Bethlehem Bible College invites you to the fourth “Christ at the Checkpoint” Conference, which will take place in Bethlehem from March 7-10, 2016. The conference hopes to follow the success of the first three conferences (2010, 2012, and 2014). The theme of this conference will be “Christ at the Checkpoint 4: The Gospel in the Face of Religious Extremism”.
The motivation for organizing the “Christ at the Checkpoint” conference is that the Israeli/Palestinian conflict with its many complexities still exists. In fact, since our last conference in March 2014, the conflict and the reality of the occupation have worsened. The religious aspect of the conflict, which has not been the primary issue in the past, has become more pronounced. We have seen a marked increase in religious extremism particularly within the Jewish and Muslim communities in our region, and, to a lesser degree, in the Christian community in the West. More than ever, as the Evangelical Christian community in Palestine, we feel an urgent and relevant need to address these issues.
At the same time, the Middle East has in the last few years witnessed a rise of religious extremism. Religious minorities in places like Iraq and Syria have suffered from severe persecution. As a result, the future of Christianity in the Middle East is in danger.
Christians worldwide continue to be divided on the Palestinian Israeli issue, favoring one side over the other. Evangelical Christians, in particular, have not contributed positively towards resolving the conflict. This conference provides a much needed platform for Evangelical Christians to learn about and become engaged in working towards Christ-led solutions for peace.
We will meet in 2016 in Bethlehem to study and explore the rise of religious extremism in our world, and explore what the Bible has to say about this. We will seek together a Biblical response to religious extremism, and find ways that provide an alternative way through living out the kingdom of God. We will also discuss the realities of the injustices in the Palestinian territories, and create awareness of the obstacles to reconciliation and peace.
The Christ at the Checkpoint conferences are unique. They have among the distinctive that make it unique: quality speakers, giving voice to Palestinian Christians, and openness to diverse perspectives.
Come join us in Bethlehem in 2016!
Follow us on Facebook and the conference website www.christatthecheckpoint.com for information on registration, speakers, and schedule. For more information, please contact us at conference@bethbc.org.
Rev. Dr. Jack Sara,
President, Bethlehem Bible College
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