Why tiptoe through life to arrive at death, safely?
STEWARDSHIP: Several years ago I responded to an opportunity to travel to The Middle East in order to better understand the persecuted and suffering church.
Brother Andrew on his 83rd birthday with Steve in Holland.
I was going in response to better understand how to “govern” as a Director for an organization called Open Doors, Brother Andrew and on this trip, Brother Andrew would actually be with us. So in going I could check the box and move on with being a “good Director.” But a funny thing happened and my world dramatically changed. I fell in love with and gained a passion for two people groups who, for the most part, are at odds with each other: Israel and the Palestinians. But within these two people groups I have deep love and wonderful opportunities within Gaza. And so I go… Why? I go to be a faithful steward of what I believe God has entrusted to me. I don’t go to be political, but I do go as an
ambassador of Jesus.
THE SETTING: What can one say about Gaza? Geographically it is about 5 miles by 25 miles with 1.5 million people. There are 3,000 Christians.
The Gaza Strip or simply Gaza, is a Palestinian enclave on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers (6.8 mi) and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km (32 mi) border. The Gaza Strip and the West Bank are claimed by the de jure sovereign State of Palestine.
The territories of Gaza and the West Bank are separated from each other by Israeli territory. Both fell under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority, but the Strip has, since the Battle of Gaza in June 2007, been governed by Hamas, a militant, Palestinian, fundamentalist Islamic organization, which came to power in the last-held elections in 2006. It has been placed under an Israeli and US-led international economic and political boycott from that time onwards.
Its infrastructure has been devastated by war, but the beauty of the Mediterranean sunset is breathtaking. In the distance are the ever-present gunboats of Israel. It is not a place that one puts on their ‘bucket list.’ As my friend, Dr. Mickey, said, “I was born into war and I live in war and now I will die in war. Nobody wants a Gaza.” On this trip, I am told that Dr. Mickey has died. He was unable to get proper medical care. Ironic that he was a doctor.
Graffiti is the wallpaper of Gaza City. Buildings and walls painted with hearts and hate and hope for peace. Garbage is strewn everywhere and the smell of open sewage is thick in the night air. There are no traffic patterns nor traffic lights. Children walk aimlessly in front of cars without care… ‘inshallah, inshallah’ (‘god willing’ or ‘whatever’- kind of a fatalistic approach). Most are still traumatized from the bombings and loss of family and friends. It is a strange land, but the people are resilient in the midst of what appears to be abject hopelessness.
Aside from the politics of this place, the streets were wild with excitement. Amazingly, everywhere all you saw were big, bright yellow Fatah flags being waved in front of Hamas soldiers.
But there is a church and, though small, they continue to exist and endeavor to be relevant in this land. Tonight we sat around the dinner table with a doctor, a CPA, and a school administrator who represent the leadership of one church. We spoke of their martyred friend and cousin, Rami Ayyad, and the affect that his death has had on the 3,000 followers of Christ who reside here. Sobering… but wonderful to walk side-by-side with these precious few. It is 4am… Allah Aqbar (‘God is great’) is blasting outside of the Marna House where we stay. It is more like “Rick’s Cafe” (movie “Casablanca”) with the smoke from the huka pipes, and the journalists, diplomats, etc.
It is both stimulating and sometimes, overload. As annoying as the noise from the Mosques can be, it is a refreshing reminder each morning that He is, indeed, great.
It is the Arab Spring… Driving in Gaza is not as bad as Cairo I am told, but I would think that it is a close second. It is crazy, dangerous, stupidity on display, and it is exhilarating. You have to be on your toes and you have to be daring. Last night was an Ernest Hemingway moment. Festivities carried us through the cities. Wedding parties were flourishing everywhere with celebratory caravans ushering the bridal party to all-night gatherings. Celebration and pageantry were everywhere. Blushing brides hiding behind their proud grooms. But on this night the brides and grooms had to compete because earlier in the day in Cairo the two ruling groups in Palestine, Fatah (The West Bank) and Hamas (Gaza) met to sign an agreement of unity. Aside from the politics of this place, the streets were wild with excitement. Amazingly, everywhere all you saw were big, bright yellow Fatah flags being waved in front of Hamas soldiers. It was a microcosm of what has been happening all over the Middle East. We walked in the midst of all of the celebrations and were greeted with smile after smile.
ENCOURAGEMENT: While there, several friends and I met with a ministry leadership team that must remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the subject and their standing in the community. The Church suffers, but it is not persecuted. In the weeks prior to our arrival there had been a rise in pressures put upon Muslim Background Believers. In what is already a difficult situation, the authorities have stepped up surveillance and questioning. Some of these believers have been roughed up. We met to strategize, pray, encourage, and answer their questions. They are deeply concerned, even to the point of fearing for their own well-being.
EVANGELISM: Later in the evening we were whisked away in the BLACK of night (I cannot express how dark this place is at night). We spent the next 2 1/2 hours with our new friend. The walls of his home were lined with the pictures of his dead sons who were recently killed. We met his neighbor who lost 3 sons at the same time. We hugged them and expressed our sorrow for them. What can one say? I cannot express via email who the first man is due to the sensitivity of his position (he is highly intelligent, a Doctor, a father and grandfather). Many who read this may think that we are foolish or even ‘traitors.’ But I believe that Jesus said to love our ‘enemies’ and to pray for our ‘enemies.’ I know that when Jesus was approached by Judas (to be betrayed), Jesus responded to his kiss by calling him ‘friend.’ When we left our ‘enemy’ we kissed him and we called him friend. He embraced us with hugs and with the eastern way of greeting, a kiss, and called us ‘friend.’ I sensed that our conversation about ‘Isa’ and reconciliation, forgiveness and love resonated with this man’s heart.
Was the world changed? I don’t know… I only know that I must obey the call of God on my life in whatever context and with the people that “God so loved.”
THE CHURCH: It’s funny how Jesus seems more precious and more real when you go to a place like Gaza. Yesterday we attended the Gaza Baptist Church. It is one of three times we would participate with them. These are special meetings because we are here and it is seldom that outsiders are allowed into Gaza. And, thus, Gaza suffers. It is true that a Palestinian believer was killed here five years ago, but more than persecution, the church here suffers. It suffers as the people of Gaza suffer. There is no freedom of movement, speech, supplies, family or friends. It has extreme affects psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually upon the people.
Earlier in the week I participated in the service at the East Jerusalem Baptist Church with my friend John from England. Germany, Malawi, South Africa, Holland, Nigeria, Canada, America, England, and Ireland were represented in the service. No one left after the service, but they all stayed to engage with one another in a genuine, loving way. The amazing thing was that on this day 25 people were in attendance, and yet, the world was well represented. It seemed like this is what The Church was intended to look like. It wasn’t “sexy”, but it was edifying, engaging, and without pretense. There was a longing to be in fellowship with one another and to love one another without any agenda.
THE TENSION: It is difficult not to make this political, but that is not why I go to these places. It is even more difficult to live at the tension point of the cross and to view the world through the lens of the cross. But Jesus has provided a way and it is that way that compels me to engage in the lives of all I encounter. Both Israel and Palestine need to see that Jesus is, indeed, enough. In living in this tension point I am asking for your prayers as never before. There is unusual opportunity and amazing
receptivity to us and to the redemptive message of Jesus. We are still praying and formalizing what our presence means and looks like, but we do know that our presence is of the utmost importance to these people and to these places. So I ask that you pray for the wisdom that is essential to participate in their cultural, the means (financially) to go, and continued favor with the Muslim leadership.
Thank you for allowing me to live out the call of God on my life.
