Palestine (MNN) — In the midst of a war zone, young people across Palestine are asking serious questions about God and His purposes.
“If God is good, why is He letting this happen? If God is good, why are children dying, women dying?”
Reverend Dr. Jack Sara with Bethlehem Bible College explains that not all local churches are engaging young people well on these and other questions.
“If the church is not there to answer, then they’re frustrated (young people), and sometimes they leave the church, sadly,” he says.
Bethlehem Bible College is offering a new education initiative in partnership with a local branch of Young Life. Around 70 youth workers will receive ongoing training to equip them to better engage teens and students across the Holy Land today.
“It’s not just one course or two, but just a long-term empowerment of staff and volunteers,” says Dr. Sara. “These people are working across the churches, the schools, the some of them work with handicapped kids. Some of them work in villages in the northern part of the West Bank. We want to empower a ministry like Young Life that is reaching sometimes [to places] beyond our reach.”
A photo showing Palestinians in the 1920s. (Photo courtesy of Bethlehem Bible College on Facebook)
The college works with students from widely different backgrounds. For example, one of the programs it offers is a diploma in tour guiding, which draws many young people.
“We’re there to provide a clear message, clear representation of what it means to follow Christ, what it means to study the Word of God. In relationship to tourism in our country, it’s all connected to the Scriptures,” Dr. Sara says.
“Every [now] and then, you find someone who is really looking for more — asking more questions, life questions, serious issues, life issues —and we’re there to answer if they need.”
As these Young Life youth workers dive into practical training, please stand with them in prayer. Pray that God enables them to reach many young people for Christ, regardless of their backgrounds.
“Pray that these young people will be empowered, these young leaders will be strengthened in their love again for Jesus and His Kingdom,” says Dr. Sara.
Learn more about Bethlehem Bible College here.
Header photo courtesy of Bethlehem Bible College.
