A follower of Jesus with a heart for sharing Jesus’ love through our site at bornagainchristians.org, I carry a burden for Gaza, a place torn by conflict yet ripe for God’s hope.
The violence and division there break my heart, but I believe the Lord Jesus is calling His people to be peacemakers and witnesses in this challenging land. I am from Glasgow, where we live and work with Muslims, most of whom are Scottish, born here.
Conservative Christians like me share values with our Muslim friends, who oppose abortion and euthanasia and support a strong family unit; many vote for or are members of the Scottish Family Party.
In the past, we had a Muslim landlord who owned a restaurant in town. They were very friendly and even gave us Christmas cards, knowing we were Christians.
Our vision is to bring Christians from around the world to live alongside peaceful Muslims in Gaza, creating a community where the Gospel can be lived out, fostering transformation over time.
Let’s explore this burden through the lens of Scripture and the principles God has laid on my heart.
A Biblical Call to Love and Witness
In Matthew 28:19–20, Jesus commands us to “go and make disciples of all nations,” a call that burns in my soul for Gaza’s, with its 2 million people. This vision of Christians to live among Muslims in Gaza aligns with this Great Commission, not through force or debate, but through the quiet power of a life transformed by Jesus.
Evangelism isn’t about arguing someone into faith, it’s about loving them as Jesus does (John 13:35). Christians in Gaza could show this love by serving their neighbours, building schools, or supporting hospitals like Al-Ahli Arab, reflecting the mission work I’ve seen God use globally.
The Bible also calls us to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). Gaza has suffered under conflict, with groups like Hamas fuelling violence. If Hamas’s influence is removed, as this vision assumes, Christians living there could model reconciliation, showing Muslims the peace of Christ.
I believe the Gospel thrives in relationships, not programs. By living alongside Muslims, eating with them, helping rebuild their communities, Christians can share Jesus naturally, as Peter urged, with “gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).
Returning to a Christian Heritage
Gaza has a Christian history, with believers present since the early centuries. In 723, Willibald, an English pilgrim, saw Christians and Muslims living in friendship in Gaza, showing us a model for peaceful witness today.
Though only about 1,000 Christians remain among a 99% Muslim population, this heritage reminds us that God’s Spirit has moved there before.
My burden for Christians resettling in Gaza isn’t about erasing Palestinian identity but inviting them to rediscover the hope of Jesus. As Scripture says in Romans 10:14, “How can they hear without someone preaching to them?” Christians living authentically in Gaza could be that voice, not through coercion, but through lives that reflect Jesus’s love and truth.
A Neighbour Israel Can Trust
Israel’s security concerns are real on it doorstep, as we saw in the tragic attacks of October 7, 2023. I believe a Gaza transformed by Christian influence could become a neighbour Israel trusts, much like the harmony we see when God’s people live in unity (Psalm 133:1). If Christians in Gaza model forgiveness and love, they could help break the cycle of bitterness that fuels conflict.
The Gospel changes hearts and changed hearts change communities. A Christian-influenced Gaza could build hospitals and schools, not tunnels and rockets, creating a “Singapore in the Mediterranean” that trades and cooperates with Israel.
This vision requires Israel’s support to ensure safety, perhaps through a temporary oversight, keeping the UN out of the land.
This can be seen by reading biblical examples where God used nations to protect His people (Nehemiah 2:7-9).
Christians from allied nations, and even persecuted believers from places like Iraq or Egypt, could settle in Gaza, strengthening the church there.
This isn’t about forcing faith but planting seeds that bear fruit over generations, as Jesus taught in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:23).
Challenges and the Power of Prayer
I acknowledge the challenges. Gaza’s Muslim majority holds its faith deeply, and history, like the Crusades, warns us against anything that looks like forcing religion. That’s why this vision must avoid coercion, focusing on voluntary faith, as God’s love invites, not demands (John 3:16).
Tensions, like the 2007 tragedy of a Christian bookstore owner, show the need for sensitivity. False rumours, like recent claims of church bombings later debunked as propaganda, remind us to seek truth (John 8:32). Christians must serve humbly, not confront, to avoid “getting backs up,” as Jesus modelled humility (Philippians 2:5-8).
Prayer is our greatest weapon. I’ve seen God move through prayer, whether for revival or peace. We must pray for Gaza’s people, for hearts to soften, and for Christians to be bold yet loving witnesses.
Through bornagainchristians.org, I’m calling believers to join this work through prayer and support for Gaza’s church, especially its 1,000 Christians, mostly Orthodox, who carry a legacy we can build on.
A Vision of Hope
My burden to see Christians living in Gaza to share the Gospel is bold, but God loves with our bold faith (Hebrews 11:6). It is not going to be a quick fix, but it is all about planting seeds for a future where Gaza knows Christ’s peace.
The Gospel is simple: Jesus saves, and His love transforms and by living among Muslims, serving them, and praying for them, Christians can show Gaza what Jesus offers, a hope that endures.
Let’s commit to this vision with prayer, love, and faith, trusting God to do what only He can. As Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain.”
May Gaza become a place where His love shines, for His glory and the good of all its people.
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