500 Palestinians have died in the West Bank<\/a> since the war with Hamas began, so the emptiness makes sense. Many shops are closed, hotels have no guests, and the restaurants are empty.<\/p>\n\u201cMost Christians in Bethlehem work in the tourist sector, now they have no work, no income as there are no tourists,\u201d says Christian tour operator Elias Ghareeb, one of the Palestinian Christians who earn their living from the thousands of tourists visiting the place.<\/p>\n
Of course, the situation is even more desperate for believers in Gaza. According to local church sources in Gaza, 33 Christians have lost their lives in the war\u2014out of the 1 070 Christians in Gaza who lived there when the conflict began.<\/p>\n
The material damage and loss for believers is massive. Many people lost everything as they saw their houses turned into rubble. The need is great.<\/p>\n
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A foundational vision<\/strong><\/p>\nOpen Doors is responding to the needs of local believers, working through our local partners to strengthen the Church in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. This work has been a part of our ministry since the days of our founder, Brother Andrew, best known around the world as \u201cGod\u2019s Smuggler.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andrew didn\u2019t simply believe in the need to stand with Israeli and Palestinian Christians. He demonstrated it by traveling numerous times to the region, forming deep relationships with Palestinian Christians in both Gaza and the West Bank, Messianic believers and Arab Christians in Israel.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nHe also shocked the world by meeting with leaders of both Hamas and Islamic Jihad! He didn\u2019t seek a meeting to legitimize these groups\u2014but because he believed they needed to know Jesus above all else. Whenever he could, Brother Andrew took the opportunity to speak with them about the power of the Gospel to change their lives.<\/p>\n
In his book, Light Force (written with Al Janssen), Brother Andrew\u2019s words seem prophetic for the current time. \u201cThe unending conflict sickened me, but what hurt even more was knowing that my brothers and sisters were caught in the midst of the fighting. Believers in Jesus Christ lived in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. I was convinced that there was a contribution that the Christian community could make. Perhaps it was only to be a light.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nThat\u2019s why, through our local partners, Open Doors is working hard to support and offer hope and light to our brothers and sisters in the Palestinian Territories.<\/p>\n
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Bringing hope and light<\/strong><\/p>\nOne way is through online youth ministry. Salim Khair is a young Palestinian Christian with a heart to reach other young people with the hope of Jesus. He\u2019s particularly burdened for young Palestinians who grew up in the church but have since turned away from the faith.<\/p>\n
Salim started a \u201cDNA Group,\u201d which is a group of Christians using social media to connect with other youth\u2014first in the Palestinian Territories, but also around the region\u2014and bring them together at events.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to spark their interest again in the subject in the matter of religion, to show, to teach them the indispensable morals and values that Christianity teaches,\u201d Salim says.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re working really hard to make an impact and for our impact to be seen worldwide, especially here in Palestine. We want to make an impact to change and to help everyone to see that it is possible to make a change in our society.\u201d In the midst of such devastating conflict and turmoil, this kind of change and hope is desperately needed.<\/p>\n
Listen to Salim\u2019s heart for young believers:<\/p>\n