Gordon McBain, BMS World Mission Regional Secretary for The Middle East and North Africa, comments on recent events in Palestine.
Many of you will be aware of the dreadful situation that is currently happening in Gaza and the south of Israel. This is yet another example of how years of hatred and bitterness have spilled over into mindless violence, injury and killings. As I write this, the world’s news agencies have just announced another tragedy with the bombing of a UN school in Gaza.
It would be easy to feel defeated and helpless as the cycle of violence continues. Yet I believe that as Christians there is much that we can do to help alleviate the suffering that has become an everyday event.
Earlier last year BMS World Mission formalised partnerships with Baptist groups in both Israel and Palestine. These are groups who are trying to bring about change through peaceful methods rather than through bombs and tanks. Christians there are using the power of prayer, dialogue and social care to change things for the better.
In the past few days BMS World Mission has contacted its partners in Israel and Palestine and asked how British Christians can best support them in this time of need. The response was one of gratitude requesting that we stand with them in prayer. Bethlehem Bible College, (one of our partners in the West Bank) is presently caring for some students from Gaza who had to leave their homes owing to the dreadful situation there even before the latest crisis. The college feels called to try and help in practical ways and at the moment is gathering supplies of food, clothing and medicines that can be taken into Gaza to help alleviate the suffering there and show Christ’s love in practical ways.
You can help with this by contributing to the
BMS relief appeal, joining with our partners in
prayer, and lobbying the British government to do everything it can to bring an end to the senseless violence being experienced by ordinary Gazans and Israelis.