Invitation and Guide to the Holy Land

by Rev. L. Humphrey Walz

Some 2,700 participants at the World Methodist Conference in Rio de Janeiro in August heard Father Elias Chacour from Galilee plead for help to stem the exodus of native Christians from Israel. The World Methodist Council had presented him its 1994 Peace Award for his work with and for, among others, the shrinking Christian minority still there. (See page 128 for his AET Book Club listings.) He invited the assembly to hold its next conference—in 2001—in Galilee to enhance experience of the “barrier-breaking power of the living Christ” amidst surroundings in which He had ministered.

Galilee is one of those traditional sites which annually draw millions of Christians to the Holy Land and help make tourism Israel’s most profitable industry. Travelers to the Holy Land who want to learn more at first hand about the Christian community that has existed there for almost 2,000 years can benefit from the periodically revised Alternative Holy Land Directory. Constantly updated, it is available from Americans for Middle East Understanding, 475 Riverside Dr., #570, New York, NY 10015, phone (212) 870-2053.

Israel’s Department of Tourism generally does not train or license non-Jews as tour guides. However Dr. John Mahoney, who compiled the directory, lists individuals and organizations—mostly academic, professional or church-related—who can arrange guided tours aimed at providing more than average satisfaction. He also indicates the important historic and other attractions in the vicinity of each recommended hostelry.

Bethlehem Bi-Millennial

In 1976, the U.S. bicentennial drew strength from Philadelphia as the birthplace of our nation’s independence. For the Christian bi-millennial in 1999-2000 the church will look to Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus Christ.

The situational parallel has led the Ware Foundation to raise the practical question: “Amidst the economic uncertainties and political pressures Christians live under in the Middle East, how can the Holy Land’s threatened churches not only host this worldwide anniversary but use it to strengthen their vitality and institutions well into the next century?” Taking advantage of recent communicational developments, the foundation has worked across denominational lines to locate 25 leaders from national computer networks who sense the need to stand behind the church in the Middle East.

These it invited to a “Holy Land 2000 Summit” at North Park College in Chicago Sept. 16-17 with Californians Robin and Nancy Wainwright and author (The Star of 2000) Jay Gary of Colorado Springs. They led a discussion on "a greater partnership with the struggling church in the Holy Land and a greater vision on how we might build a ‘Holy Land 2000’ network of denominations and ministries.”

Said Gary, “It has only been in the last few months that the full importance of Christ’s Jubilee in the Middle East to religious freedom has come into view. I am convinced our collaboration toward this end will contribute significantly to the Church as it enters the third millennium.” The date and site for the launching reflected determination to get going on a cooperative non-competitive basis. It was held on the North Park College campus on the eve of the scheduled EMEU conference described below.

Ecumenical Evangelical Decennial

As the climax of its 10th anniversary celebration, Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding (EMEU) scheduled a Sept. 20-21 conference entitled “A Call to Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Peace in the Middle East,” at Chicago’s North Park College (the Reformed Church campus where EMEU is headquartered). In defining that call, EMEU cited as exemplary the late Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda’s yearning that God may “use the Christians of the Middle East, whose ancestors first brought division to the church, to bring unity” with an ever-expanding ripple effect.

Geographically, most of the program focused on two of the countries most strategic for the future of Middle East Christianity: Lebanon and Egypt. Dr. Kenneth Cragg, the retired Anglican bishop of Jerusalem and the Middle East, was designated keynote speaker. Renowned as an authority on Islam and the Arab church, his topic was “Jerusalem: City of Peace or Perpetual Conflict?”

The Rev. Dr. Kenneth Bailey, veteran New Testament scholar, theologian and author, was designated to open both mornings with pertinent Bible study rooted in his career as a Presbyterian missionary in Egypt. Prof. John Paul Lederach, professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at Eastern Mennonite University, an authority on ethnic and religious conflict resolution, dealt with “Practicing Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Mediation.” Tom Getman of World Vision gave the response.

EMEU “seeks mutual understanding and friendship between Middle Eastern and Western Christians.”

A panel on the current challenge in Egypt included Coptic Orthodox Bishop Youssef and Rev. Wafik Wabbah of the Coptic Evangelical Seminary in Cairo. Dr. Habib Charles Malek of Lebanese American University and Jean Bouchebi, director of World Vision’s Lebanon program, were to address the challenge in Lebanon. A panel on “Women and Peace in the Middle East” also was scheduled.

EMEU defines itself as “an informal fellowship of North American evangelical Christians committed to dialogue which seeks mutual understanding, respect and friendship between Middle Eastern and Western Christians.” Co-sponsors of the conference were the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at North Park College, and the Overseas Ministries Study Center of New Haven, CT.

The Rev. Dr. Don Wagner of North Park was coordinator of the conference. His colleagues on the EMEU Steering Committee are Dr. Ray Bakke of International Urban Associates, Dr. Gary Burge of Wheaton College, Dr. Robert Douglas of Lincoln Christian Seminary, Tom Getman, Kathy Giske, Rev. Dr. Dan Harrison of Intercapital Varsity Christian Fellowship, Dr. Nancy Heidebrecht of Southern California College, author-journalist Jerry Levin, Karen Longman of Christian Colleges and Universities, David Neff, executive secretary of EMEU and chairman of the conference, Leonard Rodgers of Venture Middle East, Bill Taylor of Young Life International, Dr. Harold Vogelaar, of the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, Nancy and Robin Wainwright of the Ware Foundation, and Dr. Dudley Woodberry of the Fuller School of World Missions.