{"id":48170,"date":"2023-10-24T14:00:23","date_gmt":"2023-10-24T05:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=48170"},"modified":"2023-10-24T14:18:48","modified_gmt":"2023-10-24T05:18:48","slug":"vomk-report-275","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2023\/10\/24\/vomk-report-275\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cWE LIVE BETWEEN THREE FIRES\u201d, SAYS PASTOR OF GAZA\u2019S ONLY PROTESTANT CHURCH"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”48160″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”Gaza Christians praying: That is the image that the pastor of Gaza\u2019s only Protestant church would want the world to see in answer to the question he receives frequently these days, \u201cWhat are Gaza Christians doing during the present conflict in Gaza?\u201d” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” el_class=”headline”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Our situation at this stage is basically like <\/span>Romans 8:26-27,\u201d says Hanna Massad, who <\/span>spoke to Voice of the Martyrs CEO Pastor Eric Foley shortly after arriving in the United States from the Middle East. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>It\u2019s<\/span> a time when you <\/span>don\u2019t<\/span> know <\/span>what <\/span>to pray<\/span> or how to pray<\/span>, <\/span>but the Holy Spirit is praying in you and through you as he takes the agony inside and lifts it before the heavenly Father. And he responds according to his will, <\/span>and also<\/span> according to our needs.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Pastor Massad spoke to Pastor Foley via Zoom, the medium which has become the main form of connection for the members of his congregation, Gaza Baptist Church, which includes not only <\/span>one <\/span>hundred <\/span>Christian <\/span>families still in Gaza but also one hundred <\/span>Christian <\/span>families in the West Bank as well as 700 Iraqi Christian refugee families that Gaza Baptist has cared for in Jordan since the first <\/span>Gulf<\/span> War broke out in 1991.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cLast Saturday should not have happened,\u201d Pastor Massad told Pastor Foley, referencing the October 7 Hamas attacks. \u201cOur hearts go out to the Jewish families.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”48165″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Gaza Baptist Church Pastor Hanna Massad delivering food to families in Gaza.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Pastor Massad told Pastor Foley that he <\/span>believes Christians in Gaza and Messianic Jews <\/span>in Israel <\/span>have a special role to play<\/span> at this time<\/span>. \u201cI <\/span>pray <\/span>that <\/span>God<\/span> help<\/span>s<\/span> us as his followers<\/span> on both sides, to <\/span>shine light in the midst of darkness, <\/span>to reflect his love, and to <\/span>continue to <\/span>carry his presence in these difficult circumstances.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Pastor Massad told Pastor Foley that his congregation continues to believe Romans 8:28. \u201cIn spite of the pain and suffering, we believe that God is the only one who <\/span>is able to<\/span> turn something good out of the horrible things that are happening. As Christians, our hearts are not only for our people or for the Christian community in Gaza, but when <\/span>you\u2019re<\/span> touched by the Lord, by his grace, he puts love in your heart, even as Palestinian Christians, for the Jewish people as well.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Pastor Massad told Pastor Foley that prayer enables his congregation to <\/span>carry out their mission <\/span>in the midst of<\/span> hostility from every side. \u201cWe live between three fires,\u201d Pastor Massad said. \u201c<\/span>The fire of <\/span>Muslim militants<\/span> on one hand, Israel on the other, but also as evangelical Christians, the traditional churches\u201d\u2014<\/span>Gaza\u2019s <\/span>Greek Orthodox a<\/span>nd<\/span> Catholic <\/span>congregations<\/span>\u2014\u201c<\/span>are not always happy about who we are and what we do. And the question becomes, \u2018How do you live your faith <\/span>in the midst of<\/span> these fires? How do you not let bitterness and hatred control your life?\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”48167″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”A rare photo of Gaza Baptist Church in earlier times. Pastor Massad sits in the front row.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The church\u2019s Sunday service <\/span>held via Zoom <\/span>on October 8, one day after the Hamas attacks, <\/span>included <\/span>not only <\/span>an hour and a half of prayer <\/span>for <\/span>those on all sides of the conflict <\/span>but also <\/span>the annual time of remembrance for <\/span>Rami Ayyad, one of the church leaders who <\/span>worked <\/span>as <\/span>manager of <\/span>the <\/span>Christian <\/span>bookstore<\/span> run by the church<\/span> until he was <\/span>martyred in an execution-style killing<\/span> by <\/span>Islamic militants on October 7, 2007. <\/span>\u201cIf we allow bitterness and hatred to control us, we lose effectiveness in the kingdom <\/span>of God,\u201d Pastor Massad told Pastor Foley. \u201cWhat does God have for us? It is much better than anything in this world. We <\/span>don\u2019t<\/span> want anything to affect this intimate relationship with God.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Meeting by <\/span>Zoom <\/span>has its limits as a means of <\/span>maintaining<\/span> intimacy, so Pastor Massad continues to encourage the congregation to <\/span>gather together<\/span> whenever it can. <\/span>50 to 60 congregation members are usually able to gather together when he visits.<\/span> \u201cIt is good for them to be together in a church building to encourage each other,\u201d says Pastor Massad. \u201cIt is better than being isolated.\u201d <\/span>Now, <\/span>however, <\/span>some congregation members have been displaced from their homes and have <\/span>had to <\/span>move to the area near the Greek Orthodox church. <\/span>Pastor Massad told Pastor Foley that these days meeting at the Gaza Baptist Church building is impractical. \u201cIt\u2019s located next to a police station, so it\u2019s not safe to meet,\u201d he said, adding, \u201cThere is no safe place in Gaza.\u201d He told Pastor Foley that damage to the church building has so far been minimal. \u201cThere is some broken glass, and the solar panel is broken,\u201d he said. Damage may be worse now, he said; it has been too dangerous for church members to go check during the past several days.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]With electricity among the many things in short supply in Gaza, Pastor Massad says some church members are having a hard<\/span>er<\/span> time joining the Zoom calls. \u201cToday we had a trauma counseling session <\/span>on Zoom <\/span>with a friend who is a counselor, but some members couldn\u2019t connect because of no electricity,\u201d Pastor Massad told Pastor Foley. \u201cAs we talk with people, mental health is a concern.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”48169″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Gaza Baptist Church front entrance (file photo)” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Pastor Massad said that the church\u2019s connection with Christians outside of Gaza helps.<\/span> In addition to the hundred families who <\/span>participate<\/span> in the church from the West Bank, Pastor Massad told Pastor Foley that the 700 Iraqi refugee families living in Jordan are a regular encouragement. \u201cThe Lord connected us through pain and suffering,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the beauty of the body of Christ, to see the family of God\u2014how we are connected<\/span>,\u201d Pastor Massad told Pastor Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201cT<\/span>his is really one of the main things that help<\/span>s<\/span> me personally <\/span>and also<\/span> maybe other Christians who feel lonely or isolated sometimes, to realize that you are a part of the bigger body, the body of Christ. And this continues to inspire us, how the Lord brings wonderful brothers and sisters into our life<\/span>, to inspire us and encourage us with their sympathy and their care.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”48163″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Gaza Christian martyr Rami Ayyad, one of the leaders of the Gaza Baptist Church and also the manager of its Christian bookstore before he was killed in an execution-style death by Muslim militants on October 7, 2007.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Voice of the Martyrs Korea is <\/span>preparing an emergency love offering for Gaza Baptist<\/span> Church<\/span>, in honor of the sixteenth anniversary of <\/span>Rami Ayyad<\/span>\u2019s martyrdom and in recognition of the church\u2019s special difficulties and opportunities during the present conflict. Pastor <\/span>Foley says that those who are interested in <\/span>contributing to the love offering <\/span>can make their donation at www.vomkorea.com\/<\/span><\/a><\/span>en\/<\/span>donation<\/span> or give via electronic transfer to:\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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  1. \uad6d\ubbfc\uc740\ud589<\/span> (KB Bank) 463501-01-243303<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\uc608\uae08\uc8fc<\/span> (Account holder): (<\/span>\uc0ac<\/span>)<\/span>\uc21c\uad50\uc790\uc758\uc18c\ub9ac<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Please include the phrase \u201cMiddle East\u201d on the donation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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