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Rana and Khader work as a ministry team on Saturday evenings at Gaza Baptist. Rana preached the last two Saturdays. Tonight, she leads 13 young adults in soulful a cappella worship, eyes closed, hands raised, singing popular Arabic praises that an Egyptian chorus has developed.

Khader sits next to me to translate the Arabic chorus:

"You are my beloved. In one moment you transformed me and filled me with unspeakable joy."

Later, Bible Society worker Fadi Hilam stands up and says, "God is alive. It's impossible for us not to have a testimony." A college student says God answered years of prayer for her neighbor's salvation. A man requests prayer that he might talk to a friend about Christ. Several pray for jobs for others and themselves. One woman tells of visiting a mother living in a house the Israeli military had destroyed. The woman's son, a pharmacist, has been unemployed nine years.

Hilam ends by reciting the Great Commission, printed in black on a large yellow sign at the back of the room. "God gives us the responsibility to preach, love, and obey, and take the message to all the nations. We must bring salt and light to the world."

Afterward, the Khourys walk home on a dusty sidewalk bustling with women in long dresses and headscarves. Khader told me that he accepts God calling him to the ministry of sharing Christ's love, despite the risk.

"I have this desire to be for the Lord all my life," Khader said. "If I die for him for persecution, the Bible says the blood of those who die for the Lord will grow many things. I don't fear death. I can preach to anyone."

Khader cites Isaiah 58:12: "God told me through this verse that I am to stand in the gap. So I started praying for people in Gaza. I know Gaza is full of evil. The Word of God promises that the evil cities will be cities of revival.

"God will bless Gaza. God will use us as the tools."

A short distance from Gaza Baptist lie the ruins of a Byzantine church, buried under sand dunes for 1,400 years. Discovered in 1999 at Tel a-Shakef, this church has a mosaic floor inscribed in Greek, "Blessed will you be when you come in, and blessed will you be when you go out" (Deut. 28:6). Christians here could hardly find more fitting words to embody their mission to bless Gaza.

Gaza pastor Hanna Massad may be reached by email at: hanna3@palnet.com.

Deann Alford is a journalist based in Austin, Texas.

Copyright © 2005 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

SIDEBAR
Christian Zionists Split over Gaza Pullout | Some remain politically neutral.

INSIDE CT
Reporting Eye to Eye | The Holy Land has always been treacherous.

CT interviewed Brother Andrew about his work in Israel and Palestine.

Deann's previous coverage from the Holy Land includes:

Burning Out the Faithful | Druze attack Christians in 'pogrom.' (April 21, 2005)

How Free Are We? | One year later, Christian leaders examine the International Religious Freedom Act. (March 6, 2000)

Our past coverage of Israel and Palestine includes:

Evangelical Collective | New association seeks more rights in Israel. (May 16, 2005)

Burning Out the Faithful | Druze attack Christians in 'pogrom.' (April 21, 2005)

The Risks of Regime Change | Middle Eastern Christians might end up more repressed under democracy than under dictators. (March 18, 2005)

Gatecrashing for Jesus | Brother Andrew discusses ministry in the Middle East. (Jan. 31, 2005)

Spitting on God's Image | Christians complain of assaults in Old City. (Nov. 03, 2004)

O Jailed Town of Bethlehem | How eerily still we see thee lie. (May 11, 2004)

Uneasy Unity | Christians take different paths as "road map" hits impasse. (Sept. 11, 2003)

West, Meet East | Who Are the Christians in the Middle East? examines millions of forgotten believers. (Sept. 11, 2003)

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July 2005, Vol. 49, No. 7