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radioPaul Calvert reports on his trip to the most densely populated place on earth
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Some of the Christian community are nominal Christians. If the Christian is not strong enough, then the pressure can convince them to be converted. This has become very painful for the Christian community in Gaza. What is needed at the moment is strong Christian discipleship, helping the Christian to know what they believe.
The most important thing for Christians is to have a personal relationship with the Lord; to know their Bible and be educated in apologetics in order to answer the questions they face from the Muslim community.
During my trip, I felt the need to come back again to Gaza and not just for one day, but to come back for a week, just to encourage the youth and bring them some hope and show them some love. After all that is what Jesus would do.
Pray for the Gaza Church that they would know God and know their faith.
Pray for Pastors that they could develop discipleship amongst their community.
Pray for the youth who face many pressures.
Ask God to ignite that power of the Holy Spirit in their lives so that
they can see that they can make a difference in their
community. 
Paul Calvert is from Carlisle in Cumbria working as a Journalist in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. He is also a radio presenter with a documentary show.
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This was a good article, thank you.
While Christians and people of all faiths are free in Israel, sadly in the Palestinian territories there is much persecution - as you point out.
I'm not saying there's no persecution in Israel as some extreme Jewish groups can be very anti Christian. But in terms of overall government structure there's a big difference between a liberal democracy (Israel) and a dictatorship that doesn't allow religious freedom (Gaza - Hamas).
The Christians throughout Israel and Palestinian territories need our prayers.
Finally - Pam may I suggest that if you want Gaza to export freely you start campaigning for Hamas to stop throwing rockets at Israel every 5 minutes? Let's remember Israel gave the Gaza strip to the Palestinians in exchange for peace. That was the deal! Once again, the Palestinian leadership has failed its people.
Hmm. Israel pulled out of Gaza in 2005 because it risked its, undeserved, reputation as 'democratic'. With 20%+ of Israel's population Palestinian a further 1.5 million (now 1.7) represented a 'demographic threat'. The rockets from Gaza only commenced when Israel supported by US & UK refused to accept the democratic will of the people and put in place the siege and boycott. Israel kills far more people in Gaza than does Hamas or any of the other Islamic movements do in Israel. Christians should support neither Israel not Hamas but the many Jews, Christians and Muslims who are trying to work for peace.
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