This reality only highlights the miserable failure of both American foreign policy in the region, and the abysmal result of the United Nations partitioning dating back to 1948. In 1947 Christians made up nearly 75% of the population in Bethlehem. Today they make up only 15%.
What happened in the birth place of Christ is being repeated throughout North Africa and the Middle East, namely, Christians are fleeing the place of their nativity in an attempt to find a more hospitable home away from home.
Meanwhile, American politicians are operating in total disregard to this reality believing that they can bring stability to the region simply by replacing one Islamic regime with another more moderate Muslim government. As a result, American foreign policy is working to the same end as Islamic jihad--the eradication of Christian populations in North Africa and the Middle East. In this sense American foreign policy is helping to rid the region of the very population that could actually bring peace to the region if it were allowed to grow, and flourish, and proclaim the gospel in the very place Christ was born.
All of this underscores the importance of missions like Equipping Pastors International. We know that the only hope for the region is the gospel of Jesus Christ which is the power of God onto salvation. We believe that the church of Jesus Christ is the most important institution on earth for transforming North Africa and the Middles East. And we are committed to equipping the church so it can stay put and fight the good fight of faith until both Israel and Islam are transformed by the very gospel they are trying to suppress. This is the foreign policy of our King and kingdom. And this is our Christmas prayer:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
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