Linga - Nazareth

On Sunday, August 28, 2011 the Good Shepherd Baptist Church celebrated the launch of their new church building. Several evangelical leaders as well as church members gathered to celebrate together.

The meeting opened with a group reading from Psalm 23 and the song “How Great Thou Art.” Pastor Suheil Saad led a prayer for the gathering followed by a welcome from Pastor Afif Saba, leader of the Good Shepherd church.

Pastor Saba shared his vision for church planting and the vision the Lord gave him for the church. The Good Shepherd Church began as a house group and Pastor Saba talked about the need to unite all the house groups in the area to continue spreading the gospel in Nazareth and its surrounding areas. The celebration included several local church leaders including Munther Naum, President of the Association of Baptist Churches in Israel and Rev. Dr. Munir Kakish, President of the Evangelical Council of the Holy Land (Palestine). Pastor Ibrahim Simaan shared about the fulfillment of the vision to build a church in every district of the city.

Praise and worship was led by Yosef Matar and his daughter Amal Matar who sang three songs accompanied by the oud. Um Izmir sang a song she wrote herself, accompanied by Rani Saba on the keyboard. The main sermon was presented by Pastor Louis Vinabil of Church of North Bridge in Southern California. Pastor Ibrahim Simaan translated into Arabic.

The meeting concluded with a time of prayer to consecrate the building and unite the members.