Numerous Muslim men in Gaza came to Christianity in recent days after seeing Jesus in their dreams in what is being described as a “miracle,” according to a new report from underground Christians in the region.
The report was first posted online by author and Christian apologist Michael Licona, who said, “God is working in the midst of war.” Licona is a professor of New Testament studies at Houston Christian University and the author of multiple books, including The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus and Paul Meets Muhammad.
The report, he said, was “coming out of Palestine from underground Christian ministries.”
“Over the past two days,” the report from the ministries said, “we have ministered to hundreds of fathers who have lost most, if not all, of their children in the war.”
“As we moved these men to safety, we fed them, washed their clothes, and began to read the Bible to them -- sharing the way of peace through Jesus,” the report said. “Then, a big miracle happened. Last night, Jesus appeared to more than 200 of them in their dreams! They have come back to us to learn more from God’s Word and are asking how to follow Jesus.”
Licona said the report should be celebrated by Christians all over the world,
“I side with Israel in this war, not necessarily for theological reasons but because Hamas and those backing it are pure evil,” he wrote. “Yet, I know that not all Palestinians support Hamas. In fact, they will be punished severely if even suspected of not supporting Hamas. Let's pray that this war can be over soon and that Israel can eradicate Hamas so that Palestinians can be free . . . of Hamas!”
Christians in Gaza account for less than 1 percent of the population, according to a 2012 report from the Institute for Middle East Understanding. While that report estimated the number of Christians in Gaza to be around 3,000, the population today could be 1,000 or less, according to Al Jazeera.
Photo Courtesy: @Getty Images/Abdalhay Alhouseini
Video Courtesy: One for Israel via YouTube
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.