Over the Christmas vacation I had the opportunity to meet with 10 students and two teachers from the Nazareth Baptist School in Nazareth, Israel. I attended a dinner in their honor and then hosted them in my office. They also attended classes at Kings for a day. Their school has many similarities with Kings Schools. Their teachers were inspirational and the students...well they seemed like regular highs school kids.
Here is some information about the Nazareth School:
"Even though they are outnumbered two to one by Muslim residents, even though their story is largely unknown around the world, this small group of believers in Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth represents one of the most urgent and strategic opportunities to not only keep the Gospel message alive but advance the Lord’s work throughout Nazareth, Israel and the entire Middle East.
The school is home to forgotten Arab Christians, believers whose families have lived in Palestine for centuries and who have remained in Nazareth and remained faithful to God through centuries of war, upheaval and ongoing persecution.
Nazareth Baptist School is the only evangelical K-12 school in Israel. Academically, it is one of top-rated schools in the entire country. Of its 1,000 students, 70 % are Christian, 30% Muslim. All students receive Bible teaching and attend chapel.
Every fall, Nazareth Baptist School has a waiting list of 100 children. Nazareth Baptist School is one of the strongest academic schools in Israel. By the time they graduate, all students are fluent in three languages – Arabic, Hebrew and English – and many go to earn advanced degrees at the country’s top universities."
This experience gave me a picture of what it is like to live in Israel as a very small Christian minority. Right now the media reports stories about the ongoing conflict with Palestine. There is a constant threat of violence in parts of Israel. The Muslim, Christian, Jewish tension is a constant presence. There are economic challenges in the country and for the school. In the midst of these challenges they still graduate students who excel academically and are committed to Jesus Christ.
What a great reminder to us all that more than ever, in difficult and trying times we must put one foot in front of the other and continue the journey God has set before us. And you know, often times we will find we can accomplish more than we think possible.
Talk about hard times. Samuel chapter 30:3-6 "When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. David's two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God."
I think you get the picture. A terrible thing happened and David's men were turning against him. So what did David do? He found strength in the Lord. How did he actually do this? How do we do this?
Psalm 119: 104-106 "I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws."
Know God's Word, understand what it says and be obedient to what you know. This is one essential and very important path to being strong in the Lord. God's Word is simple, it is straightforward, it is knowable and doable.
Ephesians 6:18 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."
Pray, and never stop praying. Prayer involves praise, thanksgiving, confession, petition, intercession, crying, singing among other things. It is conversing with our Father. How can you gain strength from a relationship if you are not relating to the source of the strength?
Philippians 2:1-3 1 "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."
Spend quality time with believers you know, love and trust. It is called fellowship. We are not meant to go it alone!
Keep the faith.