Evangelical pastor told to leave Israel

[Shammu]

Evangelical pastor told to leave Israel
Etgar Lefkovits
THE JERUSALEM POST
Aug. 16, 2007

An American evangelical pastor who has been living in Israel with his family for nearly two decades has been ordered to leave the country with his wife within two weeks after their request for permanent residency was turned down, officials said Thursday.

Ron Cantrell, 59, and his wife Carol, 54, ran a small Jerusalem-based ministry 'Shalom Shalom Jerusalem' for the past four years, while Cantrell previously worked for Bridges for Peace, an evangelical organization, for 14 years.

Two of the couple's children have married Israelis and have Israeli ID cards.

Interior Ministry officials said that the decision was made after there were suspicions that Cantrell was involved in missionary work.

Cantrell categorically denied the allegations of missionary work as baseless.

Cantrell, who has been active in raising money for Israel as well as working on behalf of Soviet Jews, had resided in Israel on a special clergy visa during his work for Bridges for Peace, but then went back to a regular tourist visa that needed to be renewed every three or six months, he said.

The highly coveted but sparsely distributed clergy visa is primarily given out to officials with mainstream Christian organizations.

Cantrell, who travels extensively on lecture tours, could have continued living in Israel if he left the country at least once every three months, but said that was an "unworkable solution" for his wife.

This week his appeal for permanent residency in Israel was turned down by the Ministry of the Interior, and he and his wife were instructed to leave the country within two weeks.

Cantrell said that no reason was cited in the application denial.

Interior Ministry spokeswoman Sabine Haddad said that the couple's request to receive residency status, after residing in Israel for years on various temporary permits, was brought before all the levels in the ministry up to the acting head of the population authority, who also served as the director general of the office.

The request was turned down last month, she said.

Interior Ministry officials said that according to information that reached the ministry there were suspicions that Cantrell was involved in missionary activity.

The organization's web site says that the couple "encourages Christians and Messianic Jewish believers in their understanding of the prophetic Scriptures" and "encourages believers to participate in God's end-time plans by being involved in positive support for the nation of Israel and Jewish communities worldwide... in the regathering of the Jewish people to their homeland."

The issue underscored the delicate balancing act Evangelical Christian supporters of Israel face when dealing with the Jewish State, which bans proselytizing and their fundamental belief that the return of the Jews to the Holy Land was foretold in the Scriptures and heralds the return of the messiah.

Evangelical pastor told to leave Israel

[Shammu]

Most Jews over there don't want Christianity there.  The irony is that few other people cares as much about them or support them as evangelicals do.  The stone the builders rejected has become the corner stone, and it's the stone that will break them or make them.

God is not done with Israel, His plans are still set.  Even if they continue to reject the word, we must continue to present it.

[Brother Jerry]

Yep the irony.

But then I guess I would have been kicked out...because if they asked me if I was doing missionary work...I would have had to say yes...I am doing the Lords mission, how about you?

[Soldier4Christ]

Even if they continue to reject the word, we must continue to present it.

Amen and without faltering.

Yep the irony.

But then I guess I would have been kicked out...because if they asked me if I was doing missionary work...I would have had to say yes...I am doing the Lords mission, how about you?

You wouldn't be alone in that.

[Def]

pastor Roger if i never said thank you for all the sharing that i take from you ,well there it goes thank you very much ,and may God bless you according to his righteousness.,now as for sharing the word  i just bought 20 new testament  (5 English and 15 french,closest to the KJV as possible)i allready was able to pass three along .I tread in rough water here, it is illegal to approach, so i do some talking till i see a interest and then offer. all on the  to the mountain in my Wheeler(Chair)most days that God grant to me to serve Him ,you must remmember that the name of Jesus is on my Chair and all of the important verse seeded to say the sinner prayer and Jn,3:16and so on it is not loud just right not to be stone..and i bought 30 little ones at 25 cent (Personal Bible verses of Comfort Assurance Salvation) and I tear(rip)away pages and let them go in the wind..french and English..well i am just about ready to get arrested for littering if  i don`t back off a bit.....my mission is just talk about Jesus and follow Him, that is all God my Father wants  of me..Follow Jesus.OK so we do ..but you get isolated and hated for that here. in Jesus Def i have tore up four little books here and there into the city. just so that the one that pick it up, can focus onGod Son Jesus Christ, .."For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever beliveth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life..JN,3:16..my verses in the winds  they are just reminders......
in Jesus Def..

[Def]

pastor Roger if i never said thank you for all the sharing that i take from you ,well there it goes thank you very much ,and may God bless you according to his righteousness.,now as for sharing the word  i just bought 20 new testament  (5 English and 15 french,closest to the KJV as possible)i allready was able to pass three along .I tread in rough water here, it is illegal to approach, so i do some talking till i see a interest and then offer. all on the  to the mountain in my Wheeler(Chair)most days that God grant to me to serve Him ,you must remmember that the name of Jesus is on my Chair and all of the important verse seeded to say the sinner prayer and Jn,3:16and so on it is not loud just right not to be stone..and i bought 30 little ones at 25 cent (Personal Bible verses of Comfort Assurance Salvation) and I tear(rip)away pages and let them go in the wind..french and English..well i am just about ready to get arrested for littering if  i don`t back off a bit.....my mission is just talk about Jesus and follow Him, that is all God my Father wants  of me..Follow Jesus.OK so we do ..but you get isolated and hated for that here. in Jesus Def i have tore up four little books here and there into the city. just so that the one that pick it up, can focus on God Son Jesus Christ, .."For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever beliveth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life..JN,3:16..my verses in the winds  they are just reminders......
in Jesus Def..

the Truth is the Bible the inspired Word of God to All men..end of story..Def

[Soldier4Christ]

I understand how hard it can be when it is against the law. It does no good to purposeful get arrested as it makes it that  much harder to witness to others unless they are also in jail. Keep up the good work, sister.

[Def]

I understand how hard it can be when it is against the law. It does no good to purposeful get arrested as it makes it that  much harder to witness to others unless they are also in jail. Keep up the good work, sister.

look, Pastor Roger He does give me enough wisdom to act wisely i have been doing his work for quite a while now, i know when to hold them, and i known when to fold them...Good night Pastor Roger.thank you for answering it helps,littering i think was the word for the pages in the wind...that is what they would get me for .so i distance them one little book a week and God does the rest...The Holy Spirit...in Jesus,Def

[Soldier4Christ]

Good night def.

[ibTina]

pastor Roger if i never said thank you for all the sharing that i take from you ,well there it goes thank you very much ,and may God bless you according to his righteousness.,now as for sharing the word  i just bought 20 new testament  (5 English and 15 french,closest to the KJV as possible)i allready was able to pass three along .I tread in rough water here, it is illegal to approach, so i do some talking till i see a interest and then offer. all on the  to the mountain in my Wheeler(Chair)most days that God grant to me to serve Him ,you must remmember that the name of Jesus is on my Chair and all of the important verse seeded to say the sinner prayer and Jn,3:16and so on it is not loud just right not to be stone..and i bought 30 little ones at 25 cent (Personal Bible verses of Comfort Assurance Salvation) and I tear(rip)away pages and let them go in the wind..french and English..well i am just about ready to get arrested for littering if  i don`t back off a bit.....my mission is just talk about Jesus and follow Him, that is all God my Father wants  of me..Follow Jesus.OK so we do ..but you get isolated and hated for that here. in Jesus Def i have tore up four little books here and there into the city. just so that the one that pick it up, can focus onGod Son Jesus Christ, .."For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever beliveth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life..JN,3:16..my verses in the winds  they are just reminders......
in Jesus Def..

Def,

   I LOVE that idea of those "seeds" ( torn pages) just might be picked up by someone who is feeling down and low. And that person may be at the point in their life that God will be able to touch their heart.