The war in Israel and Gaza will reach one year on October 7. Fighting has expanded to the West Bank, resulting in incomprehensible human suffering and destruction, including the heartache of the families of the hostages who have yet to be released. In recent weeks, the conflict has increased in Lebanon, and our partners have reported an increase in spiritual attacks on Christian churches and ministries there.
FPC has several long-term ministry partners in the Middle East. We encourage you to partner with them through giving and prayer.
DONATE
Bethlehem Bible College (BBC)
FPC has partnered with BBC since the late 1990s. BBC is a Christian evangelical college that works with and for the Palestinian community. BBC aims to prepare potential leaders for the country and the world. BBC is able to reach challenging areas including Gaza through their online studies program. One of BBC’s programs, Shepherd’s Society, provides a channel for the global family to encourage and financially support those struggling in the Palestinian community.
Gifts to BBC can be made on the website or mailed to the US office of BBC:
Bethlehem Bible Co.
614-C South Bus. IH-35
New Braunfels, TX 78130
Health Outreach to the Middle East (H.O.M.E.)
H.O.M.E. states “The suffering [in Lebanon’ is overwhelming, but with your help, we can continue to provide lifesaving care and share Christ’s love with those in desperate need. Every donation helps us deliver vital medical care, food, and supplies to displaced families. Your generosity could be the difference between hope and despair for thousands.”
If you would like to give to H.O.M.E, please click here.
PBS is a global anchor partner whom FPC has worked with since 2000. PBS collaborates with churches, Christian relief groups, and community development organizations. PBS is committed to sharing the love of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip through ministry programs and crisis and emergency responses. FPC supports these programs, the Jenin team, and a community center that will serve young adults and families.
Gifts to PBS emergency response may be made to FPC with a designation of Holy Land War Response notation.
PRAY
Widespread prayer is needed for a peaceful negotiation, a pause in the violence, and, ultimately, an end to this conflict.
We encourage you to use these prayers from our partners at Ananias House to guide your time of intercession:
Heavenly Father, we come before You, lifting the nation of Lebanon in this challenging time. We believe that even in the darkest moments, You are working to bring about a great harvest for Your Kingdom.
We ask that You break down any resistance to Your Word and that many would come to know Jesus as their Savior.
We ask that You have mercy on innocent citizens caught in the middle. In the midst of a brewing war, we ask that You have mercy on the communities impacted. We ask for continued access to food, water, electricity, and medical care.
We ask for peace, wisdom, and discernment for our leaders and congregations facing opposition and spiritual warfare. Let Your church be the source of strength and hope during these uncertain times.
As conflict escalates, we pray for the health system, the medical workers, and the hospitals. Grant wisdom to the leaders, churches, and clinic staff as they make decisions and send resources to sustain them. Let Your hand be over every doctor, nurse, and staff member working under such pressure.
We lift up the children affected by this conflict, impacted by school shutdowns and brewing chaos. Protect their minds and hearts from fear, trauma and confusion, and let this time be used to nurture their faith and growth, even outside the classroom. May their education continue uninterrupted, and may their spirits remain hopeful and secure in You.
Amen.
FPC is again partnering with Houston Responds to coordinate support for those in need as a result of Hurricane Beryl. With both rain and rising temperatures in the forecast this week, tree removal, tarping damaged roofs, and access to cooling facilities are the priority. Currently, the best ways to assist are as follows:
SERVE | Transport Supplies
We’ve received numerous requests to transport food, water, and other supplies from a resource center to people and ministries in need. If you have a truck or vehicle with a large cargo area, and are able to pick up and drop off supplies, please contact jeff@houstonresponds.org ASAP.
SERVE | Chain-Sawing/Tarping
Immediate needs include chain-sawing and roof tarping, to secure damaged homes before rain comes this weekend, as well as some mucking/gutting. If you or your team has these skills and is able to volunteer, contact jeff@houstonresponds.org. As needs become more clear, and churches/organizations set up to receive more volunteers, we will share those opportunities.
REFER
If you know of homeowners who need help with damage, please have them register (or register for them if they are unable to) on Crisis Clean-up. If they are without power and need access to a cooling center, please share the following locations available as of July 9:
City of Houston Southwest Multi-Service Center
6400 High Star Dr., Houston, TX 77074 | 9 AM–6 PM
Trini Mendenhall Community Center
1414 Wirt Rd., Houston, TX 77055 | 8 AM–8 PM
Bayland Community Center
6400 Bissonnet St., Houston, TX 77074 | 9 AM–6 PM
Lakewood Church
3700 Southwest Fwy., Houston, TX 77027 | 8 AM–8 PM
DONATE
If you would like to donate to recovery efforts, FPC Houston’s disaster response mission partners are Houston Responds, as well as the Salvation Army Houston.
GETTING HELP
Support Services: If you have experienced substantial damage, please view this message from our mission partner, Houston Responds, and/or this message from Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis. These messages include guidance on reporting damage and details on cooling centers and food and water distribution centers.
Neighborhood Connect: If the storm has impacted you and you have an interim need, your FPC family would like to help. Email neighbors@fpchouston.org to connect with others in the FPC community who live nearby and are available to lend a hand. To learn more about our Neighborhood Connect ministry, click here.
As the waters recede from the recent flooding in northern Harris, Montgomery, Liberty, and neighboring counties, Houston Responds leaders, coalitions, and organizations are gearing up to assist. If you have experience in home clean up/muck and gut work and would like to volunteer, sign up here.
If you have a heart to help but this is new to you, The Tool Bank is hosting a training Saturday, May 11 from 9:15-11:30 AM. Sign up here.
Houston Responds is FPC’s disaster response partner. If you have general questions, please contact our Missions Coordinator, Madie Weir or email Steve Winstead, FPC’s Central Coalition lay leader.
Hearts around the world are grieving after learning of the horrendous attacks in Israel at the hands of the Hamas terrorists that happened on Saturday, October 7. Our hearts grieve with all those who lost loved ones and experienced the trauma of the attacks. The ensuing response by the military of Israel on the territory of Gaza was not surprising, but the impact on civilians, men, women and children including the Christian body of Christ in Gaza City is heart-wrenching. There is a looming humanitarian crisis for the people in Gaza as well as danger for the Israeli military.
All of our global mission partners and friends in Israel/Palestine have asked us to pray!
FPC has several amazing and long-standing global anchor partners in Israel/Palestine including the Palestinian Bible Society/PBS, Bethlehem Bible College/BBC, and Musalaha, The Arab Israeli Bible Society, located in Nazareth is also a close friend of FPC. Strategic Resource Group (SRG) supports amazing ministries serving in Israel/Palestine and as we learn more from them, we will update this page.
We have been in close communication with our partners and friends checking on them, letting them know that they are in our hearts and prayers, and inquiring how we here in Houston can respond. We also have received reflections and prayer requests from many of our friends there. We have links to these reflections below if you are interested. If you would like to respond financially to help our partners respond to the needs once the immediate danger is over, you may give directly to our partners listed below or to FPC with a designated gift with the notation Holy Land War Response.
Palestinian Bible Society (PBS):
PBS is a global anchor partner whom FPC has worked with since 2000. They are committed to sharing the love and Gospel of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem, West Bank and the Gaza Strip. PBS partners with all the different Christian churches and denominations, collaborating whenever possible. PBS is also involved with different community development organizations and Christian relief groups. Ministry programs reach adults, children, and women, as well as crisis and emergency responses. FPC supports the wide range of their ministries as well as coming alongside the Jenin team and supporting their community center that will serve young adults and families by providing an alternative response to the difficulties there.
Gifts to PBS emergency response may be made to FPC with a designation of Holy Land War Response notation.
Bethlehem Bible College (BBC):
BBC has been a partner with FPC since the late 1990s. BBC is a Christian evangelical university college, that works in the service of, with and through the Palestinian community and aims to prepare potential leaders for the country and the world. The college has grown significantly over the years, expanding its variety of programs and is able to reach challenging areas including Gaza through their online studies program. BBC has the Shepherd’s Society, one of their ministries, that provides a channel for the global family to encourage and financially support those struggling in the Palestinian community as a response to our call to love our neighbors.
Gifts to BBC can be made directly online on the website or mailed to the US office of BBC:
Bethlehem Bible Co.
614-C South Bus. IH-35
New Braunfels, TX 78130
Musalaha:
Musalaha has been a long-standing partner since the early 2000s. Musalaha is a faith-based organization that teaches, trains and facilitates reconciliation mainly between Israelis and Palestinians from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, and also international groups, based on biblical principles of reconciliation. The transformation of hearts through the ministries of Musalaha with youth, women, students and families is amazing. The ministry of reconciliation will be needed now more than ever after such difficult days of hurt and suffering.
Gifts to Musalaha may be sent to :
MUSALAHA.US
PO Box 238
Medina, WA 90839
or
The Outreach Foundation
381 Riverside Drive
Suite 110
Franklin, TN 37064
Friends of FPC – In addition to our partners listed above, we have many friends and ministries we have known and worked with who are serving a broader population in Israel.
Arab Israeli Bible Society:
https://aibible.org
The Israeli Bible Society:
https://biblesocietyinisrael.com
FirstFruits – Israel Centre for Economic Advancement:
https://www.israelfirstfruits.org
Reflections on the situation:
www.comeandsee.com
The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Psalms 9:9
