Palestine (MNN) — At Jesus’ birth, the Gospel of Luke says angels proclaimed peace on Earth. Today, Bethlehem Bible College carries on the work of peacemaking.
Andrew Bush, Director of the Institute of Peace and Justice, talks about the fall classes now underway. “We have 30 students from several different nations involved. Most of these are seasoned peacemakers themselves. They hail from Liberia, Scotland, England, Holland, Canada, the Philippines, and the United States.”
This is such important work for churches to be doing, Bush says. In fact, it’s part of the Great Commission, since Jesus commanded his disciples to bring peace. “Jesus said, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers.’ This is often a neglected agenda in Christian work. We see it as something perhaps superfluous to our ministries in our churches.”
The classes
This photo shows Andrew Bush welcoming students at the beginning of classes. (Photo courtesy of Bethlehem Bible College on Facebook)
The classes are taught in English, and the lectures are posted online to be available to students with any schedule living in different time zones.
Peace-making isn’t easy in the 21st century, as demonstrated by the sorrow and complexity of the Israel-Palestine conflicts. That’s why the Institute tackles the subject from the perspective of Palestinians.
Bush says students tie this conflict into their own experiences. “They have seen their families divided over issues and friendships broken up over particular issues. They feel a real sense of grief at that which they experienced on a personal level.”
Get involved
Pray the Institute will help bring God’s lasting peace to Palestine and around the world. Bush says, “We’re currently forming a course with Indian Christian theologians. We’re also preparing an anti-bullying campaign for the local schools because we are intent on helping promote peace within Palestinian society.”
Interested in joining courses at the Institute? Visit bipj.org to sign up or learn more.
The header photo shows murals painted on a segment of the separation wall between Israel and Palestine. (Photo courtesy of Bethlehem Bible College)
