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