The Middle East, the birthplace of so many religions, seems always to be a place of discord. Recent revolutions in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia are still being played out, the consequences uncertain. A civil war in Syria is killing thousands of civilians. Iran’s suspected drive to build nuclear weapons may bring vast destruction to the region.
Then there is the issue of Palestine. Since the early 20th century, there has been strife over this area of the West Bank of the Jordan River, home to the birthplace of Jesus and much of his ministry. Conquered by Israel in the 1948 war, the Israeli government has instituted increasingly harsh control over its largely Arab population.
In March, the Rev. Anita Warner, pastor of Morgan Hill’s Advent Lutheran Church, was invited to visit Palestine as part of a group of 15 pastors and spouses. The object was to view holy sites in the life of Jesus and learn what life is like now for residents of this troubled territory.
Her host was Bright Stars of Bethlehem, a nonprofit organization founded to support and spread the word about the many outreach ministries of Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, led by the Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb and other bright and faithful leaders. Outreach ministries include:
• Dar al-Kalima (Home of the Word) School, a K-12 educational institution dedicated to preparing students for the challenges of the 21st century
• Dar al-Kalima Health and Wellness Center, several clinics focusing on preventative medicine
• Dar al-Kalima College, the first Christian college in the area to offer advanced training in subjects like the arts and communication.
Warner was impressed by her visit this summer to the historical locations so many people can only read about in the Bible.
“It was awe-inspiring to inhabit the landscape described in Scripture, places where Jesus himself lived and walked,” she said.
And she found it gratifying to be able to visit and worship with Arab Christians who are practicing their faith in its birthplace, led by Arab pastors who worship in the ancient language of the region.
But she was disheartened to see the harsh conditions under which they are forced to live. For example, Israel has erected 26-foot walls and more than 650 checkpoints along the roads of the occupied area. Palestinians have to stop at each to show identity documents and endure inspections before continuing on. Israelis don’t have to stop, and her party carrying American and German passports was ushered to the front of the lines.
This can cause enormous burdens on Palestinian travelers. She tells the story of the Rev. Ashraf Tannous, a pastor who lives in Ramallah and conducts his ministry in Jerusalem. This 10-mile trip can take four to six hours due to long lines and lengthy delays at checkpoints.
Tannous relates the story of a 5-year-old parishioner who waited four months for a medical appointment at a Jerusalem hospital. When his family tried to keep it, they were blocked from entering Israel because they lacked the proper permit for this trip. Only after Tannous appealed to Israeli bureaucrats for most of a day was the child allowed to continue on and receive necessary medical treatment.
Warner saw many examples of the humiliation Palestinians endure during her nine-day stay.
“Most Americans hear ‘Palestinian’ and think ‘terrorist.’ But this is not the truth,” she said. “The vast majority of Palestinians are ordinary people raising families, working jobs and practicing their faith under very difficult conditions.”
For more information, visit www.brightstarsbethlehem.org or call Advent Lutheran Church at (408) 779-3551.
