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Revival Springs from Arab Winter Is the Sun Really Setting on Christianity in the Middle East?

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Revival Springs from Arab Winter Is the Sun Really Setting on Christianity in the Middle East? ICEJ ICEJ ICEJ ICEJWORD ICEJ ICEJ ICEJ ICEJ ICEJ ICEJ ICEJ International Edition ICEJ February 2012 ICEJ ICEJ from JERUSALEM Revival springs from Arab Winter Is the sun really setting on Christianity in the Middle East? t has now been a year since the Arab By Dr. Jürgen Bühler The truth is the region is changing for Spring began shaking the Middle East. the worse and there are many reasons to be From Morocco to Bahrain, the “Arab pessimistic. Yet there are other developments street” has seen unprecedented political which give us hope and these are namely signs Iupheavals. So far the long-standing rulers of of revival in the Arab world. “The truth is the region Tunisia, Egypt and Libya have been toppled, while the leaders of Syria and Yemen are close is changing and there Revival Fires in Iran behind. are many reasons to be Today, a unique move of God is underway in the Muslim world. The book “Iran: The Arab uprisings came unexpectedly and pessimistic. Yet there Desperate for God”, published recently by were launched by a surprising source – the are other developments Voice of the Martyrs, states that “the fastest ‘Facebook generation’ of young Arab students growing movement in the entire Muslim and intellectuals longing for the better life of the which give us hope.” world today are Muslims in Iran converting West. Thus many Western observers saw hope to Christianity”. The book claims that after in the Arab Spring. Yet this quickly changed. 30 years of suppression by the ayatollahs, At first the radical Muslim Brotherhood most Iranians “grew weary of the grim, stayed away from the demonstrations, but Angry crowds stormed Israel’s embassy in slavish, loveless loyalty to Allah, demanded then realised they were missing a golden Cairo, forcing the Israeli ambassador to flee. by their state”. opportunity. The Brotherhood has since used Numerous churches have been burned and its highly organised networks to win elections even bombed, and Coptic Christians are facing According to native Iranian pastors, the in Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt. The Arab new levels of hostility. Evangelical church in Iran before the Islamic Spring has turned into an Arab Winter. Revolution of 1979 numbered a mere few The mounting exodus of Christians from hundred believers. Today, the Evangelical The End of Arab Christianity? the entire region even prompted the leading following is estimated at over 1 million strong. In Egypt, Christians and Jews have been the Israeli news portal Ynet to recently declare the early targets of the newly empowered Islamists. “End of Arab Christianity”. >> continued on center pages The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem • Comforting Israel, Educating the Church The International Christian Director’s Letter Embassy Jerusalem Dear Friends, The International Christian Here in Jerusalem, we have started the new year Embassy Jerusalem was founded in 1980 as once again in prayer and fasting. We are incredibly an act of comfort and solidarity with Israel and blessed with an exceptional staff who not only work the Jewish people in their claim to Jerusalem. with a desire for excellence but who also are dedicated to the things of the Spirit. To hear their prayers in our Today, the Christian Embassy stands devotional times has given me much hope for the year at the forefront of a growing mainstream ahead and I again want to invite you to join our Isaiah movement of Christians worldwide who 62 Prayer Campaign as we intercede for Israel and the share a love and concern for Israel and an nations. understanding of the biblical significance of the modern ingathering of Jews to the In one recent staff devotion, God spoke to us about King Cyrus of Persia. Here land of their forefathers. was a gentile king – possibly an idol worshipper – who received incredible promises of intervention and blessing from God as he helped the Jewish people return to their From our headquarters in Jerusalem and homeland, as recorded in Isaiah 45. How much more can we count on the backing and through our branches and representatives blessing of God as we His children fulfil a high calling to serve the Jewish people here in in over 80 nations, we seek to challenge Israel and across the world? Be encouraged! the Church to take up its scriptural responsibilities towards the Jewish people, We also are very excited as the Lord is opening an incredible new door for us to to remind Israel of the wonderful promises proclaim the word of the Lord from Jerusalem through the medium of television. From made to her in the Bible, and to be a source February onwards, you will be able to view our weekly “ICEJ Report” as part of the Israel of practical assistance to all the people of the Now News broadcast on Daystar TV. Please pray for us as we enter into this promising Land of Israel. new venture. The ICEJ is a non-denominational It is a little more than a year now since the demonstrations which erupted in Tunisia faith ministry, supported by the voluntary swept over the entire Middle East. This issue of the Word From Jerusalem focuses on the contributions of our members and friends continuing turmoil in the Middle East and our hope-filled response to it. There are two across the globe. We invite you to join with ways to look at the region. One is in the political realm, which holds very troubling news us as we minister to Israel and the Jewish every day. The other is through the lens of what God is doing with the Church throughout people worldwide by using the enclosed the region, and here a new and exciting dynamic is unfolding. As believers, we need to response slip to make your donation to the consider both realms in order to offer informed and effectual prayers for the peoples of ongoing work and witness of the ICEJ. the Middle East. INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN Finally I want to thank you for your ongoing support. Please keep us in your prayers and continue to stand with us as we stand with Israel. EMBASSY JERUSALEM P.O. Box 1192 Yours in Christ, Jerusalem • 91010, ISRAEL Dr. Jürgen Bühler ICEJ Executive Director Word From Jerusalem Support our ministry online at: www.icej.org executive director: Jürgen Bühler international director: Juha Ketola editorial & layout: David Parsons & Michael Hines administration: David van der Walt, Wim van der Zande contributors: James Cheatham, Stephan Vorster, photography: AP Photos, Israel Images, Istock Photos INSIDE THE EMBASSY WORD FROM JERUSALEM 3 Juha Ketola Named International Director Season of transition brings new leadership for Grafted Program s part of the continuing transition staff in Jerusalem and begins overseeing our to new leadership within the national branches worldwide.” Profile: Juha Ketola International Christian Embassy ICEJ International Director Jerusalem, we are pleased to “We clearly see God’s guidance in this Aannounce that the current Chairman of our decision and we know that Juha is the right Rev. Juha Ketola has been in full-time Board of Trustees, Rev. Juha Ketola, has been person for this position”, Bühler added. ministry since 1985, serving as a pastor appointed to serve as the ministry’s new and an evangelist in his native Finland International Director. He takes over this New Leadership for Grafted Program as well as in Canada. He is a graduate key position from Dr. Jürgen Bühler, who is In addition, the Grafted Young Adults of the International Bible Institute of now serving as the Executive Director of the department of the ICEJ will be welcoming London Kensington Temple in England worldwide organisation. a new director, as Jani Salokangas, also and an ordained minister with the from Finland, will come take over from Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada and Rev. Ketola has been a pastor and travelling Liesl Maas in coming months. Jani is a Finland. Since the summer of 2000, evangelist in his native Finland as well as talented and dedicated youth minister who he has been ministering as an itinerant in Canada for many years, and took over as has been increasingly involved in Grafted preacher, holding church meetings and National Director of the ICEJ’s Finnish branch tours and activities in recent years. Jani will gospel outreaches in various countries in 2005 from its founder Dr. Ulla Jarvilehto. fill a strategic position which will serve as while also sharing about God’s plans He was elected Chairman of the international a link between Israel and young Christians concerning the modern-day restoration board last year and will now move on to the worldwide. of Israel. He has been speaking at daily task of overseeing the ICEJ’s global events for the ICEJ since 1996. Currently, network of more than 70 national branches. Liesl Maas helped launch this special he serves as Chairman of the ICEJ outreach to the young generation back in 2003 International Board of Trustees and as “Juha has hands-on experience as a and built Grafted into a vanguard expression the National Director of ICEJ-Finland. pastor and now as a branch director, as of Christian Zionism among young adults. Juha Ketola and his wife, Kati, have three well as serving on our international board”, Both Liesl and her husband Bram Maas will children and two grandchildren. They said Dr. Bühler. “These qualifications will remain involved in the ministry from their will take up residence in Jerusalem in serve him well as he joins our permanent new home in the Netherlands coming months. 4 SERVING THE NATION WORD FROM JERUSALEM ICEJ Focus on Arab Sector Needs ICEJ AID Reaches out to Old City Christians; Disadvantaged Arab Youth By Estera Wieja & Emanuel Mfoukou ne of the areas of pressing need within Israel which Following are examples of specific projects which we are currently the ICEJ is seeking to address is that of disadvantaged sponsoring in the Arab sector: members of the minority Arab community, and particularly Arab Christian families.
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