Thank you for your monthly articles sharing information and highlighting details about what is happening across our presbyteries. Often, we are only aware of what is happening in our local area and sometimes even only what is happening in our own church.

The latest article on the Presbytery of Jerusalem was very interesting. Imagine that the Church of Scotland has had a presence in the Holy Land for almost 200 years! It is quite astounding that the Church of Scotland; along with the Free Church, Baptist Church and the Anglican Church, thought it important enough to raise awareness, support and finance to enable a Christian presence in the Holy Land around the same time.

This Christian presence continued to be welcomed after the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948; as the area became a place of refuge and safety after the Holocaust and the horrors of WW2.

Although we are all deeply saddened about recent events, it was heartening to hear at a recent missionary conference that the church in Israel has had significant growth in the last 20 years. According to CMJ (part of the Anglican church who have a significant presence in Jerusalem in Christ Church) in 1998 there were estimated to be around 6,000 Jewish Christians (known as Messianic Jews). Today there are more than 30,000 believers, in fellowships throughout Israel which consist of Arab and Jewish believers worshipping together and building up the church there.

So, there is still hope. The Church of Scotland continues to have a presence there through our mission partners. As was stated at the end of the article, “Does the Church of Scotland have the vision to look ahead and see the value of the work there?” Let’s continue to hope so and to pray for this, our mission partners and for the Peace of Jerusalem.

Irene A Ure, Fife