JERUSALEM (Morning Star News) Seven years of harassment and attacks by hard-line Muslims have finally forced a Palestinian church in East Jerusalem out of their building, church leaders said.
The congregation of Calvary Baptist Church, under Holy Land Missions, moved out of their building in the Shofat area of Jerusalem in July after Islamists threatened their landlord. They are looking for a safer, more permanent place to meet.
Pastor Steven Khoury said he was emotionally torn when he handed over the keys. The persecution was difficult but had also been a catalyst for spiritual development, he said. The persecution started almost immediately after the congregation moved into the building in a predominantly Muslim area in 2007.
Within 10 days of starting meetings and worship services, a Muslim who lived close to the church building attacked a member with a knife. Then someone tried to set the building on fire, likely with a Molotov cocktail, Khoury said. Next came the vandalism first cars parked at the church building were damaged, then the property, and finally there were physical attacks on children coming to church gatherings.
When the local government accepted a request in late 2008 to put up a road sign identifying the location of the church building, things really escalated, Khoury said.
When we did that, it took everything to the next level. The landlords were now being threatened. The landlords were being told, How dare you do this, this is a disgrace to Islam. If you dont do anything about this, we will.
Eventually the landlord succumbed to the pressure, and the 110-member congregation had to leave the building.
Muslims Force Palestinian Christians Out of Jerusalem Church Building | Christian News Network
The congregation of Calvary Baptist Church, under Holy Land Missions, moved out of their building in the Shofat area of Jerusalem in July after Islamists threatened their landlord. They are looking for a safer, more permanent place to meet.
Pastor Steven Khoury said he was emotionally torn when he handed over the keys. The persecution was difficult but had also been a catalyst for spiritual development, he said. The persecution started almost immediately after the congregation moved into the building in a predominantly Muslim area in 2007.
Within 10 days of starting meetings and worship services, a Muslim who lived close to the church building attacked a member with a knife. Then someone tried to set the building on fire, likely with a Molotov cocktail, Khoury said. Next came the vandalism first cars parked at the church building were damaged, then the property, and finally there were physical attacks on children coming to church gatherings.
When the local government accepted a request in late 2008 to put up a road sign identifying the location of the church building, things really escalated, Khoury said.
When we did that, it took everything to the next level. The landlords were now being threatened. The landlords were being told, How dare you do this, this is a disgrace to Islam. If you dont do anything about this, we will.
Eventually the landlord succumbed to the pressure, and the 110-member congregation had to leave the building.
Muslims Force Palestinian Christians Out of Jerusalem Church Building | Christian News Network
