Cradle of Our Faith

Why do we care about Christians in the Middle East?

The CRC cares deeply about standing with Christian communities around the globe to build the Church of Jesus Christ as we have been commanded.  At this time, the Christian communities in the Middle East--the cradle of our faith---are in particularly great need of our solidarity and partnership.

The indigenous Christians in the Middle East have stood as an unbroken and enduring witness in the land of Christ’s life and ministry for 2,000 years.

Although our brothers and sisters--the living stones of the Holy Land--have testified to God’s faithfulness for centuries, the Church is now in danger of dying out.

In just a few short generations, the number of Christians has plummeted by as much as 90 percent in certain areas, with the greatest decline taking place in Iraq and Israel/Palestine. Considerable levels of conflict, as well as other social, political, and economic pressures, have resulted in persecution, death, and other hardships, forcing these Christians to flee their homelands.

The hardships of different Christian communities vary widely: Jordan and Syria, for example, are countries of relative freedom for Christians, while the Church in Bethlehem may not survive another two generations. Yet in all cases, many of the difficulties faced by our brothers and sisters in the Middle East are rooted in systemic injustices, as those in power have failed to protect the rights and freedoms of this vulnerable minority.

Let us respond faithfully to the challenges and opportunities that the Holy Land- the cradle of our faith - provides. We ask that you join us in standing in solidarity with our Christian brothers and sisters in the Middle East through prayer and advocacy, guided by resources below.  

Online and Print Resources

The Cradle of Our Faith (2009; run time: 27:24) is a DVD that gives a historical and present-day overview of Christianity in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iran, Israel/Palestine, Iraq, and Egypt. To request a free copy, contact mkraley@crcna.org. To preview, watch the introduction online.

Horizons magazine -  Despite the fact that Christianity was born in the Middle East, many of us forget about our Christian sisters and brothers there. In this issue, writers offer their thoughts on the joys and challenges of being Christian in Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza. Contact ccooper@crcna.org to request a copy; suggested donation is $2.00.

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem: A Service of Prayer for the People of the Middle East (.doc)

In 2007, the OSJ led an ad-hoc group of Christian Reformed staff and members on a study trip to the Middle East. Read about their discoveries and subsequent recommendations.

Marlin and Sally Vis, RCA missionaries to Israel, shared a ministry of hospitality and communication at St. George's College in Jerusalem. To read about their experiences in Israel/Palestine, visit their blog.

Who Are the Christians in the Middle East? by Betty Jane Bailey and J. Martin Bailey (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids: 2003). Martin Bailey served at various times as editor of the United Church Herald, A.D. magazine, and Connections.

The Arab Christian: A History in the Middle East, by Kenneth Cragg (Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville: 1991). Bishop Cragg spent 45 years in the Middle East as a professor of philosophy and later as a bishop in the Anglican Archdiocese of Jerusalem. He has written more than 30 books, including The Arab Christian and Palestine: The Prize and Price of Zion.

Churches for Middle-East Peace (CMEP) and Sabeel (Palestinian Christian group) have well-organized links to many of the websites related to peace and justice issues in Israel and Palestine. The Christian Reformed Church is a member of Churches for Middle East Peace.