Jerusalem church continues bold stand despite arson attack
Friday, August 30, 2013 | Ryan Jones, Israel Today
Pastor Steven Khoury of Calvary Church is determined to continue taking a bold stand for the Gospel despite sometimes violent opposition, including a recent arson attack against the church's building in the eastern Jerusalem Arab suburb of Shuafat.
Khoury had just returned from one of his many speaking engagements abroad when church elders urgently notified him of the attack.
"Pastor, we finished our youth revival meeting. Sunday evening a big fire was intentionally started attacking the front and sides of Calvary Church building," an elder frantically explained over the phone. "The fire department in Jerusalem brought two large fire trucks which caught the fire in time before burning up our church building, playground and our church vehicle."
What's worse, none of the church's neighbors bothered to notify Khoury or his staff about the fire, another indication that his actively evangelistic ministry is unwelcome in the area.
It's not that many of the church's neighbors didn't care, but, as the elder explained, "because of our standing firm in being a lighthouse and teaching Jesus many will not say anything of fear of physical attacks on them, there children or property."
Shuafat has long been a flash point of conflict, and Israeli rescue forces and police typically avoid the neighborhood for fear of sparking a violent response.
This is where Khoury and his team are working to share the love of Yeshua. And their troubles did not begin with the arson attack.
The church continues to operate out of temporary facilities, and landlords are becoming increasingly hesitant to rent to these Christians. In fact, Calvary Church was recently notified that at any time it could be told to vacate its current premises.
The church is now seeking the funds to purchase its own building. A suitable building has already been located, and, as Khoury explained, "This opportunity is a miracle as the Lord lead us to the ONLY Muslim willing to sell to us. By selling to us he is actually risking much, the only way we can explain his willingness to sell is that the Holy Spirit is leading him."
While the new building would prevent the church from ever being evicted, it could become even more of a target for attack. In fact, Khoury has every intention of letting his light shine even brighter. "What an opportunity to be a lighthouse in between two of the largest Arab Muslim towns outside of East Jerusalem," he told Israel Today. "Calvary is already providing people in the community with the rare opportunity to hear and learn about Jesus."
While the church's current circumstances would deter most, Pastor Khoury remains resolute. "We will continue enduring because we believe what we are doing is reviving the church in the city where it all began."
To learn more about Calvary Church and its building fund, visit: www.holylandmissions.org
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Comments: Pastor Steven Khoury, we are praying for you. May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to strengthen you, settle you, and fill you with His Spirit. Your sufferings for Christ are an example to us all. We pray that the Lord will provide you with a building, and that many Muslims will come to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Acts 19:9-10). May His love continue to make you bold. God bless you, brother.
Candace Long
Praise Jesus♡♥♡ Stand strong Pastor Steven Khoury ♡♥♡ We are praying for you <><
David Martin
First Century Christians met in their homes, in small groups, for worship! The Twelve apostles received no instructions from the Holy Spirit to construct meeting places! The example the First Christians set in this regard is followed today by many Christians; no expensive building and grounds to care for, allowing time and resources of Christians to be used more productively in helping the poor and in disciple making! The constructing of Churches large and small began only after the Apostles had died off and the "Great Apostasy" Jesus and Paul foretold, took root.
p.s. Unkil Jed seys: Mi nepew dun wnt an stirid up a ornets nest so we'sens btter run 4 cuver! Ya'll ave a guden!
Keren Hannah David Martin
True. The 1st Century followers of Yeshua did not need to build meeting places, they already had them - the synagogues. May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bless Pastor Khoury mightily as he resolutely stands for Jesus and, hopefully, with Israel and the Jewish people.
Dr. Jim Heyman
God's mercy and grace and blessings to you, brother.
Dorothy Finlay
I thank the Lord for you Bro. Stephen. Many years ago I served the Arab Baptist church with Pastor Milad Hanna and knew your father in Bethlehem. May the Lord bless and encourage you and give you His wisdom in how your church proceeds. God will have His strategy to reach the people of the Shuafat area. May the Lord protect His people and the Gospel go into the dark corners of Shuafat and many turn from darkness to Light. You are in our prayers. "Greater is He who is within you than he who is in the world" I think of the times of persecution in Acts when the 'church met in Peter's mother's home' and the Lord Himself told the disciples to seek out a 'man of peace' in the area and stay there. You alone will know who but you mention a friendly Muslim man willing to cooperate with you.
je71sac@yahoo.com
What a wonderful Blessing Steve Khoury, is to all of us. What beautiful comments today about him. May the FATHER in HEAVEN Bless him; and keep him, My prayer that everything he is doing the HOLY SPIRIT will be in his mist and keep him safe from harm.
Susan Hunsinger
Pastor Khoury, ever since I heard you speak in April, I have been praying for you and HLM. I wrote down a couple of your quotes from the conference in April and the first quote has become the prayer of my life.
"Blow the dust off of me. I want to be fully sold out to You." and,
"If You get me through this, I will love You even more."
Many prayers are being lifted up in your behalf and on behalf of your family and Calvary Church.
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 2 Corinthians 4: 8-11
pat
Israel is God's chosen people.
