S.A.L.A.M. in the Holy Land
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 Working in Plano, TX - June, 2011
 
This June, Rani and Hannah Espanioly relocated to Plano, TX to begin working with Hunter's Glen Baptist Church. Rani accepted a part-time position as a Missions Associate, working to build bridges with local Arabic speakers and Middle Easterners from different religious backgrounds. The job will run for one year and will allow Rani to hone his ministry skills. The other half of Rani's time will be spent working for SALAM and speaking at various churches and organizations. We are excited about this next year!
 
 
 
SALAM's Rani Espanioly Interviewed by CBN International Correspondent - March, 2011
 
Gary Lane, CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network) international correspondent, interviewed Rani Espanioly on the response of Arab Christians in Israel and Palestine to the recent Middle East uprisings. Previously, Rani was interviewed by Mr. Lane concerning the state of persecuted Arab Christians in the area. Rani was able to connect Mr. Lane with a local evangelist working in a high risk environment. Following this connection, Mr. Lane, who also works with Voice of the Martyrs, (VoM) was able to bring representatives from VoM to meet with Rani and discuss ministry options with SALAM. We look forward to joining together in the effort to support the Body of Christ in the Holy Land.
 
 
Bible Lessons International Founder Bob Utley Donates Arabic Bible Commentaries - February, 2011
 
Rev. Bob Utley, founder of Bible Lessons International, generously donated Arabic Bible commentaries on CD for distribution among Arab Christians in Israel and Palestine. SALAM was pleased to distribute these commentaries to Nazareth Evangelical Theological Seminary and Galilee Bible College for use among theological and Bible students studying in Arabic. We send our thanks to Rev. Utley for his generosity!
 
 
North Asheville Baptist Church Visits with Evangelical Council Vice-Chairman - October, 2010
 
A group from North Asheville Baptist Church in Asheville, NC led by Pastor Jim Dykes enjoyed a meeting with Evangelical Council Vice-Chairman Rajaei Samawei. SALAM had the privilege to connect Pastor Dykes with Rajaei Samawei in an effort to increase relationships with local Arab Christians and Western Christians. Mr. Samawei, an Arab Christian and pastor of Nazareth Illit Baptist Church, gave a presentation on the Arab evangelical presence in Israel and their work. Mr. Samawei is also involved with the Back to Jerusalem project and took the opportunity to share some of the many things this great initiative is accomplishing. At the end of the meeting, there was a time of Q & A. An interview with Mr. Samawei can be seen on our Youtube channel.
 
 
SALAM Introduces New Talk Show - October 18, 2010
 
SALAM is pleased to introduce Holy Land Connection, a local talk show dedicated to connecting viewers with the 'living stones' of the Holy Land. Each brief video segment will feature a 'connection' with a local ministry leader. We aim to introduce as many of these key leaders and ministries as possible and encourage the formation of new partnerships. Visit SALAM's YouTube channel for a glimpse of Holy Land Connection!
 
 
 
 
SALAM Gains Official Non-Profit 501(c)3 Status - September 6, 2010
 
SALAM is thrilled to announce that our application for Non-Profit Status under United States law has been approved! We are now officially classed as a Non-Profit Organization and all financial contributions to the ministry are tax deductible under 501(c)3. This status is effective from November 20, 2009 so all previous donations made after this date are tax deductible. We would like to thank the efforts of Bobbie Buck, Pam Cannon, Ron and Amy Byrd and all SALAM board members for their hard work in accomplishing this status!
 
 Ministry Tour Highlights: July 15 - August 19
By: Hannah Espanioly

On August 20, 2010 Rani and I returned from our first SALAM ministry tour in the USA. We had an incredible experience and were able to share our hearts with seven churches and numerous small groups. We've outlined a tiny bit of these blessings below.

North Asheville Baptist Church (Asheville, NC) - July 24 & 25
Pastor Jim Dykes

Rani preached a sermon entitled The Rejected Messiah during 3 services and I shared a song. NABC is nestled in one of the loveliest areas in North Carolina, home to the famed Biltmore Estate, which we were able to visit thanks to the kindness of Mrs. Dykes. We were blessed by the generosity and graciousness of this great church and were privileged to witness four lives saved during one of the services.

 
Click Here for Rani's Preaching at NABC

Green Acres Baptist Church (Tyler, TX) - August 1
Pastor David Dykes
Rani again had the opportunity to present The Rejected Messiah during 3 church services and I shared a song. We joined my aunt and uncle, Audis and Deborah Byrd at their home church, which to Rani's utter amazement draws about 6,000 people every Sunday. We were impressed with the friendliness of everyone and enjoyed meeting many different people between services.
 

First Baptist Church (Forney, TX) - August 1
Pastor Jim Pritchard

Following the morning services at GABC in Tyler, we drove down to Forney to share in their evening services. Rani presented The Rejected Messiah and I shared in singing. This is the church that I was a member of for several years before moving to Israel and Rani and I consider it our 'home away from home.' It was such a sweet reunion with friends and family.

First Baptist Church (Monroe, LA) - August 4

We spent Wednesday evening at FBC Monroe, home to my grandparents Bobbie and Richard Buck. Despite the mid-week timing, well over 100 people gathered to hear Rani's presentation on The Nazareth Jesus Knew, understanding Biblical parables through an in-depth look at Nazareth during the first century. I also shared in singing before Rani's presentation. This event was such an unexpected blessing and the people who made the trip to share with us were so welcoming.

*We were privileged on that evening to pray with James Christopher, a young boy suffering from an incurable form of leukemia. He had a cancerous oral tumor which we prayed over and the following day the tumor had vanished! Praise God for His mercies and continue to pray for James and his family.*

Chapelwood United Methodist Church (Houston, TX) - August 8
Pastor Bob Johnson

CUMC hosted a welcome breakfast in our honor on Sunday morning and we were thrilled to reunite with friends from former Holy Land trips. Rani and I both participated in a Q & A session during breakfast and Rani shared an abbreviated version of The Rejected Messiah during their Adult Sunday School hour. We greatly enjoyed our time and met some lovely people who blessed us immensely.

Cornerstone Baptist Church (Lucas, TX) - August 8
Pastor Jim Everidge

Following our morning in Houston, we drove down to Lucas to share with CBC. This church is located in Texas countryside and has an incredible story of beginning and growth. I shared in singing and Rani preachedThe Rejected Messiah during their evening service. We felt so at home with these kind-hearted people and every face reflected the love of Jesus.

Branson Missouri Gathering - August 9
Pastor Howard Boyd

We were honored to be invited to a gathering at the home of Pastor Howard during our time in Branson. We were reunited with friends we met in Israel previously and were fortunate to share the vision for our ministry SALAM with these sweet people. Rani also shared his testimony and details of the many things God is doing through SALAM, through his work at Nazareth Village and through the ministry Linga.

Gethsemane Baptist Church - August 15

We enjoyed a brief time of sharing with Gethsemane, a church that my grandfather Bill Hall pastored for almost 30 years and now home to my parents, Ron and Amy Byrd. I sang two songs and Rani shared a few words about SALAM and the Arab Christians in Nazareth. It was such a great time spent with family and old friends.

I could probably write a mini-novel about each of these encounters. We cannot say enough how blessed we were to be a part of each and every church family. This trip has truly brought to life the extraordinary fact that we are all ONE in the Body of Christ. We thank everyone for their efforts in welcoming and supporting us and hope we all meet again soon!

So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Romans 12:5
 
 
 
SALAM Welcomes American Guests - April 16, 2010
 
SALAM welcomed guests Todd Bradley, Dane McGuffee, Rob Bond, and Todd Stoner on Saturday, April 16th. SALAM’s Rani Espanioly led the men on a tour of Nazareth Village, a local first century recreation, and on a walking tour of the city Nazareth.  Rob Bond, a minister from Pennsylvania, commented on how his visit to the Holy Land really changed his reading of the Bible, by bringing things to life. Mr. Stoner and Mr. Bond were visiting Israel from Pennsylvania while Mr. Bradley and Mr. McGuffee call Texas home. Mr. Bradley served as the group tour guide. SALAM wishes the very best to our new friends and looks forward to their next visit to the Holy Land!
 
 
 
From left - Todd Bradley, Todd Stoner, Dane McGuffee, Rob Bond on Mt. Precipice, Nazareth

 

 

 
 
 

 New Partnerships Announced - March 30, 2010
 
SALAM is pleased to announce its partnership with four local ministries: Linga (Light in Galilee), Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), Twins Biblical Ministries and SERVE Nazareth.
 
 
 Is known as the "Arab Christian Voice from the Holy Land" and maintains the only fully evangelical Christian news website in the Holy Land. They offer an Arabic news website and an English one. 
 
 
 
 
 (CEF) is "a Bible-centered, worldwide organization composed of born-again believers whose purpose is to evangelize boys and girls with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and disciple them in the Word of God." As well as working with children, CEF also sponsors numerous community events.
 
 
 
SERVE Nazareth

" The vision of the SERVE Nazareth program is to glorify God by bringing Christians from around the world together in service, to encourage the body of Christ in Nazareth and equip young people for future ministry. 

The program provides the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than yourself. Come to Nazareth and
 
Live
where Jesus lived

Learn
through a seminary course

Serve
Local ministries and the community

Grow
through dynamic teaching"
 

 
 
 
For many years André & Tony (The Twins) have been involved in an anointed balanced reconciliation ministry of leading Christian tourists in this Land.
 
Something that can really make a tour special is to incorporate a ministry component by spending a few days visiting the churches, ministry centers, and even the homes of our local Christian communities -- the real "living stones"-- providing the opportunity to experience the culture first hand, and also to build up long term partnerships between Christians in the Holy Land and Christians visiting from overseas.

God has opened new doors for exciting growth with Twins Biblical Ministries (TBM):   more certifications, access to more guides and vehicles, and especially new and expanded partnerships with the "living stones" – believers from the Land. This has led TBM into more dedicated ministry of building bridges between local Messianic and Arab Christian believers in the Land.  From the beginning, the vision of Twins Biblical Ministries (TBM) has been to experience the power of the kingdom of heaven on earth bringing reconciliation in Jerusalem, by providing tour experiences that open up true understanding of daily life in the Holy Land through solid Education, Evangelism, and Encouragement.
 
 
 
 
SALAM is looking forward to serving with these great ministries!



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


For news about current events and up to date information on Christian ministries in Israel, visit the Linga website.