Gaza Baptist Church
Encyclopedia
The Gaza Baptist Church is a Baptist church in Gaza City, Gaza
, Palestinian Territories
. The Church is one of only three Christian churches in the Gaza Strip, and the only one that is Protestant and evangelical.
The Gaza Baptist Church and its congregation of about 200 have been adversely affected by ongoing violence and chaos related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
. Several church members have become casualties of violence between warring Palestinian factions, and after the murder of a Church leader by Islamic extremists in 2007, a number of others were advised by the authorities to leave Gaza for their own safety.
As a result of this situation and of ongoing Israeli travel restrictions, the Church's leadership, including its pastor, still lives in exile, and is only occasionally able to return.
The church, which has historically ministered to approximately 150-250 of Gaza's some-odd 2,000 Christians, is one of only three Christian churches in the Gaza Strip. Among Church of Saint Porphyrius
and Gaza Latin Church on Zeitoun Street, Gaza Baptist Church is the only Evangelical
church in all of Gaza. The church opened Gaza's first public Christian library in 2006.
The church's building is six stories tall. The first two floors are a dedicated public library, which serves both Christian and non-Christian books. The fourth floor is used for outreach, the fifth floor is a lodge for guest workers from abroad, and the sixth floor is used as a worship hall.
Gaza's tiny Christian minority has traditionally enjoyed good relations with the territory's much larger Muslim majority. Prior to the breakdown of law and order in 2007, the Church ran youth programs, a library, and medical clinics. As of May 2010 it was still running a school for about 250 students, most of whom are Muslim.
won the Palestinian general elections. Skirmishes between the militias of Hamas and the previous Fatah
administration erupted into open warfare
in January 2007, and Hamas was able to seize control of the entire Gaza Strip.
Gaza suffered a breakdown in law and order following the election, and since the Hamas takeover, the party has struggled to reimpose order under the joint impact of international sanctions and a lengthy Israeli economic blockade. The increasing chaos and lawlessness has adversely affected Gaza's minority Christian community, including the members of the Gaza Baptist Church.
and Hamas
troops as an observation post
during the Fatah–Hamas conflict
. This resulted in several of Gaza Baptist Church's staff being caught in crossfire. In one instance, a church librarian was hit by gunfire during a firefight between opposing factions. On a similar occasion, the church bus driver, a 22-year-old newlywed, was killed. The Church was raided and temporarily seized by Fatah police in February 2007.
. Following Ayyad's death, authorities advised Pastor Massad to relocate in order to ensure the safety of himself and his family. As a result of the violence, regular attendance at the church was adversely affected in following months.
and five of the other six moved to the West Bank
near Bethlehem
. Since then, with rare exceptions, only Massad has been allowed to return by the Israeli authorities. The five who moved to Bethlehem have been prohibited from leaving the area, as a result of which, some have not seen family members for years.
The Israeli blockade of Gaza, according to Massad, has led to "[a] lot of desperation and hopelessness among the people ... more poverty and more suffering". The cost of living has increased and medical equipment is in short supply. However, most agree that the Israeli travel restrictions are even more difficult to endure. Massad summarized the plight of Palestinian Christians as like living "between two fires. Muslim persecution and Israeli occupation."
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
, Palestinian Territories
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
. The Church is one of only three Christian churches in the Gaza Strip, and the only one that is Protestant and evangelical.
The Gaza Baptist Church and its congregation of about 200 have been adversely affected by ongoing violence and chaos related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. The conflict is wide-ranging, and the term is also used in reference to the earlier phases of the same conflict, between Jewish and Zionist yishuv and the Arab population living in Palestine under Ottoman or...
. Several church members have become casualties of violence between warring Palestinian factions, and after the murder of a Church leader by Islamic extremists in 2007, a number of others were advised by the authorities to leave Gaza for their own safety.
As a result of this situation and of ongoing Israeli travel restrictions, the Church's leadership, including its pastor, still lives in exile, and is only occasionally able to return.
Church description and activities
The church was founded in the 1950s. It is pastored by Hanna Massad.The church, which has historically ministered to approximately 150-250 of Gaza's some-odd 2,000 Christians, is one of only three Christian churches in the Gaza Strip. Among Church of Saint Porphyrius
Church of Saint Porphyrius
The Church of Saint Porphyrius is the Orthodox Christian church of Gaza, and the oldest active church in the city...
and Gaza Latin Church on Zeitoun Street, Gaza Baptist Church is the only Evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
church in all of Gaza. The church opened Gaza's first public Christian library in 2006.
The church's building is six stories tall. The first two floors are a dedicated public library, which serves both Christian and non-Christian books. The fourth floor is used for outreach, the fifth floor is a lodge for guest workers from abroad, and the sixth floor is used as a worship hall.
Gaza's tiny Christian minority has traditionally enjoyed good relations with the territory's much larger Muslim majority. Prior to the breakdown of law and order in 2007, the Church ran youth programs, a library, and medical clinics. As of May 2010 it was still running a school for about 250 students, most of whom are Muslim.
Recent history
In a surprise result in January 2006, the Islamist Party HamasHamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
won the Palestinian general elections. Skirmishes between the militias of Hamas and the previous Fatah
Fatah
Fataḥ is a major Palestinian political party and the largest faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization , a multi-party confederation. In Palestinian politics it is on the left-wing of the spectrum; it is mainly nationalist, although not predominantly socialist. Its official goals are found...
administration erupted into open warfare
Fatah-Hamas conflict
The Fatah–Hamas conflict , also referred to as the Palestinian Civil War , and the Conflict of Brothers , i.e...
in January 2007, and Hamas was able to seize control of the entire Gaza Strip.
Gaza suffered a breakdown in law and order following the election, and since the Hamas takeover, the party has struggled to reimpose order under the joint impact of international sanctions and a lengthy Israeli economic blockade. The increasing chaos and lawlessness has adversely affected Gaza's minority Christian community, including the members of the Gaza Baptist Church.
Arson attacks and bomb damage
On or before February 2007, the Church's public library was subjected to arson attacks on three separate occasions. During an Israeli air raid in December 2008, the building was damaged by a nearby bomb blast.Fatah-Hamas conflict
Because of its height, unusual in this mostly low-rise city, the Gaza Baptist Church building was repeatedly commandeered by FatahFatah
Fataḥ is a major Palestinian political party and the largest faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization , a multi-party confederation. In Palestinian politics it is on the left-wing of the spectrum; it is mainly nationalist, although not predominantly socialist. Its official goals are found...
and Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
troops as an observation post
Observation post
An observation post, temporary or fixed, is a position from which soldiers can watch enemy movements, to warn of approaching soldiers , or to direct artillery fire...
during the Fatah–Hamas conflict
Fatah–Hamas conflict
The Fatah–Hamas conflict , also referred to as the Palestinian Civil War , and the Conflict of Brothers , i.e...
. This resulted in several of Gaza Baptist Church's staff being caught in crossfire. In one instance, a church librarian was hit by gunfire during a firefight between opposing factions. On a similar occasion, the church bus driver, a 22-year-old newlywed, was killed. The Church was raided and temporarily seized by Fatah police in February 2007.
Slain Church leader
In April 2007, one of Gaza Baptist Church's leaders, Rami Ayyad, was kidnapped, publicly beaten, and murdered by unidentified Islamic militants. Ayyad—the first Palestinian Christian in living memory to be murdered for his religious faith—had been the manager of Gaza's only Christian bookstore, The Teacher's BookshopThe Teacher's Bookshop
The Teacher's Bookshop was a Christian bookstore in the Gaza Strip that was in operation between 1998 and 2007. Located in the centre of Gaza City, it was Gaza's only Christian bookshop, catering to the needs of Gaza's tiny Christian minority...
. Following Ayyad's death, authorities advised Pastor Massad to relocate in order to ensure the safety of himself and his family. As a result of the violence, regular attendance at the church was adversely affected in following months.
Israeli blockade and travel restrictions
After the murder of Ayyad, seven of the Church's leaders, including its pastor Hanna Massad, followed the advice of authorities and left Gaza. Massad moved with his family to JordanJordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
and five of the other six moved to the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
near Bethlehem
Bethlehem
Bethlehem is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank of the Jordan River, near Israel and approximately south of Jerusalem, with a population of about 30,000 people. It is the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate of the Palestinian National Authority and a hub of Palestinian culture and tourism...
. Since then, with rare exceptions, only Massad has been allowed to return by the Israeli authorities. The five who moved to Bethlehem have been prohibited from leaving the area, as a result of which, some have not seen family members for years.
The Israeli blockade of Gaza, according to Massad, has led to "[a] lot of desperation and hopelessness among the people ... more poverty and more suffering". The cost of living has increased and medical equipment is in short supply. However, most agree that the Israeli travel restrictions are even more difficult to endure. Massad summarized the plight of Palestinian Christians as like living "between two fires. Muslim persecution and Israeli occupation."