Maurice Gerges is the most influential evangelist in the Arab world for the last 60 years and was even referred to by some as "the Billy Graham of the Middle East". He passed away on March 26 at the age of 85

Dr. Yohanna Katanacho is the Academic Dean of Nazareth Evangelical College. He shared recently at Christ at the Checkpoint conference in Bethlehem and casted a powerful vision of what the Middle East might look like if the Kingdom of God was reigning here. “I hope my dream is not your nightmare!”

"Come and See" calls for support for the Larnaca Statement: Local and International believers are encouraged to sign and endorse the statement as an act of solidarity with Palestinian Christians and Messianic Jews “For He himself is our Peace” (Eph 2:14)

An unprecedented statement of Palestinian Christian and Messianic Jewish believers was issued last month after a consultation in Larnaca, Cyprus, as part of the Lausanne Initiative for Reconciliation in Israel/Palestine. The statement includes commitments and call for study, prayer and action

Palestinian pastor Alex Awad writes: "If it were in my power, I would visit the home of the bereaved family as a representative of the Palestinian people to express condolences and seek forgiveness"

I found the contradictions of these two airports very symbolic. In Israel, rule enforcement levels vary depending on the citizen’s ethnicity, and when it comes to security the rules are clear. Anyone who isn’t Jewish should be questioned, and Palestinians are an enemy so they are guilty until proven innocent. And if you are Jewish, then you get VIP treatment, even if you are breaking the rules. Perhaps Jews get used to VIP treatment in Israel.

When I focus my theology on being “chosen” rather than on loving God with all of my heart and loving others like myself, it becomes self-serving or idolatry; when the focus becomes who is “in” and who is “out” rather than being like Jesus, the Good News becomes the same old news of the world.

In a historical move-the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention handles the deed for Nazareth Baptist School facilities to the local Nazareth Baptist School Organization

Rev. Dr. Alex Awad lived and served in Palestine for decades, including over 25 years as missionary with the United Methodist Church. Alex served as the pastor of East
Jerusalem Baptist Church, as well as Professor, Dean of Students and Director of the Shepherd Society at Bethlehem Bible College. Alex helped to organize three “Christ at the Checkpoint” conferences in Bethlehem, and is the author of two books: “Palestinian Memories: The Story of a Palestinian Mother and Her People” and “Through the Eyes of the Victims.”