By Gary Myers, NOBTS Communications We had a great work day today at all three areas -- 50 bags of material were pulled from the water system and the two above ground locations continued to carefully excavate. At this mid-point of the dig, everyone is equal parts excited, exhausted, and home sick. We still have much to do before we leave and many questions are left that we hope to answer ... in the coming week and in the next few years. For those of you who are not acquainted with the history of Gezer and the history of the site's archaeology, below is a portion of last year's report regarding the dig. Tel Gezer Water System Added evidence that an ancient water system at Tel Gezer in Israel could be the product of Middle Bronze Age Canaanites living between the time of Abraham and the Israelite conquest was uncovered by New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s archaeology team during a challenging dig season in the summer of 2015. The Bible provides one tantalizing possible parallel to the Gezer system in the accounts of King David. In 2 Samuel 5:6-9, David’s men utilized a “water shaft” to invade and conquer the fortress of Zion/Jerusalem. This rock-hewn system has been located in Jerusalem’s “City of David” … [Read more...]

By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS Communications The Tel Gezer Water System Expedition welcomed the second week of the 2016 today. It was a beautiful, somewhat cool day – another great day to dig. Due to our travels, lectures and other commitments (the need for sleep), we weren’t able to publish an update last Thursday or post a week one video update Dan Warner, co-director of the NOBTS Gezer dig. So, I will attempt to get you up to date with our progress and Sarah Simon has edited and posted the update. The Water System – Field A-B When Thursday came to an end, the team in the water system had cleared the width of the tunnel just below what we are calling the “bottom step.” For several years the south half of this area has been cleared. However, we left the northern half (actually a little more than half) as a staging area for the bag removal process. This year removing that mass of dirt, pottery, rocks and debris was a top priority. Since the area was sealed under the causeway of stones laid over the pool area by Macalister in the early 1900s, the material may be helpful in establishing the date of the system’s construction. Removing the material necessitated a reworking of the wooden ramp used as a track for pulling up the bags of … [Read more...]

By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS Communications Today we reached full operational capacity at all three of our excavation areas. We are actively excavating in the water system (Fields A and B), in the buildings near the gate (Field C), and at the Canaanite gate (Field D). Exciting things are happening at each of the locations. Though today ended on a high note, it started very slow. One of our drivers (this blogger) lost the keys to one of our vans. Quickly we figured out that the keys were lost while I was blogging in the lobby at Neve Shalom. The only problem is the lobby does not open until 7 a.m. So instead of leaving at 6 a.m., one group did not get to leave until after 7 a.m. The slow start was accentuated by rain, of all things. I have spent many days in Israel and can remember a light rain only a few times. Three or four times there were significant showers. Between rain showers, the teams took starting measurements at the above ground fields and completed the water system sandbagging of the water system before lunch. After our lunch break, each area was able to begin excavating. The water system team removed 19 bags of material. The water system and the two other fields generated enough pottery for us to start our daily task … [Read more...]

By Gary D Myers, NOBTS communications Setup days are always tough. It’s hot, dirty and we are all a bit out of physical shape when the excavation begins. We round up the tools and equipment, set up camp, raise shade cloth, make an unreasonable amount of sandbags, and a thousand other tasks. It takes lots of time and it is some of the hardest work we do during the excavation. Day two at the Tel Gezer Water System Exploration brought much cooler temperatures and more setup at all of our major work areas. In the water system (Fields A and B), the team repaired and installed the wooden stairs which allow access to the tunnel. Others began the long process of placing sandbags over the ancient steps – 85 steps total, each requiring two to four sandbags. Once setup is complete, the team will begin clearing out the NW quadrant of the pool (Area A). Removing this will expose the full width of the pool area at its shallowest point. Just as the team began laying the sandbags, we encountered the first real problem of the season. The switch used to control the winch shorted out and, for a time, we were unable lower additional sandbags into the tunnel. This minor setback was repaired within two to two and a half hours, but the lost time … [Read more...]

By David Roach, Baptist Press KINGSTON, Jamaica (BP) -- An Iowa Southern Baptist was among two American missionaries killed in Jamaica April 30 in what appeared to be a violent attack. Randy Hentzel, 48, a member of First Family Church in Ankeny, Iowa, was serving with the Pennsylvania-based Teams for Medical Missions when he was slain in a remote, rural area of Jamaica along with fellow missionary Harold Nichols, 53. The two men went for a motorcycle ride at approximately 8 a.m., and Hentzel's body was found hours later beside a motorcycle in some bushes, according to a news release from the Jamaica Constabulary Force. Nichols' body was found the next day in a separate area. St. Mary parish, where the deaths occurred, is a region known for violence, according to media reports. Nichols was a member of East Randolph (N.Y.) United Methodist Church, Teams for Medical Missions told Baptist Press. John Heater, executive director of Teams for Medical Missions, told the Des Moines Register, "We do not know who would do this or what their motivation was. These men greatly loved the people of Jamaica and were greatly loved in return." The Jamaican Constabulary Force said in a May 2 release it is "doing everything possible to identify … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Louisiana Baptists have a golden opportunity – bring the Gospel to a former Soviet founding republic whose population is just 1 percent evangelical. Although Belarus has few believers among the population of 9.6 million, it does not mean the people are closed to the message of Jesus Christ, those behind this Gospel movement contend. Jeff Ingram, senior adult strategist for Louisiana Baptists, has participated in previous mission trips to Belarus and plans on going again in May. He said once a person travels to the country, the people find a place in your heart. “After going twice, I see a real open field for the Gospel,” said Jeff Ingram, adult ministry strategist for Louisiana Baptists. “People have lived without hope for so long that they are desperate for Christ. “Belarus’ people and pastors feel like they have been forgotten by the rest of the world,” he continued. “Just our presence is a huge encouragement for the pastors and church members. The government and the people are more open to the Gospel than they have been in 100 years.” Since 2015, Louisiana Baptist churches have participated in mission teams in the country, in partnership with Byelorussian Mission. By 2018, plans … [Read more...]

By Tobin Perry, Christian Examiner JERUSALEM (Christian Examiner)—Three often competing Christian groups have committed to work together to save one of Christianity's most treasured sites—the shrine to the empty tomb of Jesus housed in Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Leaders of the Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic and Roman Catholic churches announced last month a $3.4 million renovation effort that will begin in May. The three churches will split the costs evenly (along with some private and public contributions). Each of the three will also appoint architects to help. The work should be done by early 2017, before the next Easter season. To read the rest of the article, click here. … [Read more...]

By Erich Bridges, IMB Global Correspondent BRUSSELS, Belgium (BP) -- Once again, innocent blood stains the ground and fear fills the air in Europe. The March 22 airport and subway bombings in Brussels, claimed by the ISIS Islamic terror group, killed more than 30 people, wounded at least 170 -- and traumatized a region still reeling from the November massacre in Paris, multiple bombings in NATO member Turkey and warnings of more attacks to come. (Regular ISIS -- or Al Qaeda-inspired attacks continue to kill hundreds in the Middle East, Central and South Asia and Africa, with far less notice in Western media.) The still-unfolding refugee crisis created by the Syrian civil war is straining European unity. The 28-nation European Union (EU), of which Brussels is the unofficial capital, is struggling to maintain stability as its members question whether the concept of Europe as an interconnected economic and political entity will survive the "long war" with Islamic terrorism. Following the Brussels bombings, EU heads of state publicly vowed to fight terrorism with "all necessary means," claiming the latest tragedy "only strengthens our resolve to defend European values and tolerance from the attacks of the intolerant." But … [Read more...]