Paul Calvert spoke with Director Nashat Filmon

Nashat: Four years ago we lost one of our colleagues in Gaza. He was kidnapped and brutally killed. The natural result of such an incident or outcome is we shut down our centres, we leave and we won't be interested in Gaza because it's a place where we lost a dear colleague. Although we went out of Gaza, Gaza never went from out our hearts. We still love Gaza and love the people and this is our calling for Gaza, to bless the people and bring them hope and we continue to do that and that's why we are continuing with our efforts in relief in humanitarian work.

Paul: Is the bookshop still running today?

Nashat: The centre is closed. We don't have any staff inside Gaza. We have people who are helping us from time to time, but no we have decided not to re-open the centre in Gaza until we hear from the authorities regarding that and so far they haven't responded.

Paul: But you are still able to send people to go into Gaza?

Nashat: Yes, we continue to send people to Gaza.

Paul: What are your hopes for the future for the Gaza Strip?

Nashat: My hope for Gaza is that people will find true freedom; the physical one as well as the spiritual one. My hope also for Gaza is that people would be able to realise they can link with other people easily in relationships and that violence is not the answer always to all our problems. My hope for Gaza as well is that we would be able to continue blessing this deprived area, hoping that lots of people would be interested in this place and praying for them, for the church there and praying for the believers that they would maintain and continue their witness.

The numbers of Christians are declining inside Gaza. Anyone who has an opportunity to leave, they leave and never come back. I had a discussion with a young 22 year old man and as soon as I asked him, 'Are you interested in getting married?' he said, 'No way, it's out of the question. I just want to leave this hell.' It is hell for many people and we pray that it will turn to be a blessing to many people and that the Lord will look in favour over this deprived place and pour his love and peace over the people of Gaza.

Paul: That must be very difficult for the Christian community if people just want to get out and leave. There's less of a Christian presence there, which makes it harder to be a witness within the community.

Nashat: Yes, I mean, what do you expect from a young 22 year old man? He's looking for a bright future and wants to live a normal life. He hasn't been out of Gaza a lot, but through the internet and the social network he knows what's happening in the world. He knows there is a much better life that he could live if he just leaves this place and this is his heart desire and I cannot really come and blame him and tell him to continue the Christian presence. I can't because this is his life. It has to be a calling from God and he has to accept this calling into his life and that's the outcome.

Just after the martyrdom of our colleague Rami Ayad, a Pastor had to leave Gaza and he is living somewhere else now and that's a Pastor. Do I blame him for that? I don't. He has children. What I am trying to say is that it's not the easiest place to live. It's actually very hard and we are losing the witness and therefore the whole world needs to be aware of what's going on in Gaza and needs to support the Christian presence and the Christian work in Gaza, so as to maintain those remnant who stayed in Gaza and to support and help them to tell them that we care and we love you. Also we care for the whole community in general not just for the Christians. We also care for the Muslims because we know that God loves them and we love them as well.

Paul: What's your prayer for the Gaza Strip?

Nashat: My prayer is that it would be a peaceful place. That this place where people look at and call hell would become a paradise and people would witness the work of the Lord in their lives and in their surroundings and in the whole community. That's my hope and my prayer. I'm optimistic, although it doesn't seem so, but we continue pressing on with the little work that we do and with the one to one work. You have to eat an elephant one bite at a time.