Dear Friends and Family,
Misty and I have been looking forward to May of 2008 for quite some time now. After four years at Denver Seminary I will be graduating with a Master of Divinity with an emphasis in Philosophy of Religion. Of course, what is on our minds and many of our friends and family is “What’s next?” Until about a month ago we were wondering the same thing.
Recently, the president of Bethlehem Bible College in Bethlehem, Palestine spoke at Denver Seminary about what God has done and is doing at Bethlehem Bible College and in the West Bank. Although Misty and I traveled to Bethlehem in March of 2005, we were unaware of this wonderful Christian Evangelical institution in the heart of the Middle East.
Although this same Bethlehem is the birth place of our Prince of Peace, a December 2007 National Geographic article described Bethlehem as “one of the most contentious places on Earth.” Bethlehem, about ten minutes south of Jerusalem, is one of many Palestinian Autonomously Controlled Areas in the occupied territory of the West Bank. This small town finds itself in the cultural intersection of the three great monotheistic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) and two nations Israel and Palestine.
Bethlehem has been home to several terrorists, and due to the violence in nearby Jerusalem, Israel is building a wall around the entire town of Bethlehem hoping to impede hostile aggressions. While this wall does enclose Muslims who use violence as their political tactic, the Christians in Bethlehem suffer as well. Tourism has decreased. Travel restrictions for Palestinians have created an impoverished community. Many Christians have left the town, and those that still remain are constantly being caught in the violent Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The same National Geographic article mentioned above also asked, “Can you imagine Bethlehem without any Christians? You better start imagining it, because in a few years, it might be a reality.”
Although Misty and I realize the danger of this region of the world, we also realize the greatness of our God to accomplish the most amazing things in the most difficult situations. The Christians in Bethlehem and at Bethlehem Bible College are a strategic fortress for the kingdom of God in a region of this world that is gradually becoming dominated by an Islamic worldview. As global Christians, Misty and I feel that we have been both equipped and called to this region to serve our Lord and further his kingdom. So we are pleased to announce that we will be going to Bethlehem to serve at Bethlehem Bible College in the fall of 2008! We will be teaching English to the community and to the students at the college, serving as messengers between college extensions, working with the college’s various ministry projects, and aiding local Christian churches.
Please take some time to read about Bethlehem Bible College at http://www.bethlehembiblecollege.edu/. Misty and I covet your prayers for us and for our new calling. We will send more information as we prepare to make this commitment.
In Christ’s Love and for His Glory,
Aaron and Misty (Bellow) Laenger
Misty and I have been looking forward to May of 2008 for quite some time now. After four years at Denver Seminary I will be graduating with a Master of Divinity with an emphasis in Philosophy of Religion. Of course, what is on our minds and many of our friends and family is “What’s next?” Until about a month ago we were wondering the same thing.
Recently, the president of Bethlehem Bible College in Bethlehem, Palestine spoke at Denver Seminary about what God has done and is doing at Bethlehem Bible College and in the West Bank. Although Misty and I traveled to Bethlehem in March of 2005, we were unaware of this wonderful Christian Evangelical institution in the heart of the Middle East.
Although this same Bethlehem is the birth place of our Prince of Peace, a December 2007 National Geographic article described Bethlehem as “one of the most contentious places on Earth.” Bethlehem, about ten minutes south of Jerusalem, is one of many Palestinian Autonomously Controlled Areas in the occupied territory of the West Bank. This small town finds itself in the cultural intersection of the three great monotheistic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) and two nations Israel and Palestine.
Bethlehem has been home to several terrorists, and due to the violence in nearby Jerusalem, Israel is building a wall around the entire town of Bethlehem hoping to impede hostile aggressions. While this wall does enclose Muslims who use violence as their political tactic, the Christians in Bethlehem suffer as well. Tourism has decreased. Travel restrictions for Palestinians have created an impoverished community. Many Christians have left the town, and those that still remain are constantly being caught in the violent Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The same National Geographic article mentioned above also asked, “Can you imagine Bethlehem without any Christians? You better start imagining it, because in a few years, it might be a reality.”
Although Misty and I realize the danger of this region of the world, we also realize the greatness of our God to accomplish the most amazing things in the most difficult situations. The Christians in Bethlehem and at Bethlehem Bible College are a strategic fortress for the kingdom of God in a region of this world that is gradually becoming dominated by an Islamic worldview. As global Christians, Misty and I feel that we have been both equipped and called to this region to serve our Lord and further his kingdom. So we are pleased to announce that we will be going to Bethlehem to serve at Bethlehem Bible College in the fall of 2008! We will be teaching English to the community and to the students at the college, serving as messengers between college extensions, working with the college’s various ministry projects, and aiding local Christian churches.
Please take some time to read about Bethlehem Bible College at http://www.bethlehembiblecollege.edu/. Misty and I covet your prayers for us and for our new calling. We will send more information as we prepare to make this commitment.
In Christ’s Love and for His Glory,
Aaron and Misty (Bellow) Laenger
