Jewish couple gives R71.5m to help Christian mission in Africa

PHOTO: An African child waiting for a heart examination in. (Nati Shohat / Flash90)

Originally published in Israel Today

Mark Gerson, a Jewish businessman from New York, is helping Christian medical missionaries care for some of Africa’s poorest.

In an interview with CBN, Gerson described it as “an honour and a privilege” to work with these Christian missionaries, calling them “sacred people.”

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He went on to explain that “the Bible, tells us 36 times, more than it tells us anything else, to love the stranger.” Gerson and his wife, who is a rabbi, eventually concluded that the most effective way to love strangers in need was to “support the Christian medical missionaries who are providing care to the poor in Africa.”

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They have since given generously to Christian missionary hospitals that also serve as training centres for African healthcare workers. In Burundi, where the Gersons are helping build a hospital and train Christian medical staff, half of the population have no access to drinkable water, and 70% of the nation lives below the poverty line. With their support, the Christian hospitals are able to care for tens of thousands of people.

“The average person lives on less than a dollar a day,” Dr Jason Fader, one of the Christian missionaries working in Burundi told CBN. “I can’t really fathom how to live on less than a dollar a day, and yet that is what the majority of the people in this country do.”

In Israel, Christian missionaries are considered a threat to the Jewish nation. For most Israelis, they stir memories of forced conversions and material incentives used by missionaries for generations to convert Jews to Christianity.

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Orthodox and anti-missionary groups are always on the lookout to warn the public about any Christian activity in the Jewish state. They view the Christians’ so-called “good works” as just another coverup to preach the Gospel and convince Jews to believe in Jesus. For this traditional Jewish couple to generously support a church’s efforts is surprising, and at least for some, could mean a step towards a new appreciation of the Christian mission.

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