Easter greetings in the Name of Christ Jesus our Risen Lord!
By now, we have all seen the news of the strike on Israel by Islamist forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The crisis in the Middle East is complicated by the sectarian reality that this ultimately is a battle of good versus evil that has been waged against Israel and its supporters in the West. As Christians, we must remember that the whole of the Middle East is home to the Christian faith. Throughout the Bible we see God’s chosen people and the Church dwelling in modern day Israel, Judea, Samaria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon.
Areas such as Gaza and the West Bank have been home to Christian communities for hundreds of years before Islam was created. Today, we hear that Iran is home to one of the fastest growing Christian Churches in the world.
I ask all faithful Christians to join me in prayer today.
- Pray for lasting peace and a cessation of all hostilities in the region.
- Pray that our Lord Jesus Christ would reveal himself to all the people of the Middle East so that they would come to know the Prince of Peace as their Lord and Savior.
- Pray for healing and recovery for the injured and traumatized on all sides, rest for the weary, and wisdom for those in authority.
- Pray for our US service members across the region who are in harm’s way and our ACNA Chaplains who minister to them.
Amazing things happen when God’s people pray!!
BCP2019 – Collect 33. FOR OUR ENEMIES
O God, the Creator of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you in Jesus Christ; in whose Name we pray. Amen.
Sincerely in Christ,
Archbishop Foley Beach
P.S. If you would like to support the ongoing relief efforts in the region directly, I encourage you to give to the work at Christ Church Jerusalem at https://christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/
