Trip to Israel/Palestine Is Life-changing In January, 10 Western Theological Seminary (WTS) students went to Israel/Palestine, where they immersed themselves in the culture with the guidance of RCA missionaries Marlin and Sally Vis. "We were privileged to learn about the Vises' marvelous ministry of grace, love, peace, and acceptance," says academic dean and theology professor Leanne Van Dyk, who led the group. The Vises work alongside Palestinian Christians to encourage them and connect them to the wider church. "This trip was life-changing for me," says Miriam Ippel, one of the students who made the trip. "My eyes were opened to a conflict that is deeply burdening me and inspiring me to encourage others to be active towards peace. I was overwhelmed with feelings of guilt in seeing what my tax dollars have contributed to--ultimately a wall that divides families, friends, and neighbors. As a follower of Christ I want the rest of the world (especially the church) to know that there are many Christ-followers who are suffering in Israel and Palestine. They need our prayers. They need our prayers. They need to be seen as our brothers and sisters for whom we would lay down our lives."
Miriam took the photo above of part of Israel's massive concrete security barrier that now separates Bethlehem from Jerusalem. She says the graffiti depicts a Jewish person lying down to form the wall. "An important part of the solution is laying aside the encultured views passed on from generation to generation," she adds. Posted 03/18/08
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