WHEATON, Ill. — Apart from the news media, where do you find fresh, insightful information on the Middle East?

Through a conference presented by Venture International and co-sponsored by the Billy Graham Center, North American Christian leaders heard a rarely told story on the issues of life, peace and faith in the Middle East.

The “Sounds of Hope” conference, hosted by Wheaton College and held this spring, fulfilled a dream of Leonard Rodgers, Venture International founder—to bring Christian leaders together from the east and the west. Intent on listening and learning more about Christians and the church in this volatile area of the world were 60 North Americans including mission executives, members of the Christian electronic and print media, pastors, college and seminary professors, and charitable foundation executives.

Using a roundtable discussion format following each Middle East speaker’s presentation, the audience was able to process and personalize the information.

Listeners heard various topics ranging from “Communicating to Youth” to the” Role of Women in the Middle East” to “How the Ancient Church Views Western Evangelicals.”

War-torn Iraq is constantly in the news, but what the news media does not tell us is that there is a vital church in the region, helping many people turn to Jesus Christ.

“Some people say the Christian church in Iraq is the weakest church in the world, but the facts say just the opposite,” Mayada Jezrawri, wife of the pastor from the National Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Kirkuk, Iraq, said. “The church in Iraq is alive and God the Spirit is working despite the wickedness against Christianity.

“Although many churches were burned, the people did not stop attending the church services, especially the Sunday services, weekly prayer meetings, ladies services, Sunday School, and teenage service. We have 150 children in our Sunday School!”

 At her speech’s conclusion, Jezrawri verbalized an often-repeated theme from all 14 speakers, “Remember us who are living in societies that show hatred for Christianity. Our hope is in Almighty God to strengthen us. Remember us in your prayers.”

With fascinating stories, Ramez Atallah, general secretary for the Bible Society of Egypt, described how to turn obstacles into opportunities. For example, in Egypt it is against the law to give away free literature, which is a common practice for the Bible societies in other parts of the world. Instead, the Bible Society of Egypt has established a number of stores around the country to sell Arabic Bibles and other Christian literature.

“Selling is the key to evangelism in our country,” Atallah said. He then explained how the society has set up three large billboards promoting their stores on the road between Cairo and Alexandria.

“We can’t evangelize, but we can advertise.”

Issues of gray
A clear principle resounded throughout the conference: Middle Eastern Christians are often caught in issues that are not clearly black or white.

“We need to educate the churches in America about what is happening in Israel to the Christian church,” the Rev. Dr. Bishara Awad, president of Bethlehem Bible College said.

Awad also described how many Palestinians have lost their land and are living in refugee camps.

“I believe the land is big enough for the Palestinian and the Jew and the Muslim to live in peace,” he said.

Brother Andrew, the Christian statesman from Open Doors International, brought the final challenge.

“Terrorists are not born,” he said. “Terrorists are made. If they are made, we can remake them God through you. I told the Hamas leaders, ‘Jesus Christ came to break through the cycle of violence.’ They look at you very sheepishly and say, ‘Yes, Andrew, but Jesus is not here anymore.’ But I am here. Am I not Jesus to them? Are not my works the works of Jesus?”

Venture International is a Christian relief and development agency working in the Middle East and Central Asia. Working with poor and disabled people in the Middle East and Central Asia, this agency serves as a bridge connecting those in need with those who want to help. To learn more about Sounds of Hope, visit soundsofhope.net, call, 1-800-421-2159 or send an e-mail to info@ventureint.org.

W. Terry Whalin is a writer and editor from Scottsdale, Ariz.