Borthwick Jerusalem Report: PB's "Top Ten"
Summer 2005

Greetings all,

In June, we wrote requesting your prayers for a variety of things Ð including Paul's ministry trip for Development Associates International to the Middle East. Now it's time to report on prayers answered, lessons learned, & stories to share.

So, it's Paul writing, first person. Grab a cold drink, settle down, and let me take you on my trip. Using the David Letterman, "Top Ten" countdown, here are my best summaries of 9 very full days.

[Code: Jack = Jack (Yacoub) Sara - my host and friend since 1998 (see highlight #3); ALTI = Alliance Leadership Training Institute, the place where I taught (affiliated with the Christian & Missionary Alliance denomination - highlight #1)]

#10: SAFETY. Going to a place that our news media characterizes as violent does cause some concern. As I walked with people around the city, people often said, "This is where the restaurant was blown up" or "Here's where a bomber blew up a sidewalk cafe." Nevertheless, I sensed God's presence wherever we went (being hosted by local people always helps because, after all, they live there!)

#9: "PILGRIMAGE." I'm not much of a historical person, but I must say that it deeply moved me to be in places where the Bible really happened. I saw highway signs pointing to the Sea of Galilee to the North. We drove through places like Bethel (Jacob's ladder-to-heaven dream), and we could see in the distance the Valley of Jericho. Of course, it was most moving to be in Bethlehem and Jerusalem and the places most significant in the life and ministry of Jesus. At the birthplace of Jesus in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, I sang "O Come All Ye Faithful" with a group of Spanish pilgrims. I saw the stones of Golgotha that legend says were split in two at the earthquake after Jesus said, "It is Finished," and I knelt inside the tomb where Jesus was laid. (Even if these are not the "actual" sites, they are within a few dozen feet!) The experiences made the stories of the Bible much more real.

[Humorous interlude: when I knelt at the slab on which they say Jesus body was laid, I touched it and wondered if my hair would miraculously grow back - butÉ.alasÉ nothing! Maybe it isn't the real slabÉ or maybe Jesus just likes me bald!]

#8: A FULL-RANGE OF EXPERIENCES. Jack Sara and his associates made sure I had a full range of experiences - from visiting the Wailing Wall to seeing the Dome of the Rock Mosque, from living in a Hasidic area (the most conservative members of Judaism) to visiting West Bank areas where Christian Palestinians are harassed by Hamas. I had the privilege of attending a wedding, preaching twice in the Old City at the Jerusalem Alliance Church, eating with families in the Old City, and visiting relief work being done in the West Bank. One visit to a children's program included a village lady baking fresh flatbread for us over open coals under her fig tree, and then giving us olive oil and special spices for dipping! Delicious!!

#7: A PLACE FULL OF GOD'S SURPRISES. I've learned to keep my eyes open for God's surprises, and this trip had some amazing ones, including meeting Muslim-Background Believers (MBB's - see #2 below) and hearing Christians tell stories of courageously entering the Dome of the Rock Mosque area to place Arabic Christian tracts inside the Korans. I was with Jack when he and a co-worker got to pray with a Palestinian agriculturalist working in the West Bank, a person who is a seeker with questions about Jesus. And Jack and I had the privilege of witnessing (in English) to a Jewish couple from Tel Aviv as we sat in a little restaurant in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City! (I think they were amazed to be with an Arab and an American who wanted to talk about Jesus!)

#6: THE "WALL". Perhaps the saddest moment of the trip was seeing the "Wall" that is being built to separate Israel and Palestine. It's being built for security purposes, but it's more than 20 feet tall with guard towers, and checkpoints; it's hard not to think "prison" when you see it. In places, it divides neighborhoods - even apartment buildings! It's a sad reflection of the violence and separation that exists in this land.

#5: BETHLEHEM BIBLE COLLEGE. One afternoon after classes, we went through the Wall in Bethlehem, to visit Bethlehem Bible College (BBC), a beacon of hope for Christian Palestinians. The course I taught was accredited by BBC, and many of the ALTI teachers are BBC graduates. With a sign pock-marked with bullet holes, BBC stands across from a refugee camp as a testimony to God's love and human perseverance. The staff and students of BBC broadcast the Gospel over Palestinian TV, serve the poor, and try to live out the Gospel in a very difficult area.

#4: ENTERING THE COMPLEXITY. This first-ever trip to Israel and Palestine took me to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Beit-Jala, and other villages in the West Bank you've never heard of. Though I had done my reading about the deeply complex issues of this region, nothing quite prepares you for the immense challenge of encouraging peace between these diverse peoples and resolving thousands of years of animosity. Culture, history, religion, economy, and global politics all collide in this relatively tiny area of the world.

When Christie and I first went to Apartheid-dominated South Africa in 1988, our host told us, "If you come to South Africa and leave confused, you have understood the situation." In a sense, the same statement is true in Israel/ Palestine. Have injustices been done on both sides? Yes. Are some Jews, Christians, and Muslims working together for peace and reconciliation? Yes. Does the Wall and checkpoints make the West Bank look and feel like a prison? Yes. Has it dramatically reduced the number of suicide bombers into Israel? Yes.

All I can testify is this: in the midst of this complexity, God is at work. People told me stories of dozens of West Bank Muslims having visions of Jesus and asking questions about Christian faith. The Alliance Leadership Training Institute trains mostly Arab Christians, but they share a facility and go out on evangelistic ministry with Messianic Jews studying in the same facility in Hebrew at Israel College of the Bible. Like Paul wrote to the Philippians, I rejoice that - whatever the circumstances - Christ is being preached. (For those readers interested in wrestling with some of these big issues, Wheaton College professor Gary Burge's book, "Whose Promise? Whose Land?" helps identify the issues. Recent articles in Christianity Today are also helpful:

#3: JACK & MADELINE SARA: in 1998, I was teaching at the Alliance Biblical Seminary in Manila in the Philippines. To my amazement, one of my students introduced himself as a Palestinian from Jerusalem. His name was Jack (Yacoub) Sara. After that class, we kept in communication, and Jack became my teacher on the challenges of ministry in Israel/Palestine. Then, to my amazement, I found Jack as my fellow student in the Gordon-Conwell Doctor of Ministry program - so we were together for the two-week residencies in 2002, 2003, and 2004. We met Madeline in 2002, and little Nathanial in 2004. Many readers know that one of the core values of DAI is to build our ministry on relationships, and this trip to ALTI (which Jack coordinates) was a product of seven years of relationship building.

Jack and Madeline provided my hospitality, arranged for my meals and transport, and educated me about the reality of Christian ministry in Jerusalem. Jack translated for me as I preached, toured me around the city, and provided introductions to some fascinating ministries and people. After knowing Jack for 7 years, it was a wonderful relationship-builder to be with him in his home-base, meet his extended family, and serve in his church.

[Added note re: former students - being with Jack, my student from 1998 was a delight, but the delight was magnified when Sarah Baker, one of my mission students at Gordon College over these last three years, contacted me to let me know that she was in Jerusalem studying at Hebrew University. (Sarah was a Bible Major at Gordon, and she is now working towards a Masters degree ("The Bible & Its Times"). In the future, she may pursue ministry in linguistics related to Bible translation. Sarah joined us for church in East Jerusalem Sunday night, July 3rd. It was a thrill to be with these two former students.]

#2: MBB's. Perhaps the most inspirational part of the trip was meeting with those who had become followers of Christ out of a Muslim background. These people face tremendous challenges. They may be looked down upon by Jews because they are Arabs, and they may be cast out by the Arabs who are Muslim. They really do experience the "cost" of discipleship. One brother from a Muslim family had come to the United States years ago - where eventually he became a Christian. From the United States, God called him back, and now he serves in one of the most difficult cities in the Gaza strip. Another brother Jack introduced me to is one of the longest standing MBB Christians. After becoming a Christian, he preached Christ at the Dome of the Rock Mosque. His boldness for Christ resulted in multiple beatings - so much so that he now lives with partial brain damage. But he refuses to leave because he believes that God has called him to Jerusalem.

#1: ENCOURAGING THE SAINTS. Without a doubt, the greatest highlight of the trip was THE STUDENTS. I had men and women from a variety of backgrounds including the Jerusalem Alliance Church. the Assemblies of God., and more. One fellow worked in Gaza; another served in relief & development in the West Bank. There were workers from Life Agape (Campus Crusade) and a missionary from Finland. Two are MBB's. Some are just starting in ministry; others are 15+ year veterans.

We came together as part of ALTI for the week to study "Spiritual Health for Leaders." The class sessions integrated materials from my book, "Feeding Your Forgotten Soul" with the DAI "Spiritual Formation" Course and personal research on subjects like "suffering and success." All of this was to help the group rekindle their "first love" for Jesus.

Was the mission accomplished? We're still gathering feedback, but the primary theme that has already emerged from student comments was that people were encouraged.
  • "This course helped me to stay in the long race" (we used the "marathon" illustration).
  • "Your teaching helps me to choose joy - even in prison"
  • "I have a new perspective on the way God uses suffering to accomplish his purposes."
  • "I know that I need to return to my first love and make listening to God and his word my top priority."
ON THE HOME FRONT:

On the home front, Christie completed the second of her Summer courses, and we look forward now to some concentrated study time and some vacation. We now enter into a 6-week time period devoted to more study - especially for Paul as he continues research and writing for his dissertation. Your prayers - that we will be diligent - are appreciated.

Also on the home front, we're embarking on Summer Fund-Raising in three areas:
  • For continued development of our DAI relationship with the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES
  • For funding needed for a youth/student DAI conference in NE India in November (where Paul will be speaking)
  • And for some exciting new opportunities for partnership with global leaders in our DAI "Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership" program (see www.daintl.org/about/MADegree.htm).
>> WANT TO HEAR MORE?? DROP US AN NOTE FOR DETAILS <<

International travel resumes in September with a journey to St. Petersburg, Russia for our Development Associates International staff meetings hosted by DAI Ministry Center Director Vadim Babashkin. We'll be back in touch before those meetings with our Fall 2005 schedule.

Thanks for your partnership. We greatly value your interest, prayers, and financial support.

In Christ's service,

Paul & Christie
www.borthwicks.org

GIFTS & SUPPORT (much appreciated in the 'slow' Summer season): tax-deductible gifts can be made payable to "Development Associates International" and designated "Borthwick Support" and sent to:

Development Associates International
P.O. 49278
Colorado Springs, CO 80949


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