head, choking. “This shocks us. It’s hurtful here.
All Palestinians need the gospel as much as any other people in the world, and no one is safe from God’s saving love! The Palestinian Church is the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in an unimaginable tragedy, but it needs the support of the global Body of Christ.
(Photo provided by Bethlehem Bible College)
“I can’t understand how Christians could lose sight of the grace that could touch anyone, even those we might consider terrorists,” says Dr. Sara. “(The Apostle) Paul was a terrorist by our own definition!
“I think God’s grace can reach anyone. Jesus is capable of revealing himself to anyone in such a dramatic and difficult moment. There is no one beyond grace.
Please remember and pray for the Palestinian Church. You can send a message to Bethlehem Bible College here and let them know that Palestinian Christians are not forgotten!
“We need the prayers of saints around the world for the Church here to keep our sanity, to keep our prophetic voice in a context like this,” says Dr. Sara.
Pray also that Palestinian Muslims and Hamas terrorists in the West Bank and Gaza will know the full transformative power of Jesus’ love, mercy and grace.
Header photo courtesy of Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona/Unsplash.
