WHTT Podcasts

Why Neo-Christians Are Hostile to Peace in the Middle East

Two recent actions by members of We Hold These Truths in Fresno, CA and Scottsdale, AZ highlight the continuing need to challenge Neo-Christian churches on issues like peace in the Middle East. Our team in Fresno challenged the California Southern Baptist Convention at their state headquarters in Fresno with some interesting results, both encouraging and and troubling. In Scottsdale, the ongoing need to challenge our church leaders is revealed in this 34 minute podcast by Chuck Carlson and members of WHTT. Excellent references mentioned in the program are: "WHTT Asks Southern Baptist Convention Messengers To Choose Life Not War," "Pastor Dr. Chuck Baldwin Rejects Christian Zionism" and "Does the Bible Require Followers of Jesus to Support the Jewish State of Israel."

 

Palestinian Christians in Gaza are Between 2 Fires

Pastor Dr. Hanna Massad is a Palestinian Christian with a fascinating story. He was born in a Gaza refugee camp because his parents and grandparents, and over 750,000 Palestinians, were forced off their land in Palestine, by the Zionists in 1948, when Israel was founded. In this remarkable and inspiring, 44 minute podcast, Pastor Hanna is interviewed by Chuck Carlson and members of We Hold These Truths. We learn about the challenges Palestinian Christians face in Gaza and the West Bank of Palestine. They are caught between two fires: the brutal Israeli occupation and radicalized Muslims. Growing up in Gaza, Christians like Hanna Massad and his family lived peaceably with their Muslim neighbors. We learn from Pastor Hanna the impact of Christian Zionism and the Israel-first policies of the US government on Palestinian Christians and Muslims. An excellent book that includes a story about Pastor Hanna, and delves into the plight of evangelical Christians in the Holy Land is: "Between 2 Fires: The Untold Stories of the Palestinian Christians"' by Jack Kindaid. If you were moved by Pastor Hanna's story, any help with his ministry would be greatfully appreciated. It is: Christian Mission to Gaza and it helps with Gaza relief, the Gaza Baptist Church (Yes, there still is a Evangelical Baptist church in Gaza, praise God!), Iraqi & Syrian refugee relief.

Flying High in Gaza

Under a blockade and siege since 2007, children in Gaza don't have many fun things to do. One very popular activity is kite flying. In 2011, over 13,000 kites were flown in Gaza to break a Guinness World Record. This one minute report by ABC, tells the poignant story. During the recent "The Great March of Return" protests in Gaza, starting in March, about 150 people have been killed and over 2000 people have been wounded by Israeli snipers. To fight back, some Palestinian protesters in Gaza decided to try out "armed" kites and helium-filled balloons as weapons that have ignited some Israeli farmlands (see here & here). After all, Gaza is the world's largest open air prison and some of the inmates aren't too happy about the ongoing Israeli economic blockade that is slowly strangling Gaza to where it will be unlivable by 2020 (see here).