Laenger Letter - Fall '08

Dear Friends and Family,

After visiting the Holy Land in 2006 and witnessing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we wondered "Who will tell them the good news of Jesus Christ? Who will encourage the Christians to stay, persevere and stand strong in the midst of war?" A year later we had an answer.

Bishara Awad, president of Bethlehem Bible College (a great evangelical institution founded in 1979 but one that we had not heard of before), came and spoke briefly at Denver Seminary, almost a year ago now (Fall '07), about how God has worked and is working in the West Bank among the Palestinian Christians. After his presentation, I (Aaron) approached Bishara wondering if there were any opportunities to help the Palestinian Christians in Bethlehem as well as BBC (Bethlehem Bible College – a light in the midst of darkness). He let me know that the possibility exists for volunteers to serve 1 to 3 months at BBC with the option of staying longer.

After Misty and I considered this opportunity, listened to the counsel of others, filled out our applications, and prayed about it for a few weeks, we were invited to come serve at BBC believing that God has prepared us and called us to minister in Palestine. The Christians in Bethlehem and at Bethlehem Bible College are in a strategic position for the kingdom of God in a region of this world that is gradually becoming dominated by an Islamic worldview. We hope our presence and involvement with the college in their various ministry projects will strengthen the kingdom for God’s glory.

Specifically, we will be encouraging the Christians who have remained in the West Bank, teaching English to the students at BBC and to the community, serving as messengers and delivery drivers for the college (it is easier for us to move in and out of the checkpoints since we are Americans), working in the gift shop (an alternate source of income for the college) and the guest house (housing people from all over the world). We also hope to be involved in the ministries of the local church as well as reconciliation ministries between Jews and Palestinians. You can read more about Bethlehem Bible College and their ministries at http://www.bethlehembiblecollege.edu/.

We will be leaving on January 1st and return in early April. Many people have asked us what you can do for us. First, pray. Effective missions are initiated, sustained by, and completed by God’s grace and power as his people faithfully petition him. Please pray for BBC, their leadership, and their ministries. Pray for the Christians that are in West Bank and Gaza. Begin to pray for our ministry this next spring. Pray also that we are able to raise enough funds to cover our expenses to, during, and from Bethlehem. Our home Church, GracePoint, has graciously allowed us to set up an account through them for any financial contributions designated for our mission to Bethlehem.

Second, learn about the conflict in Palestine. When we better understand our fellow Christian’s context and plight, we often have more concern. There is never an “easy answer” to such turmoil in one of the most volatile regions on earth, but an opportunity does exist to learn about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict through Aaron’s class on Wednesday nights at GracePoint Church.

Third, you can remain updated on our situation and learn about specific prayer requests for our mission trip by receiving e-mails from us. If you would like to receive the “Laenger Letter”, please email theLaengers@hotmail.com and ask to be added to our e-mail list. Email will be our main mode of communication, especially in Bethlehem. You may also go to our website http://www.lovingthelaengers.blogspot.com/ to read more detailed up-to-date information which will better allow you to share in our lives as we seek God’s will.

Thank you for your prayer, support and encouragement already given. We are grateful and excited to have such wonderful partners like you as we venture out on our mission into the unknown doing our best to follow the Lord’s calling for our lives at this time.

Love and Prayers,

Aaron and Misty Laenger

Bethlehem - First Impressions

It was the spring of 2006 and, after much preparation, Aaron and I were finally in the “Holy Land” to see the historical sites of the Bible. On the morning we set out to visit Bethlehem, the birth place of Christ, we could not find it. The map showed that it was supposed to be at this location but all we saw was a huge wall, guards armed with machine guns, a small parking lot, and only one heavily guarded solid metal gate. We thought it had to be a prison. We drove around for many more minutes looking for Bethlehem, but the map kept leading us back to the same place.

Finally, we decided to park in the lot, and watch the gate for a little while to see who was being allowed in and out. After observing for a short time, we saw a big tour bus approach the gate and it was at that moment, despite our disbelief, we knew this had to be Bethlehem. We were still cautious though. As we were making our way to the Israeli guard, we were not sure if we would even be allowed to enter. After weaving our way through the maze of checkpoints, bag searches and interrogations, we finally entered through a small door in the gate to what we now knew was Bethlehem. We were bombarded with many taxis drivers desperately waiting for a tourist. Although it was not a common sight to see visitors since the wall went up, these men relied on tourism as it was their only way to provide for their families. One of our first thoughts was, “How do the families survive behind this wall with very little traffic in and almost none going out?” This situation was our first real encounter with the Palestinian crisis.

Before this, we were ignorant to the gravity and complexity of the conflict in this part of the world and especially in Bethlehem. We went to Bethlehem to visit the churches and “Holy Sites” but we realized we were neglecting the “living stones” (the people) because we were so distracted by the “dead ones” (the buildings). It was the living stones that urgently needed someone to visit them. From that time forward, we thought about these living stones who were trying to survive in a place were peace seemed unfathomable. We thought about how Jesus Christ – the Prince of Peace – is the only hope they will ever have. And we wondered “Who would tell them this good news? Who would encourage the Christians to stay, persevere and stand strong in the midst of war?”

A little over a year later, in the fall of 2007, when Aaron heard Bishara Awad (President of Bethlehem Bible College) speak at Denver Seminary, we had our answer.

The answer to the question "Who would go?" was us, Aaron and Misty Laenger from small town Texas. God was calling us to be the answer. We would tell them the Good News of the reconciliation power found only in Jesus Christ. We would go to the Christians, meet them in their time of need, and encourage them with the love of Christ.

As you may know, Aaron and I will be going to Bethlehem in a few short months. Thank you all so much for your continued prayer while we prepare to go where God is calling us even though we are not quite sure how it will all work out.

In Christ,

Aaron & Misty (Bellow) Laenger

Living Stones of Bethlehem

Many people go to Bethlehem and the 'Holy Lands' to visit the churches, Biblical locations and landmarks, as we did in the Spring of 2006. While these places are unique, special, and, at times, awe-inspiring, we have realized that they are not much more than stones - dead stones.

There is much more to the 'Holy Land' than these dead stones. You may have to look a little harder, dig a little deeper, or go off the beaten path to find these other stones that we speak of but they are there. They are always there...just waiting for you to find them before they turn back to dust. They may not have a church built on them designating them as a 'Holy site' or have a book written about them explaining their history, worth, and significance but these other stones are more valuable to the Lord than any historic religious monument.

The Lord knows already knows their history because He created them in His image. He already knows their worth because He loves them with His grace. And He already knows their significance because He has called them for His purpose.

These are the living stones of Bethlehem and the 'Holy Lands' - often forgotten and frequently overlooked in the shadows of the glamorous churches that many travel from all over the world to see. They are the stones that have been withered and beaten over time by the weather of life - who just need a caring and Christ-like hand to polish them so that God may be reflected in their image. These are the stones that should be preserved, loved, and served by followers of Christ. They are the stones designated as 'Holy Sites' by the Lord. And these are the stones that dwell in the 'Holy Land' that we should be visiting.

While going to Bethlehem and the 'Holy Land' to see the Biblical sites and to walk in the footsteps of Christ is a wonderful experience, we all need to remember to be walking in the foosteps of Christ every day whether in Bethlehem or Denver. These footsteps of Christ will always lead us down the road less traveled to the living stones - the precious souls that He loves, found all over the world.

For us, at this time in our lives, these footsteps of Christ lead us to minister to some living stones in Bethlehem, known as Palestinian Christians. Not all are called to serve on a foreign mission field, as we are, but all are called to serve as missionaries. Your neighbor is a living stone...your co-worker is a living stone...your mother, father, sisters and brothers are living stones...you are a living stone.

Christ's followers are called to Love All and Serve All in His name. Pray that we will never forget the living stones by being distracted by the dead ones.

Love and Prayers,

Misty (& Aaron) Laenger