The following response to the Gaza war, by Geoff Tunnicliffe – the B.C.-based international director of the World Evangelical Association (WEA) – was released January 11.

THE CONFLICT in Gaza: Open letter to government, community and evangelical Christian Leaders.

This appeal for peace by the WEA leadership is made on behalf of all those affected by the conflict, both Israeli and Gazan residents alike.

May the God who gives peace to all who ask, grant this request to the populations living in Israel and Gaza. The WEA urges all its members to pray for God’s peace to reign in the Holy Land.

The WEA, which represents Christians in Israel as well as in Gaza , has been following with deep concern the events unfolding in Israel and the Gaza Strip . . .

We understand that it is extremely complex, and that it needs a lot of work to build up trust and the political will on all sides.

However, we dare to dream together of a Middle East where Jews and Arabs are able to enjoy life side by side, in peace.  

The God who is near wants to bless the Jewish people, but not at the expense of the Arab people; and he wants to bless the Arab people, but not at the expense of the Jewish people.

We all call Abraham, the friend of God, also the father of our faith. For his sake, and the sake of our God, may this conflict raise us up to a place where God pours his love for each person into all our hearts.

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May this inspire those who make political decisions, as well as the families – especially those who have lost loved ones. Let their deaths not be in vain, but be the cause of a better world – for the glory of God.

We call on all who are concerned to fast and pray for peace in the Middle East. Specifically, we would request that those in the World Evangelical Alliance global family devote time to pray for this crisis, during this week in which many Alliances worldwide are celebrating their annual prayer week . . .

In addition, we would ask that churches and individual Christians respond generously to the humanitarian disaster created by this conflict.

February 2009