Rami Ayyad, manager of The Teacher's Bookshop. Photo: Compass Direct
Gaza (MNN) ― The relationship between Hamas and Christians in the Gaza Strip appears to be deteriorating. First, a brutal murder of 30-year-old Rami Ayyad, Christian bookstore owner, took place last month.
Ayyad's death came six months after the religious bookshop he managed was bombed, apparently by Muslim extremists. Earlier in the year, an Awana leader (bus driver) was shot and killed. A guard at the church in that attack.
There's now word that militant Hamas member, Ashraf Abu Layla, is connected to Ayyad's death. And SAT-7's Terry Ascott says there's been a report indicating that Christians were forced to support a speech urging the spread of Islam.
It's no wonder, Ascott surmises, that believers feel like they're under siege. "Pray for the Bible Society director and all the Bible Society staff throughout the Palestinian territories, that they wouldn't be discouraged by this. Pray that the Word of God would continue to be made available throughout the territories. We have a strong partnership with the Bible Society, and we very much see what we do as complimenting their work, by taking Scripture to satellite television."
That means ministry continues, although the other impact of this, he explains, is the disruption of ministry. "The killing of the bookstore owner who's associated with the Bible Society has led actually to all the related staff to that shop being evacuated from Gaza. There's just one person left who could not yet receive permission from the Israeli authorities to cross out of Gaza."
Pray for the Christian leaders as they find ways to continue to lead Gaza's remnant church. Pray, too, that continued outreach will find hearts open to the hope of Christ.
