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| Sunrise over the Golan Heights, Israel |
Christians Protected in Israel
“More than 100,000 Christians have been murdered each year for the past ten years in the Middle East. That’s one every five minutes. In Libya 200 Egyptian Christians were lined up on a beach and beheaded by ISIS. In Saudi Arabia, the Christian Bible is banned throughout the entire country. In Iran, Pastor Saeed Abedini spent [three and a half years] behind bars…for preaching the Gospel. So you might ask, is there anywhere in the Middle East where Christians are flourishing? Greek Orthodox priest Father Gabriel Nadaf answered this question for the UN Human Rights Council last year. He said, ‘There is one country in the Middle East where Christianity is affectionately granted freedom of expression, freedom of worship, and security…it is Israel, the Jewish State.’ The Jewish State is a beacon of human rights and tolerance—and a critical ally in the war against Islamic extremism. By supporting and safeguarding Israel, we support and safeguard Christians—a vulnerable minority in the Middle East” (ICEJ).
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| Daniel and Iuliana Stanger, Nazareth, Israel |
El Nifla Tours
Daniel Stanger works as an official Israeli tour guide with El Nifla Tours. He also works with several Christian groups at the Nazareth Village Museum. Some of these are Orthodox Church groups from Romania, and that gives him many opportunities to share the gospel.
One of Daniel and his wife Iuliana’s ongoing outreaches is a fellowship group for the Romanian population of Nazareth, which is held in their home every two weeks. Bibles are also given out to guest workers from Moldova, and excursions to biblical sites are organized for them about once every two months. A day out to Jerusalem or Bethlehem costs about 240 shekels ($64.00 / £49.00) per person per day, but this is too expensive for many of them to afford. Daniel would like to be able to subsidize the cost of these excursions by up to 25% so as to enable more people to participate.
If you would like to send a gift for Daniel and Iuliana’s ministry, please send a check payable to EEAA, marked for Israel in the memo, and we will pass it on in its entirety.
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| Daniel and Iuliana Stanger, Adelina and Oana, on a recent visit to Jerusalem | Adelina's Baptism |
Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem
Psalm 122:6 tells us to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” The psalm goes on to explain how to pray: “‘May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.’ For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’ For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity.”
The word “shalom” in Hebrew has a much richer meaning that the word “peace” in English. According to Strong’s Concordance it means completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of discord.
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| Sign found in the Garden Tomb, Jerusalem, Israel |