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By Tonya Whitaker
The Pew
Fifteen Southern Methodist University graduate students recently
experienced the Holy Land through their own eyes.
From Jan. 3 to Jan. 18, the group, accompanied by an SMU professor,
visited Israel as part of the Perkins School of Theology’s intercultural
immersion course.
For two weeks, the group interacted with the land’s inhabitants, took the
route Jesus Christ journeyed to the old-rugged cross in Jerusalem as
well as walked “Moses’ Mountain”-- Mount Sinai in Egypt.
Mittie Muse Jr., a Master of Divinity student and trip participant, said he
experienced a mixed bag of emotions on the trip. He recalled the group’s
visit with a Palestinian family that was asked to move out of their house
because they decided to expand their home without proper approval from
the Israeli government.
“They lived in a tent near the home to make sure the government did no
harm to their property. They were very cordial despite their struggles,”
said Muse, who serves as senior pastor of Mount Zion AME Church in
Italy, Texas.
Prior to attending the trip, Muse said students had to read works from
authors who have experienced life as a Palestinian Christian. They also
had the opportunity to visit at least one author.
“I identified with the author of ‘I am a Palestinian Christian,’ he said. His
story is reflective of the African American’s struggle in the United States.
The evil of oppression is what I saw (in his story). It takes certain forms.
It belongs to no color. You think it is gone but it reshapes itself.”
During the trip, Muse said, each student kept a journal chronicling their
experiences.
The group also took an early-morning trip to Mount Sinai, but they were
not alone. Visitors from Korea, Nigeria and other countries sang hymns
and witnessed the rising of the sun over the mount. Muse said a group
from Korean sang “How Great Thou Art” in their native tongue and others
joined along.
“When the sun rose, everyone cheered like the New Year’s Ball had just
dropped,” he recalled. “It was spiritual and emotional at the same time,
especially up on that mountain.”
He said the most powerful part of the trip was relating Palestinians
struggles to Christ’s suffering.
“The Holy Land is for all types of people. The Palestinian Christians are
moving to other countries such as Saudi Arabia and Jordan to worship as
they please. It is saddening to see that Christians have no stake in Israel
because they are leaving. No one will be there to hold onto it. That was
eye opening, he said.
“Some people may or may not agree with me, but Christ’s life was built
on helping the less fortunate. I know oppression happens all over the
world, it was ironic to see it happening in the Holy Land.”
According to SMU News, previous immersion course trips have taken
students to Hong Kong, Slovakia/Czech Republic, Monterrey, Mexico,
and South Africa.
The Pew
Fifteen Southern Methodist University graduate students recently
experienced the Holy Land through their own eyes.
From Jan. 3 to Jan. 18, the group, accompanied by an SMU professor,
visited Israel as part of the Perkins School of Theology’s intercultural
immersion course.
For two weeks, the group interacted with the land’s inhabitants, took the
route Jesus Christ journeyed to the old-rugged cross in Jerusalem as
well as walked “Moses’ Mountain”-- Mount Sinai in Egypt.
Mittie Muse Jr., a Master of Divinity student and trip participant, said he
experienced a mixed bag of emotions on the trip. He recalled the group’s
visit with a Palestinian family that was asked to move out of their house
because they decided to expand their home without proper approval from
the Israeli government.
“They lived in a tent near the home to make sure the government did no
harm to their property. They were very cordial despite their struggles,”
said Muse, who serves as senior pastor of Mount Zion AME Church in
Italy, Texas.
Prior to attending the trip, Muse said students had to read works from
authors who have experienced life as a Palestinian Christian. They also
had the opportunity to visit at least one author.
“I identified with the author of ‘I am a Palestinian Christian,’ he said. His
story is reflective of the African American’s struggle in the United States.
The evil of oppression is what I saw (in his story). It takes certain forms.
It belongs to no color. You think it is gone but it reshapes itself.”
During the trip, Muse said, each student kept a journal chronicling their
experiences.
The group also took an early-morning trip to Mount Sinai, but they were
not alone. Visitors from Korea, Nigeria and other countries sang hymns
and witnessed the rising of the sun over the mount. Muse said a group
from Korean sang “How Great Thou Art” in their native tongue and others
joined along.
“When the sun rose, everyone cheered like the New Year’s Ball had just
dropped,” he recalled. “It was spiritual and emotional at the same time,
especially up on that mountain.”
He said the most powerful part of the trip was relating Palestinians
struggles to Christ’s suffering.
“The Holy Land is for all types of people. The Palestinian Christians are
moving to other countries such as Saudi Arabia and Jordan to worship as
they please. It is saddening to see that Christians have no stake in Israel
because they are leaving. No one will be there to hold onto it. That was
eye opening, he said.
“Some people may or may not agree with me, but Christ’s life was built
on helping the less fortunate. I know oppression happens all over the
world, it was ironic to see it happening in the Holy Land.”
According to SMU News, previous immersion course trips have taken
students to Hong Kong, Slovakia/Czech Republic, Monterrey, Mexico,
and South Africa.
Biblical learning experience
Divinity graduate students visit Israel as part of
SMU’s immersion course
SMU’s immersion course
Courtesy of Mittie Muse Jr.
Top, the stairs leading to the Church of the Beatitudes-Melkite Greek Catholic
Church in Ibillin (in the Galilee region near Nazareth) are inscribed with the
Beatitudes in various languages. Above, the group shares a meal in Nazareth.
Top, the stairs leading to the Church of the Beatitudes-Melkite Greek Catholic
Church in Ibillin (in the Galilee region near Nazareth) are inscribed with the
Beatitudes in various languages. Above, the group shares a meal in Nazareth.
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