Christ At The Checkpoint: Hope In The Midst Of Conflict

A major breakthrough in the evangelical world took place in Bethlehem through a gathering of over 600 international and local Christians, including renowned evangelical leaders. Organized by Bethlehem Bible College, the conference, under the banner “Christ at the Checkpoint”, addressed the issue of how to find hope in the midst of conflict. The conference exceeded all expectations.

For the first time, a broad spectrum of evangelical believers met literally at the “checkpoint,” and engaged biblically on issues that have historically divided them. Subjects included, Christian Zionism, Islamism, justice, nonviolence, and reconciliation. These themes were intended to create an ongoing forum for Christian peacemaking within the context of the Israeli Palestinian conflict. These issues were discussed in the form of inspirational messages, Bible study, interactive workshops, panels and site visits.

Defying the temptation to despair, Palestinian Christians demonstrated renewed hope to continue to stand against the injustice of occupation nonviolently and forms of Christian Zionism that marginalize them. They also acknowledged the right of the State of Israel to exist within secure borders.

Speakers included John Ortberg, Bishara Awad, Chris Wright, Doug Birdsall, David Kim, Tony Campolo, Lynne Hybels, Munther Isaac, Shane Claiborne, Joel Hunter, Ron Sider, Salim Munayer and Colin Chapman. Participants from 20 nations and a sizeable delegation of university students including Wheaton College and Eastern University, were moved by the testimony of Palestinian men and women who shared the pain and suffering they experience on a daily basis caused primarily by the continuing occupation.

A unique aspect of the conference was the presence and presentations by members of the Messianic community including Richard Harvey, Evan Thomas and Wayne Hilsden, who provided an integral contribution to the dialogue.

Conference organizers challenged the evangelical community to cease looking at the Middle East through the lens of “end times” prophecy and instead rallied them to join in following Jesus in the prophetic pursuance of justice, peace and reconciliation.

Conference Organizers:
John Angle, Alex Awad, Bishara Awad, Sami Awad, Steve Haas, Munther Isaac, Yohanna Katanacho, Manfred Kohl, Salim Munayer, Jack Sara, Stephen Sizer.

The Christ at the Checkpoint Manifesto

  •  The Kingdom of God has come. Evangelicals must reclaim the prophetic role in bringing peace, justice and reconciliation in Palestine and Israel.
  • Reconciliation recognizes God’s image in one another.
  • Racial ethnicity alone does not guarantee the benefits of the Abrahamic Covenant.
  • The Church in the land of the Holy One, has born witness to Christ since the days of Pentecost. It must be empowered to continue to be light and salt in the region, if there is to be hope in the midst of conflict.
  • Any exclusive claim to land of the Bible in the name of God is not in line with the teaching of Scripture.
  • All forms of violence must be refuted unequivocally.
  • Palestinian Christians must not lose the capacity to self-criticism if they wish to remain prophetic.
  • There are real injustices taking place in the Palestinian territories and the suffering of the Palestinian people can no longer be ignored. Any solution must respect the equity and rights of Israel and Palestinian communities.
  • For Palestinian Christians, the occupation is the core issue of the conflict.
  • Any challenge of the injustices taking place in the Holy Land must be done in Christian love. Criticism of Israel and the occupation cannot be confused with anti-Semitism and the delegitimization of the State of Israel.
  • Respectful dialogue between Palestinian and Messianic believers must continue. Though we may disagree on secondary matters of theology, the Gospel of Jesus and his ethical teaching take precedence.
  • Christians must understand the global context for the rise of extremist Islam. We challenge stereotyping of all faith forms that betray God’s commandment to love our neighbors and enemies.

 The Statement and Manifesto were presented to the conference participants on the last day but were only agreed on and endorsed by the Conference Organizers.

Conference Organizers: John Angle, Alex Awad, Bishara Awad, Sami Awad, Steve Haas, Munther Isaac, Yohanna Katanacho, Manfred Kohl, Salim Munayer, Jack Sara, Stephen Sizer

7 comments to Christ At The Checkpoint: Hope In The Midst Of Conflict

  • Dans Dieu et le Fils de Dieu et Messie Jésus-Christ,

    Bonjour Madame Salam,

    Palestine Cry: Europa & Palestine News « Kawther Salam – Christ At The Checkpoint: Hope In The Midst Of Conflict

    Christians, instead of taking tours of the Holy Land, pray for and help the current martyrs of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Palestinians, both Christian and Muslim, who are being martyred for their faith in the True God by the Antichrist, ad-Dajjal, ZioNazi Satanic Devil worshipping “Israelis.”

    Christ and His mother at the wedding feast of Cana is where He performed the first public miracle of His earthly life, where He turned water into wine and Maryam gave her special counsel concerning her son the Messiah, ‘Isa al Maseeh, “whatever He tells you to do, do it (John 2:5).” He will return and He is watching everything and everybody, be sure of that.

    Que Dieu bénisse la Palestine et les Palestiniens,

    Adieu,

    Steve

  • Jim vonBeker

    I extend best of wishes for you and the Palestinian peoples of the earth, especially those in the outdoor prisons the Israelis have constructed for the poor people there. They do indeed worship Satan and not God as they profess to diligently and the battle to be fought will not be won by satans minions.

  • Ivor Hughes

    Kawther .. it appears that you are heard in many nations. The language of the heart .. keep writng .. we hear you and pray an hope as well.

  • PJ London

    “All forms of violence must be refuted unequivocally.?

    The christians have word for these people : Martyrs,

    Unfortunately, the widows and children of such people starve.

  • it is good that this event happened whose message should be taken all around the world and to make aware those who feel the current zionist jews are peaceful and loving people and not what jesus called them in :
    john 8:44 AS THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL! BROOD OF SNAKES AND PIT OF VIPERS ETC ETC ETC.
    no insult meant to genuine jews and christians who are believers of Allah and His messengers!
    if any zionist jew takes offence then please tell us here how your kind are not acting as the proverbial devilish people presently?

    i do not agree that talking peace to these people will work, it has to be language they understand of power and mutual annihilation which they are currently threatening the world with due to they hidden atomic bombs.

    muslims will in the end (as foretold by prophet mohammed pbuh) re-establish the religion of Abraham in its entirety in the holy land when this impostor and satanic state is dismantled labelled as Israel!

  • it is good that this event happened whose message should be taken all around the world and to make aware those who feel the current zionist jews are peaceful and loving people and not what jesus called them in :
    john 8:44 AS THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL! BROOD OF SNAKES AND PIT OF VIPERS ETC ETC ETC.
    no insult meant to genuine jews and christians who are believers of Allah and His messengers!
    if any zionist jew takes offence then please tell us here how your kind are not acting as the proverbial devilish people presently?

    i do not agree that talking peace to these people will work, it has to be language they understand of power and mutual annihilation which they are currently threatening the world with due to they hidden atomic bombs.

    muslims will in the end (as foretold by prophet mohammed pbuh) re-establish the religion of Abraham in its entirety in the holy land when this impostor and satanic state is dismantled labelled as Israel!

    steve, jesus pbuh did the first miracle in islam when he defended his mothers honour as a baby in her arms after she came back to her people after his birth,who then proceeded to accuse her of adultery(astagfarAllah).

    does it not occur to you that here is a saintly woman known in the Temple as Maryam, who had a baby by a miracle of God and yet no one saw her pregnant for 9 months?

    the jews of that time would have made her life a misery if not outright killed her if she had done such an act, by gods miracle she was pregnant only for a few days after which jesus was born pbuh!

  • Barry

    Wonderful article. Great comments. I really can’t believe anyone thinks there can be reconciliation with the so-called zionist jews. As the whole world watches in wonderment at their deeds they become even more isolated and will eventually, when they realize the world is not going to worship them, will cause even greater destruction.

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