Faith
Upholding Truth for Holy Land Christians
Faith Facts
- The Heads of Churches of Jerusalem warn against false groups claiming to represent local Christians but promoting political agendas.
- Recognized Evangelical and historic churches have faithful leadership rooted in the Holy Land.
- Scripture calls for discernment, truth, and accountability—not political distortion of the Gospel.
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem stands as a testament to Christ’s life, marking the sacred ground of His crucifixion and resurrection, central to our Christian faith. A recent clarification by local Church leaders rightly cautions believers about misleading organizations who operate without true spiritual or communal authority, often driven by political motives rather than genuine Gospel witness.
These self-proclaimed groups lack accountable congregations and recognized leadership, distancing themselves from authentic, biblically-rooted Christian communities. With no foundation in local church life, their voices distort the message of Jesus and sow confusion among believers worldwide.
“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11).
Any theology that replaces Christ with national or political interests directly contradicts our calling, as Jesus Himself rejected approaches rooted in earthly power and domination.
“My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).
The true Christian community of the Holy Land is not a mere idea or political tool. It is a living fellowship of worship, sacrifice, and faithfulness, present since the birth of Christianity and standing firm in the face of adversity.
Global Christians are called to listen to established, accountable Evangelical and historic churches in the Holy Land. Faithful leadership—including bodies like the Synod of Evangelical Churches and the Council of Evangelical Churches in Israel—embody Christ’s love and truth through worship and service in their homeland.
Leaders such as Rev. Botrus Mansour, a Palestinian Christian heading the World Evangelical Alliance, and generations of pastors trained at Bethlehem Bible College and Nazareth Evangelical College, highlight the enduring presence and vibrant witness of local Evangelical believers.
“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5).
Yet, many outside groups raise funds and assume the right to speak, while ignoring or misrepresenting the true voices of the Holy Land’s faithful. This compromises Gospel truth for material or political gain.
“You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24).
Commitment to the truth means rejecting counterfeit representation and faithfully supporting the accountable local churches God has established. Christians must seek discernment, refusing to let the message of the cross be twisted by outside interests.
“Test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1).
Christ’s presence, as He taught, is not found within corridors of earthly influence, but among those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Brothers and sisters in the faith are called to stand alongside the Christians of the Holy Land with truth, justice, and love, honoring the lordship of Jesus Christ alone.
Let us uplift and pray for the enduring church in the Holy Land. Remain vigilant against false representation and seek to walk in partnership—anchored in Scripture and led by the Holy Spirit.
True faith is not a sanitized formula that ignores the reality of human suffering or the weight of a broken heart.
When we offer clichés instead of compassion during a brother or sister’s trial, we risk replacing biblical empathy with a shallow performance of piety.
Scripture reveals that heroes of the faith often wrestled with deep disappointment and abandonment while remaining in God’s grace.
Vulnerability in our struggles is not a failure of belief but an invitation for the Lord to demonstrate His perfecting power through our very real weaknesses.
Faith Facts
- Biblical figures like David and Job openly expressed grief and demanded answers from God without losing their standing.
- Spiritual bypassing occurs when believers use theological shortcuts to avoid engaging with the painful process of refining.
- True spiritual growth often requires enduring the “fire” of testing rather than seeking an immediate exit from the struggle.
“Faith is not a formula, and if we can’t admit we struggle sometimes, we’re never going to get where we need to go.”
We must reject the temptation to curate our testimonies and instead allow the light of Christ to shine through our honest wounds.
Let us support one another with the same patience and mercy the Lord extends to us on our journey toward His truth.
Faith Facts
- The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that counseling is protected speech, not just medical conduct.
- The decision limits state efforts to silence faith-based guidance for minors.
- Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion in the Colorado case.
A landmark Supreme Court ruling has protected the First Amendment rights of Christian counselors against state-mandated silence.
The high court addressed a Colorado law that restricted licensed professionals from assisting minors seeking to align their lives with Biblical values regarding gender and attraction.
Justice Neil Gorsuch authored the 8-1 majority opinion, affirming that a state cannot rebrand protected speech as mere medical conduct to regulate its content.
This decision safeguards the freedom of counselors to provide guidance rooted in faith without government interference.
"The First Amendment is no word game, and ‘the exercise of constitutional rights’ cannot be circumscribed by mere labels."
For years, political activists have used deceptive narratives to marginalize those who seek counseling consistent with their religious convictions.
This ruling is a significant victory for the family and the sanctity of the counselor-client relationship against secular indoctrination.
Despite this victory, believers must remain vigilant as activists look for new legislative avenues to restrict the ability of Christian professionals to share the truth.
We must continue to stand for the freedom to seek healing and wholeness through a worldview centered on the Gospel.
The faith community mourns the passing of Rev. Jeremy Shoulta, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Gainesville, Georgia, who entered glory at age 42. After a courageous yearlong battle with cancer, Shoulta died surrounded by family, leaving behind a legacy of dedicated ministry and steadfast devotion to his Savior.
Before his time in Gainesville, Shoulta pastored Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, where he walked alongside former President Jimmy Carter. His life was defined by serving others and modeling the Christian journey with humility and creative leadership in every congregation he led.
Faith Facts
- Shoulta earned several degrees, including a Doctor of Ministry, dedicating his life to academic and spiritual excellence.
- He was diagnosed with blood cancer in 2023 and received treatment at Emory University Hospital before his passing.
- During the 2020 pandemic, he utilized virtual technology to share the Gospel and connect with his new congregation during a time of global uncertainty.
“Jeremy served as a faithful, caring, and creative pastor who cared deeply for this church as you all have cared deeply for him.”
The Shoulta family continues to lean on the Lord’s strength and the immense care offered by their church family during this season of grief. We join in prayer for his wife, Valarie, and their two daughters as they honor a life well-lived for the Kingdom.
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