Walking with Palestinian Christians Conference
Tipp City, OH (PRWEB) August 06, 2014 -- Mrs. Jalele Ayyad, a 60-year-old Palestinian Christian woman in Gaza, was killed when an Israeli missile hit her house last week. According to General Board of Global Ministries missionary, the Rev. Alex Awad, who serves in Bethlehem, “The family received a warning but before they could run, a deadly missile hit the house, killed Jalele, injured her husband, and crippled their son.”
As story after heartbreaking story continues to come out of Israel and Palestine, and in particular Gaza, people of faith are praying for peace.
On August 7 and 8, United Methodists, along with representatives of Palestinian Christian communities, including Awad, will gather at Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church in Ohio to explore how to respond with justice and peace in the West Bank, Gaza and Israel.
Sponsored by Global Ministries, the event, Walking with Palestinian Christians, will have prayer and worship woven throughout its workshops and plenary sessions. The mission agency’s top executive, Thomas Kemper said, “We as the church must continue to be in conversation to understand the complexities in the region while actively working for peace.”
The Rev. Mike Slaughter is the senior pastor at Ginghamsburg Church. He encouraged church leaders to attend the conference saying, "As a local church pastor, I believe it essential that pastors and church leaders move people from the nationalist politics of our secular culture to a biblical Kingdom of God worldview, where there is neither 'Greek nor Jew' and the dividing wall of hostility is torn down.” He emphasized, “This heart and mind shift begins with urgent prayer for all the victims and perpetrators of the current violence."
According to Jorge Lockward, who is designing the worship, “In prayer, in learning, in worship, and in discernment, we will explore ways we can walk alongside our sisters and brothers in Palestine.”
To register for the conference and schedule speaker interviews, please contact Melissa Hinnen, Director of Content and Public Information, United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries: mhinnen(at)umcmission(dot)org, 646.241.7746.
Diane Degnan, United Methodist Communications, +1 615-742-5406, [email protected]
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