Gathering to Learn (The Living Stones Webinar)
By Catherine Cole, CBM Communications Lead
This spring, Canadian Baptist Ministries hosted The Living Stones, a three-part webinar series created as a space for listening, learning, and deeper reflection on the realities of Israel and Palestine.
In light of the war in Gaza and ongoing tensions in the region, many Christians in Canada have been seeking thoughtful, biblically grounded ways to understand the theological frameworks that shape Christian perspectives on the land, the people, and the pursuit of peace. Rather than offering simple answers to complex realities, the series invited participants to engage with humility, curiosity, and theological integrity.
Across three sessions, participants explored Voices from the Land, hearing from the church in the region; Theology, Land, and Promise, which offered biblical context; and Seeds of Peace, which focused on practical action and advocacy. The series included teaching from Rev. Dr. Yohanna Katanacho, a Palestinian Israeli Evangelical, professor of Biblical Studies, Academic Dean at Nazareth Evangelical College, and author whose scholarship and pastoral experience offer a deeply rooted biblical and local perspective.
Together, these conversations helped create a gentle and thoughtful space for Canadian Baptists to listen to voices from the region, reflect on Scripture, and consider what faithful peacemaking can look like in a deeply divided context.
Rev. Randy Hamm, Lead Pastor at First Baptist Church Vernon, says: “As a pastor, I found the Living Stones Webinar very helpful, both personally and as a resource for the whole church. Realizing that we have evangelical brothers and sisters in Israel who are Arab Palestinian with a very different view of the Holy Land than I grew up with has been very eye-opening. I'm so thankful that CBM has offered this. We are going through it as a church over 3 consecutive weeks.”
The series also highlighted the work of CBM’s partner, Nazareth Evangelical College, including a dialogue initiative that brings together Christian, Muslim, and Jewish leaders to foster understanding, reconciliation, and social cohesion.
We are grateful for all who participated in The Living Stones and entered these conversations with openness and care. In times of conflict and complexity, shared learning helps us walk together with greater humility, compassion, and hope.
If you would like to watch the webinar or share them with others, you can find them here: www.cbmin.org/2026/02/the-living-stones-webinar-series/
