Remember the Christians in Bethlehem at Christmas

Last week I included a digital Christmas card in my Strang Report like the one we sent out to our business contacts and friends. This week I am including another card--the one we made with our International Department. I thought you might enjoy hearing me and the Spanish team singing "Feliz Navidad." It’s our way of saying to you and yours, “Merry Christmas.”

Because all eyes are on Bethlehem at this time of year, it is appropriate that the editors of Charisma published a story titled "Christmas in Bethlehem" in our December issue. You can read an electronic version of the Charisma cover story by clicking here.

That cover article and the accompanying articles, "When Muslims Find Jesus" and "The Christmas Promise," mean a lot to me because I visited Bethlehem in the fall of 2007. I was there to participate in the Christian Feast of Tabernacles. I met several Arab Christians from the West Bank, and one of them volunteered to take me to visit Bethlehem Bible College, about which I had already heard a lot.

My trip to Bethlehem was an eye-opener. From my new friends I learned about the plight of the Arab Christians, whose numbers are decreasing. They are under attack from the Muslims; they feel discriminated against by the Israelis; and they feel abandoned by their Christian brothers and sisters in the West.

My trip into Bethlehem on a Friday afternoon--the Muslim holy day--was relatively uneventful, mainly because I was traveling with an Arab Israeli who lives in Jerusalem, works in Bethlehem at the Bible college, and has the ability to pass back and forth. Most Palestinians--Christians or Muslims--must remain within areas governed by the Palestinian Authority. A 24-foot wall with guard towers that is covered in graffiti separates Bethlehem from south Jerusalem. It reminded me of the wall around a penitentiary.

The Israelis constructed the wall because there was so much terrorism coming from the Palestinian areas. The suicide bombings have greatly decreased since the wall has been in place. But that doesn't keep the Palestinians who live there from feeling as if their land is occupied.

The Christians I was with, mostly evangelicals, were somewhat critical of the Israeli army. That seemed odd to me since I was visiting Jerusalem with evangelicals who honor Israel and who appreciate the Jewish people and the Jewish faith so much that they travel thousands of miles to participate in the Feast of Tabernacles celebration.

One of the people I met in Bethlehem was Rev. Alex Awad. I contacted him to see what the current situation in Bethlehem is so that I could include a description of it in this blog. His reply was so interesting that I'm posting it below verbatim. Thankfully, things are improving economically in Bethlehem, but the Christians are still under intense pressure and, as stated earlier, often feel unloved, unappreciated, and forgotten.

I was impressed with the sincerity of the Christians I met in Bethlehem. They obviously are very devout in their love for the Lord or they wouldn't be serving Christ in such a hostile environment. My heart went out to them, especially when I heard that they feel abandoned and forgotten. I promised to do what I could to let people know of their plight. My commitment led to the article in this month's issue of Charisma.

If you would like to help the Palestinian Christians, you can send a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit partner, Christian Life Missions. We will channel 100 percent of the money to Christian families in Bethlehem through our contacts at Bethlehem Bible College. You can give online through PayPal by clicking here, or you can send a check in the mail to Christian Life Missions, P.O. Box 952248, Lake Mary, FL 32795-2248.

At Christmas, let's pray for our brothers and sisters, not only in Bethlehem but also throughout the Middle East, where they suffer persecution that most of us could not even imagine. And, as you feel led by the Lord, I urge you to remember them this Christmas--just as I am--by giving to Christian Life Missions.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours. I hope you enjoy my Spanish greeting card below. Please leave your thoughts and your Christmas greetings on the blog.

Steve Strang

From Rev. Alex Awad
Dean of Students at Bethlehem Bible College

Bethlehem is doing better economically this Christmas than in many yuletides before. Tourists are coming to visit the manger where Jesus was born in big numbers. The old challenge has come back to Bethlehem, "There is no room in the inn." But [the] homes and hearts of the local residents are still receiving people with a lot of local hospitality and generosity. The economic boost is giving the city of Bethlehem a sense of relief after many years of virtual economic collapse. Bethlehem is also very peaceful today. There is no terrorism, no violence, fewer Israeli attacks on militants and civilians. Tourists can walk the streets of Bethlehem day and night without fear of crime or danger.

For all Bethlehem's residents the big challenge is the 24-foot-tall wall that Israel has built to block the residents of Bethlehem from travel to Jerusalem or any place in Israel. The wall makes the residents of Bethlehem feel like prisoners in their city. I have students at Bethlehem Bible College who are not able to travel from Bethlehem to Jerusalem in spite of the fact that they have family members that they love to visit during the holidays. This is only one of the many challenges that the wall presents to the residents of the city. Regardless of the wall, the check points and the watch towers, the folks in Bethlehem will celebrate Christmas with excitement this year. The streets are more decorated with brilliant lights than ever before. The walls that humans build will not stop the light and joy of Christmas [from filling] many hearts.

I hope and pray that Bethlehem's visitors, who come from all over the world, will return home with a renewed dedication to serve Emanuel and to share His story with all their compatriots, just as the shepherds of the first Christmas did.

Tomorrow, Dec. 18, Bethlehem Bible College and the Shepherd Society will sponsor a Christmas banquet for the community. A thousand local people will be invited to attend. Evangelical local choirs will be singing for the praise of Emmanuel, there will be a Christmas drama, the message of Christmas will be preached by a local pastor, and an invitation to accept Christ will be given. A meal will be served, and after the meal there will be more singing and celebration. We pray many hearts will be touched and Christ will be glorified in the city of His birth.

The Shepherd Society, the humanitarian arm of Bethlehem Bible College, will also give food baskets to over 300 poor families in Bethlehem and vicinity. Hundreds of toys [have] been donated to poor children in Bethlehem. Thanks to Christians in the United States, Canada and Britain who provided the funds to enable the Shepherd Society to sponsor both the celebration and the Christmas baskets. There will be joy on earth and joy in heaven as a result of the generosity of God's people.

Christ will be alive through His people in Bethlehem this year, and we hope every city around the world will enjoy His life-giving presence.