Israel (MNN) -- The Gaza ceasefire continues to hold, as decisions are made regarding which International forces will have a ground presence there.
SGA's Eric Mock says the prospect of long-term peace in the region is unrealistic, for even as the ceasefire holds, so does a theological and historical tension.
"The issue that is really in the background and will continue to be in the background is the tension between the tribe of Ishmael and the tribe of Isaac," Mock says.
While Christians look forward to the second coming of Christ, many muslims expect an imam who will rule the world with a hand of peace and prosperity.
"From a Christian perspective, such a figure represents the antichrist," Mock explains. "And so behind all the peace process remains the very real reality that our hope for the future and their hope for the future are decidedly different."
This continues to play out, as Hamas seeks to reassert control over Gaza through executions and targeting of opposition groups.
"Even in the midst of the peace process, there are those that take this opportunity for themselves at the expense of human life," Mock says.
But the bad news isn't the only news.
Through their work with Slavic immigrants, SGA is seeing God move among the Russian immigrant population of Israel. Israel's Russian speakers number over one million and comprise 15% of the country's population.
"SGA is happy to support a growing network of Bible teaching, Gospel teaching and sharing churches," Mock says.
He attributes the growth in part to the training of nationals and their subsequent faithfulness to share the Gospel and disciple their own people. Since public faith sharing is not the cultural norm in the Middle East, discipleship happens elsewhere.
"Families build relationships through which the Gospel comes; and the Gospel is going forth, the truth of the Gospel is being taught, and people are coming to faith," Mock says.
SGA is involved in aid, church planting, and training, along with other aspects of church development. Mock says it's glorious to see the hand of God at work across the country of Israel.
Pray that Christ would be exalted in this nation, and that as He is lifted up, many will look to Him for redemption.