A COLLECTIVE CALL TO THE GLOBAL CHURCH – from Middle East Evangelical Leaders

INTRODUCTION:

We, Palestinian, Egyptian, Jordanian, Lebanese, Syrian, and Iraqi evangelical leaders representing various churches and Christian ministries, warmly invite our brothers and sisters in the global Church to engage with us, listen to our stories, and together acknowledge the power of unity and the gospel to transform our broken and divided region.

We extend this invitation as a reflection of our steadfast commitment to the gospel and our ongoing efforts to make significant contributions to the lives of millions of people across the Middle East. We deeply appreciate the legacy of Western missionaries who arrived nearly two centuries ago to help us deepen our spiritual heritage and we honor the faithfulness of those serving today.

Together, we aspire for our churches in the Middle East to reclaim our historic role as centers of outreach (Acts 1:8).

Today, we renew our invitation to our global Church family to engage and unite with us to achieve this vision.

OUR COMMITMENT TO UNITY:

Although our goal to extend God’s love to all people is united, a discernible missional gap¹ exists between the Western Church and the Middle Eastern Church, reflecting our unaligned mission priorities. This divide contradicts our collective identity as one Body in Christ (Galatians 3:28). We know that unity is not merely an aspiration but a living divine mandate (John 17:20-23; Romans 12:4-5). Unity honors God and demonstrates the validity of the gospel as we strive to fulfill the Great Commission. We urge Christians around the globe to come to the Middle East not only to visit the ancient biblical sites and relics of the past, but to come and engage with the living stones of the Middle East—a faithful community of believers who have maintained their presence in this region for over two millennia.

OUR COMMITMENT TO PEACE:

We affirm our priority to love God and our neighbors, all of whom are equally created in the image of God (Leviticus 19:18; Mark 12:29-31; Galatians 5:14). Our deep conviction is to love our Muslim and Jewish neighbors. We assert that the conflicts in the Middle East, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, are not manifestations of spiritual warfare but are instead rooted in complex socio-political dynamics that demand nuanced understanding and strategic responses.

We unequivocally reject all forms of violence against civilians to achieve justice (Jeremiah 22:3; Romans 3:15-18), and strongly condemn all religious, political, and social ideologies that hinder a lasting peace including antisemitism², islamophobia³, and Christian Zionism⁴. As citizens of our nations, we believe we are called to speak the truth and pray for those in authority so we can live in peace (1 Timothy 2:1-2; Proverbs 21:1). Our allegiance is to the gospel, untainted by political affiliations, and grounded in the love of Christ through peacemaking (Matthew 5:9; Psalms 34:14).

We assert the indispensable role of the global Church in championing peace. We urge all believers to listen to the discourse of Christians in the Middle East who have resiliently held to their faith in Christ in austere environments. We ask our fellow Christ-followers to engage with the diverse and seemingly contrasting perspectives that emanate from our region.

OUR COMMITMENT TO THE GREAT COMMISSION:

Our mission is anchored in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). We affirm that God’s redemptive love extends to every person (1 Timothy 2:3-4; John 3:16), transcending all cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. We recognize that endeavors influenced by geopolitical, economic, or other external agendas are often perceived as manipulative and frequently exploit the Bible for political purposes. Consequently, many people in our region reject our message of Christ’s love because these influences resemble the methods and attitudes of historical colonial rule, which have had a largely negative impact on the Middle East for centuries. Such influences serve as a stumbling block and impede the Great Commission in our nations (Romans 14:13; 1 Corinthians 9:12).

We passionately call upon the global Church to join with us in dialogue and collaboration to focus with one single vision on the transformative power of the gospel in our region.

OUR COMMITMENT IN TIMES OF WAR:

As followers of Christ in the Middle East, we mourn with all who endure suffering in Palestine and Israel, or any other nation (Matthew 5:4; Romans 12:15). We call upon all believers in the West to unite with us and the broader global Church, to proclaim the gospel of peace over declarations of war (Proverbs 12:20; Psalms 46:9). We acknowledge the diverse responses within the Western church, humbly recognizing both the shortcomings of many evangelicals in failing to support our Palestinian siblings and the Palestinian people during their hardships, and the faithfulness of others who have expressed God’s love in real and tangible ways.

Rejecting extreme religious ideologies, we commit to advocate for peace and compassion in accordance with Christ’s teachings and biblical principles (Matthew 25:37-40; Romans 12:18-21; Proverbs 25:21; Micah 6:8). The devastating crisis in Palestine, characterized by mass civilian deaths and famine in Gaza, has resulted in immense suffering, particularly among women and children. This requires compassion from the global Christian community. We cannot remain silent in the face of these stark realities (Proverbs 31:8-9; Psalms 82:3; Isaiah 1:17).

We lament the silence and at times support of some church leaders within the Western Church regarding the actions in Gaza—actions that have been labeled as plausible genocide by the International Criminal Court, human rights groups, and an increasing number of nations. We urge accountability and call for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the unrestrained flow of aid into Gaza.

We further call for understanding and addressing the root causes of the 76-year conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis. Holding onto hope, we pray for comfort for all affected and affirm our commitment to peacemaking.

OUR INVITATION TO YOU:

We extend a sincere invitation to our brothers and sisters across the globe to join us in a mission that transcends any ethnic, political, or theological divides. Please come and stand alongside us and join what God is doing in our midst. Come and witness the power of the gospel alive in the Middle East.

Participate in bridging divides, in initiatives that heal wounds, and in partnerships that extend the Kingdom of God. Our mission fields are ripe with opportunities for those who seek to serve alongside us and to learn from the enduring strength and faith of our churches. Let us together create a spiritual future where the Middle East is seen not through the lens of its conflicts but as a model of an enduring Christ-honoring Church.

Today is the day of opportunity to advance the Great Commission in one of the most historically significant places on earth. Together we can write the next chapter of God’s story in our region—one that honors our one true faith and looks forward to a future filled with hope and peace. Together, we can demonstrate to our fractured world the power of our Christian unity. Together, we can shape the Middle East into a vibrant epicenter of outreach.

This is our invitation.

Please come be part of this living history.

 

FOOTNOTES

1. Our mission in the Middle East is to demonstrate the love of Jesus equally to both our Muslim and Jewish neighbors. The gap we perceive arises from the lack of voices and initiatives expressing God’s love in our fractured region. Together, we can fill this silence with a powerful message of hope and reconciliation for all people.
2. Antisemitism refers to hostility, prejudice, or discrimination against Jewish people. It manifests in various forms, including harmful stereotypes, hate speech, and violence targeted at individuals or communities simply because they are Jewish.
3. Islamophobia is the fear, hatred, or prejudice against all Muslims just because they are Muslims. This can include discriminatory actions and harmful generalizations that paint all Muslims as extremists. Islamophobia not only affects individual Muslims but also fosters a climate of fear and mistrust, undermining efforts to reach out to them, social cohesion, and peaceful coexistence. Some experts prefer the term “anti-Muslim hatred,” concerned that “Islamophobia” could limit legitimate critiques of Islam. However, international human rights law protects individuals, not religions. Additionally, Islamophobia can affect non-Muslims based on perceived nationality, race, or ethnicity.
4. Christian Zionism is a theo-politcial movement that uses biblical prophecies to justify theologically the establishment and expansion of the modern state of Israel. While Christian Zionism emphasizes support for Israel, it can overshadow the pursuit of peace and justice in the region, particularly concerning the rights and dignity of Palestinians. It’s important to distinguish between supporting Israel’s right to exist and endorsing policies that may contribute to ongoing suffering or displacement of people.