Association of Baptist Churches in Israel
The Baptists in Israel are mostly united in the Association of Baptist Churches in Israel ( ABCI ). Two communities (Jerusalem, Ramallah ) belong to the American Baptist Association. An independent Baptist church works in Tel Aviv.
History
Shukri Musa, member of the First Baptist Church in Dallas came to Israel in 1911, which still belonged to the Ottoman province of Palestine at that time. He was probably the first Baptist missionary in the so-called Holy Land. His work was supported by the Baptist Association of the U.S. state of Illinois. The first accomplished by Musa baptism took place in Zefat. Even before 1920 there was a first church plant in Nazareth.
The Southern Baptist Convention (Southern Baptist Convention ) in 1923 sent more missionaries to Palestine. There came other communities - including in Jerusalem ( 1925) and in Haifa (1936).
Since 2001, the Baptists in Israel maintain a partnership with the British Baptist Union.
Theological orientation
The Baptists in Israel belong to the conservative evangelical wing of the Baptist movement. Eschatological themes determined very strong preaching and teaching. The Jerusalem municipality is characterized charismatic
Organization and statistics
The Association of Baptist Churches in Israel sees itself as a national alliance of autonomous communities. It performs tasks that exceeds the capacity of the local communities. Above all she knows is responsible for the establishment of new communities, training of volunteer and full-time employees as well as for the sponsorship of diaconal projects. The Association operates a school in zwölfklassige Nazreth.
The ABCI is a member of the European Baptist Federation and the Baptist World Alliance.
2004 belonged to the ABCI 19 autonomous communities with about 2,000 members (excluding children and friends ). The municipalities are composed ethnically and linguistically different. In 13 municipalities dominates the Arabic language, in two communities Hebrew. Also includes two Spanish-speaking communities and a Filipino community to the Israeli Baptist Convention.
The majority of Baptists in Israel lives in Galilee.