Sole Evangelical Church Continues Shining Light in Gaza Strip
After playing both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this week, U.S. President Barack Obama heads to Jordan on Friday.
Obama arrived in Israel on Wednesday for a three-day tour of the Middle East. He encouraged Israeli and Palestinian leaders to re-engage in peace negotiations—stalled since 2010—and affirmed both an alliance with Israel and support of Palestinian independence.
He avoided the controversial Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip altogether, a place where Gaza Baptist Church boldly shines the light of Christ.
“Many Muslims have seen Muslim fighting Muslim, and they have a lot of questions. It’s a great opportunity,” says a spokesman for Christian Aid Mission, your link to indigenous ministries. “This is a great time for reaching people in the Middle East with the gospel.”
Gaza Baptist Church is the only evangelical church in the Gaza Strip.
“It’s really good to have a Christian presence there where people can go to … when they want to find out what the Gospel is,” the spokesman says.
Along with weekly services, the church has children’s Sunday school classes and a new youth group. There are also programs to feed the hungry, support the poor and heal the sick. A retired physician currently heads up the church’s volunteer-run medical clinic.
