Open doors into Arab world II

Some time ago Laura borrowed me Brother Andrew's book "Light Force". The writer is an evangelist and a founder of Open Doors international , a worldwide ministry to persecuted church. The book brings light to Middle East conflict,  concentrating to Lebanon and Israeli/Palestine, and describes Brother Andrew's work in the region 1970- 2003.

The Biblical role of Israel is acknowledged, yet that is not the  emphasis of the book. Brother Andrew's calling is to strenghten what remains of the church in the areas of war where majority of the Arab Christians have left the country. Being with the local believers is the greatest encouragement, and thus Andrew travels to Lebanon during the civil war twice a year. What strikes me most, is Brother Andrew's simplicity in intervening (faith), his Jesus-like naivity when he asks to meet with Hamas and PLO leaders, with Ayatollahs and Saddam Hussein. And there never seems to be a problem to talk with them, and share in the sufferings of the Palestinian people in the crises, and share Christ and His solution to situation. ( I think it's only when we forget how to be people to people that we should be worried about causing trouble by talking about Jesus).

I particularly like the story about Andrew visiting the leaders and supporters of Hamas when 400 of them are deported to desert in the south of Lebanon for a year. There is nothing for them except for the tent that Red Cross gets them. So Andrew gets there and befriends with the men. Many of them have been kidnapped from their work places, and are terribly worried about their families at home. So Andrew recieves their letters to take them to the families in the West Bank and Gaza, where he gets to share the grief or the families and pray for them.Then he returns the camp to pass the greetings to the men. Thus he establishes a friendship that is to continue for years after the men have been returned home, and leads to opportunities to minister to those people and their friends.

It is extremely refreshing and encouraging  book, the heartsbeat of which can be applied to different settings. 

Comments

[Marc]

The Dutch pioneering spirit. I also read this book and have a lot of respect for this guy. I have his story on tape, we could show it when we meet in Oct.

[Marc]

Looks like you were in Lebanon quite timely. Now the airport is unusable. How do you view the current conflict?