Bethlehem Bible College Hosts a Televised Message of Hope to the Persecuted Churches of the Arab World

‘Let us remember that the early church was a persecuted church’ said Dr. Yohanna Katanacho, Academic Dean of Bethlehem Bible College, ‘However that same church was one that changed the world’.

Jack Sara, president of Bethlehem Bible College, led yesterday at BBC campus a televised meeting to bring a message of hope from Palestine to the persecuted Christians in the Middle East & North Africa. The two hour event featured a panel of speakers from different church denominations. Latin Patriarch Emeritus of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah initiated with a profound message of faith found in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Orthodox Archbishop Atallah Hanna followed with a reminder that as a church we are one body and if one part of the body is in pain, all the body suffers. Noura Karmi, project coordinator of Kairos Palestine, started her message with a word of solidarity addressed to every sister, mother, and daughter of the persecuted church. At the same time, she highlighted that the church in Palestine receives strength from all of the women who, despite the threat of persecution, still declare Jesus is risen indeed. Madleine Sara, leader of Counselling and Coaching at Bethlehem Bible College, followed with a message of encouragement for the persecuted church, reminding Christian brothers and sisters of the power of prayer and the promise God has for His children in Romans ‘I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love…’ (Rom 8:31-39). Finally, Dr. Yohanna Katanacho, reminded the Church of the vital role of hope in the life of Christians. He elaborated on the fact that Christ’s resurrection was the resurrection of hope in the life of his disciples who thought everything was lost after Jesus’ death on the cross.