The contribution of Gaza’s shrinking Christian community to the relief effort in Gaza is acting as a unique witness to its locals, according to a mission worker.
In an exclusive interview with en, Hanna Massad, head of Christian Mission to Gaza (CMG), spoke of how Gaza’s believers are working to make a difference as the war between Hamas and the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) rages on.
Massad revealed that while churches are doing their best to provide support through the provision of cooked meals and basic supplies to struggling families, they cannot provide any guarantees of safety within their often-damaged premises, where many take refuge.
He said: “While many Christians have taken shelter in the two churches in Gaza, their safety conditions are only relatively better. Even within these compounds, danger remains ever-present.
“Twenty members of the Christian community have been killed while staying in the church compound, and many more have been injured. Among the most heartbreaking cases is Elham Farah, the pianist of Gaza Baptist Church, who was reportedly shot by a sniper and left to die in the street.
“The churches offer a degree of protection and have provided a small measure of stability in an otherwise extremely unstable environment. But this safety is fragile, and the emotional toll is immense.”
The Gazan Christian community is currently believed to number about 600, down from 900 before the war, due to believers departing the strip for other countries including Egypt, Australia and Canada, with more expected to depart.
However, Massad revealed that Gaza Baptist Church continues to meet on Sundays on Zoom, with services featuring believers within the strip, as well as many church members who have relocated to other countries around the world.
He described these services as a “spiritual and relational lifeline”, saying: “The Christian community in Gaza is clearly shrinking, and it’s hard to predict what it will look like after the war. What we do know is that it will be significantly smaller.
“Even in these difficult times, we believe the Lord has not left Himself without a witness. We have seen individuals come to faith, quietly, and in small numbers, but it’s a sign of hope.
“The Gaza Baptist Church building itself has suffered serious damage. We hope, in time, to restore it. For now, however, Gaza Baptist is more of a church ‘on the move’, gathering virtually, shifting between locations, but still alive and serving.”
Amidst the suffering in Gaza, people do not generally engage with faith-related conversations due to their focus on basic survival. However, Massad discussed how people are noticing how the church is working to provide, which acts as a witness to locals, who wonder why Christians are helping them despite not knowing them personally.
He said: “We receive many heartfelt expressions of gratitude. People are genuinely thankful. Some, who have known Christians before, share how deeply they respect the Christian community, describing it as caring, kind, and compassionate. These responses are not prompted by anything more than presence and service – simple acts of care in a time of profound need.
“In such a dark and difficult moment, the consistent presence of Christians, the tangible care, and the love shown through action are powerful in themselves. It sends a message that Christians are here, that they care, and that they are walking alongside others in suffering.”
You can support the work of CMG through WordShare: https://worldshare.org.uk/chris-tian-mission-to-gaza
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