Logo

 

Banner Image:   Baptist-Times-banner-2000x370-
Template Mode:   Baptist Times
Icon
    Post     Tweet

Baptist twinning in Israel


In the summer of 2016, Walsworth Road Baptist Church, Hitchin entered into a twinning relationship with Tur'an Baptist Church in north Israel, writes Andrew Henton Pusey. The first face to face encounter revealed several unexpected connections 


Israel Twinning1Tur’an, it is claimed, was visited by Jesus during his lifetime – it’s just that the Gospel writers forgot to mention it! (the town is on the natural route between Nazareth and Lake Galilee, and Cana is its nearest neighbour.
 
The whole twinning idea followed a Holy Land visit by two couples in the church which made a huge impression on them. Within six months the church, which has previously enjoyed various world mission links, agreed to twin with Tur’an.
 
However, it was not until summer 2017 that we had our first face-to-face encounter, as our pastor Andrew visited the Holy Land for the first time. 
 
But if there had been any hesitation about the rightness of the decision to twin, it was blown away by some remarkable discoveries about the way that God’s hand has been at work over many years.
 
It was not just the warm welcome and generous hospitality that was experienced, as finally there were people from both churches physically present in the same place (we have shared Skype conversations as well as various other greetings during the year, and we have treasured the opportunities to pray for one another).
 
Israel Twinning2At the church service in Tur’an where Andrew was invited to preach, and where gifts were exchanged, an interpreter was identified (the usual language of the worship, as in the town, is Arabic). It became apparent that this man, Saleem, a previous pastor of the church, had also been the interpreter at Tur’an Baptist back in the 1990s for another UK preacher: Andrew’s father, also a Baptist minister.
 
Indeed, as the service last May continued to unfold, it also emerged that Andrew’s mother, (who was very involved for many years with the European Baptist Women’s Union) had visited and shared much time with Saleem’s mother.
 
The sense of astonishment as these unlikely “God-incidences” were pieced together during the worship was amazing!
 
We don’t know what this twinning relationship, just over a year old, might mean for us or for Tur’an, but already we here have been so enriched and encouraged by what we have shared. It is hoped that further visits can be arranged: it is our prayer that Ziad, the pastor in Tur’an, will be able to come to Hitchin some day – or perhaps we can share a joint project or two.
 
But as we seek to discern the way forward in this second year as twinned churches, we are already rejoicing at the marvellous and unmistakeable way that God has been at his work in this relationship for two decades! 
 

Andrew travelled on one of Baptist minister David Ronco’s recommended tours. David's next Introductory Tour to Israel takes place in April 2019. Visit www.baptisttwinningisrael.org.uk for more.

This article originally appeared in Central News, which is compiled by the Central Baptist Association. It is republished with permission. 


 
Baptist Times, 02/02/2018
    Post     Tweet
CBA Home Mission stories
Examples of how Home Mission funds are being used in the Central Baptist Association
SubArticleD2019
Baptist church hosts two nationally acclaimed musicians to support Christian Aid 
Music lovers are invited to raise the roof to support vulnerable communities around the world
'I hope my songs resonate with others'
Baptist minister Simon Cragg returned to songwriting this summer – and is now releasing tracks which are engaging with different people, including a local line dance group and a professional football club
Dagnall Street Baptist Church bids fond farewell to retiring minister
There was a heartfelt farewell service as the Revd Simon Carver concluded a significant 17 year tenure at the St Albans church
Marshalswick Baptists welcome new minister 
The Revd Darren Street has become only the sixth minister in the 55-year history of Marshalswick Baptist Free Church (MBFC)
We took our church through the 12 steps of recovery, and here’s what happened… 
With several people joining Life Church in Cuffley from local recovery groups, pastor William Wade wondered if it might be helpful to go through the 12 steps of recovery programme as a discipleship series on Sunday mornings
'You can’t save the world but you can do small things'
Trip of a lifetime awaits as the Vlok family from Milton Keynes prepare to visit their sponsored child in Cambodia
     Regional News 
    Posted: 30/04/2021
    Posted: 21/08/2020
    Posted: 20/12/2019
    Posted: 23/08/2018
    Posted: 22/06/2017
    Posted: 07/02/2016
    Posted: 27/04/2015
    Posted: 16/03/2015