ALEX AWAD


Pastor, East Jerusalem Baptist Church; Professor, Bethlehem Bible College

Position: Dean of Students, full-time instructor on Bethlehem campus, part-time instructor on Nazareth extension campus, charter member of BBC board, Pastor at East Jerusalem Baptist Church.

Education: MA in Missiology (1989) from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore KT; MA in Education (1976) from N. Georgia University in Dahlonega GA; BS in Secondary Education (1973) from Lee University in Cleveland, TN; BA in Biblical Education (1970) from Lee University in Cleveland, TN
Number of years with BBC faculty: 24 years
Courses taught in 2002-2003 academic year: Homiletics, Library Skills, Christian Ed II
Ministry: Senior pastor of the East Jerusalem Baptist Church since 1994, missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church since 1989, board member of Evangelical Local Council of Churches in the Holy Land, member of the board of the Shepherd Society, BBC's charitable ministry.

Other: Rev. Alex Awad is the author of Through the Eyes of the Victims (Bethlehem Bible College, 2001), a discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from the perspective of Palestinians. The book is now in its second printing and can be ordered by calling our US distributor at 1-800-825-0192. Rev. Awad is also the author of numerous articles on the conflict and on Christians in the Holy Land. His most recent article, “The Muslims, My Neighbors” was published in The Mennonite monthly magazine in the spring of 2003.

DOB: 1 April 1946
Place of birth: Jerusalem
Personal status: Married, three children

BRENDA AWAD


Development Liaison Officer at Bethlehem Bible College

Brenda Kay Waddell Awad is a United Methodist missionary serving in Palestine with her husband, the Rev. Alex Awad. They are involved with a small international church in East Jerusalem and in supporting the ministry of Bethlehem Bible College (BBC). Brenda has performed various functions in her role as the pastor’s wife, which involve Sunday School programming, women’s meetings and event planning. At the Bible College she serves as the development liaison officer, developing proposals for the College’s worldwide support base. She fills in as an English teacher when there is a need. In addition, she works with other UM mission personnel in the region to facilitate UM group visits.

In an effort to bring about reconciliation among Palestinian and Israeli believers in Christ, Brenda and her husband, Alex, participate in and support the activities of Musalaha (Arab-Israeli Reconciliation organization). The Musalaha ministry conducts annual activities (women’s meetings, theology of the land seminars, desert encounters, and leaders’ events) that foster ties between the two groups and promote peace and understanding amid much diversity.

A native of Fleming-Neon, KY, Brenda says, “My parents taught me and my ten older siblings the value of hard work, honesty, and faith in God. My parents’ influence, plus interaction with school missionary programs and church groups led me to accept Christ and the basic tenets of Christian faith at an early age. I committed my life to God to serve wherever the Holy Spirit would lead.”

Acting on this rich Christian heritage and desiring to prepare for Christian service, Brenda attended Lee University in Cleveland, TN, where she received a B.S. degree in elementary education. While at Lee University, she was active in missions and felt the call to serve as a missionary, not knowing where God would lead. One scripture verse that seemed to follow her was Acts 1:8, “And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Upon completion of College, Brenda taught 1st grade in Calhoun, GA. She then married Alex, a native of Jerusalem, whom she met in her last year of College. They both taught in the public school system in North Georgia for several years. While teaching in Georgia, Brenda received a Masters’ degree in education from North Georgia College in Dahlonega.
In 1979, the Awads responded to the call to go to Bethlehem and assist with the newly formed Bethlehem Bible College where they spent the next six years as independent missionaries. From 1985-87 they served at Hope Secondary School, a charitable boarding school for young people from ages 12-18 in Beit Jala (near Bethlehem). Most of the students were victims of previous wars and occupations in their land. During the course of this ministry the Awad family was forced to leave Israel because they were refused renewal of their tourists’ visas.

In 1989 the Awads were commissioned as GBGM missionaries, but spent the next five years struggling to obtain visas to re-enter the country. During that time they served as mission interpreters in various locations on behalf of the GBGM: as Mission Interpreters In Residence (MIIRs) in Ohio from 1989-90; peace and justice educators in upstate New York from 1990-91; and MIIRs in the South Central Jurisdiction from 1991-94. In 1994 they returned to Jerusalem where they continue to serve the body of Christ.

Brenda and her husband, Alex, now live in the Jerusalem area. They have three children. Their son, Basem (25) is currently studying for a Master’s Degree in International Peace Development in Castilian, Spain. Their daughter, Christy (28), and husband, David, live in Chiang Mai, Thailand where they teach English at the University of Chiang Mai. Randy (20) finished his first year of college at Catonsville Community College and is taking his 2nd year of studies at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Missionary code: United Methodist Advance-010826-4
Email: abawad@p-ol.com