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On the first anniversary of the October 7th attacks on Israel, Bishop Julian Dobbs reports back on his first tour of duty as the Chair of the Global Mission and International Relations Task Force for the Anglican Church in North America.
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What is Living Through the Word?
The podcast voice of the Anglican Diocese of the Living Word.
Welcome to Living Through the Word, the podcast ministry of the Anglican Diocese of the Living Word, a diocese of the Anglican Church in North America. On this podcast, we bring in different guests from across the diocese and across the global Anglican church to discuss topics that matter to you, your ministry, and life today. I'm Canon Mark Steele, the canon for our diocesan ministries. And today, I'm gonna be talking, again with our diocesan bishop, Julian Dobbs. Hello, sir.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:Mark, great to be back with you on Living Through the Word. Great to get the word of God out on a podcast. We're gonna be thinking a little bit about that today, and good to be engaging with those who, so generously, listen to this podcast.
Canon Marc Steele:And wonderful in our Anglican heritage and that charge we received from our savior to take this gospel and and spread it across the world to every tribe and every nation.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:Well, that's it, isn't it? Because, Jesus still says go. He said go 2000 years ago. Just before his ascension, he's gathered there with the disciples, and he says, go into all the world. Make disciples of all the nations.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:So praise the lord, that we can still receive that commission and go forth in his name.
Canon Marc Steele:Well, we're talking about, international ministries, and we're, again, we're talking about a country that means, so much to us, Israel, on the anniversary of the October 7th, attack and massacre. But before we, discuss that, bishop Julian, you've been appointed to a new ministry position in the Anglican church in North America. We have a new archbishop, elected him in, earlier this year, and he has appointed you. And wondering if you could tell us what that appointment is. It's got a big long title to it.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:Mark, archbishop Steve Wood has asked me to serve in a new, capacity as the chair of the ACNA's, global mission and international relations task force. So there's 2 parts to that. Global mission. We've just been talking about that. Taking the gospel, proclaiming the gospel, in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the world.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:That's the commission of Jesus. And and us bishop Steve has a a passion to do that. He's desperately concerned for the lost and lonely of the North American continent and beyond. So he wants to make this global mission a part of his archbishopric, as he serves, in leadership in the church. But naturally too, there are also relationships that develop, as a result of our global mission.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:And the Anglican church in North America has been blessed by God to be able to really punch above its weight, in global ministry in GAFCON, with our Global South partners and with Christians around the world with whom we stand as we endeavor to share the gospel. I'll also serve as an envoy for the archbishop on various occasions, and I'm thrilled and honored that he has invited me to serve in this capacity.
Canon Marc Steele:So you are a diocesan bishop. You're you're the host of this podcast, and you serve in many different capacities. And, you're my boss. You're my friend, and you're my bishop. What does this role mean on the provincial level?
Canon Marc Steele:Will you still be my diocesan bishop and serve this diocese, the Anglican Diocese of the Living Word?
Bishop Julian Dobbs:1st and foremost, the lord has called me to follow his son. I'm a Christian. I want to serve him, nothing more and nothing less. As I serve him, the over the years, the lord has given me opportunities to serve many of them in leadership. And right now, I find myself incredibly privileged to serve as the diocese and bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Living Word.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:We have 43 congregations and missions across North America, some international connections around the world with regards to mission. We're planting new congregations in order to reach this continent for Christ. That continues to be my priority. And so I'll continue to serve, so long as the lord should call and enable me, in the Anglican diocese of the living word as its bishop. I've got this additional role, to serve him in this new task force and as an envoy of the archbishop as I've just, mentioned.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:I'm able to do that because I'm supported by an incredible staff team, some assisting bishops, and most importantly, by the grace of God. As the lord calls, so he equips. Certainly doesn't make life dull or uneventful, but there are opportunities to serve him. And in fact, this is no different than any Christian, is it? Because we are all called to use the gifts and talents which the lord has given us, giving of ourselves more and more each day to enable god to be glorified that he might be seen more and that we might be seen less.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:So if you're happy to have me, I'm still happy to serve.
Canon Marc Steele:Right. Of course, we are. And just as I hear that response, I think of of god's calling and equipping, this ministry and your life and thinking about how complimentary your diocesan ministry existing, fits in with this provincial role. As we're recording a couple days ago, we had our monthly clergy call for this diocese, and there was a really stirring moment, when you did a roll call, with all of our foreign missionaries on this call. I'm thinking of our brothers in Ghana, brother in Ethiopia, Japan, Haiti, and just looking forward to seeing how God, uses this connection to, network for the glory of the gospel.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:Well, my, you know, my own story, is is a testimony to the lord's grace that we are called to the nations. I'm born a Kiwi in a great country at the bottom of the world. I'm a proud naturalized citizen of the United States of America. I was consecrated a bishop in the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion. I currently serve as a bishop in the Anglican Church in North America.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:This is the nations at work. Right?
Canon Marc Steele:Right.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:And, I'm I'm not only supported in that task by people like you and my staff team. Obviously, I'm supported very much by my wife, Brenda, whose gifts are so complimentary, to my own.
Canon Marc Steele:Today, when we're releasing this is October 7th. I wanna mention right off the bat, we're recording this on the Friday before October 7th. We don't know everything that's gonna happen in Israel over the next 48 hours before release of this podcast, But we can remember the horror and shock of October 7, 2023. We had just broken, from our annual clergy retreat at that point where we are privileged to have our dear friend and brother, the rector of Christ Church Jerusalem, the reverend David Palagy with us, and we were just, just horrified, terrified for Christians and believers in in Israel, in Gaza as we heard about the horrors of that day. 12 months ago today, Harris from Hamas waged the deadliest attack on the Jewish people since the holocaust.
Canon Marc Steele:They slaughtered babies, raped women, and burnt whole families alive. They took 100 of innocent civilians hostage. Since October 7th 2023, more than 1200 Israelis have been killed, and terrorists still today are holding over 100 men, women, and children in captivity. Bishop Julian, you have very recently returned from the state of Israel in your new capacity, serving the province. Why did you go to Israel, and why did you choose to do it, as your first trip?
Canon Marc Steele:Why did you choose to do it in a time of such increased conflict?
Bishop Julian Dobbs:Archbishop Steve Ward, asked me to travel to Israel, to meet with, the Jewish people, Palestinian Christians, military government officials, and those directly affected, by the October 7, 2023, terror attack attacks by Hamas. Those attacks, Mark, you'll recall, caused the greatest number of carnage of the Jewish people since the holocaust, in, the days of the 2nd World War. This was an an horrific event. And, we've seen many things develop over the past 12 months as a result of this, political divide, antisemitism, confusion about who's who and what's going on in the Middle East. Jesus tells us that the gospel is first to the Jews and then to the Greeks.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:So it seemed important to archbishop Steve and me that I make a visit to the land of Israel to meet with the people of Israel in such a time as this. Now people have said to me, was it safe for you to go? Should you have gone? Did you put yourself and your family at risk? What about, those with whom you were meeting?
Bishop Julian Dobbs:Did you put them at risk? I understand all of those, concerns. But are we only to weep with those who are weeping? Are we only to serve those who need serving? Are we only to visit those who are grieving and those who are sick in times of safety?
Bishop Julian Dobbs:Surely, the lord calls us to visit those who are in need in the times of their greatest need. And in in doing so, we're able to share something of the peace of the Messiah, which passes all understanding. So given all of those things, the archbishop and I felt that it was an appropriate time to go. Now, obviously, things escalated during my visit. It was rather intense, but that afforded us the opportunity to stand with those who are weeping and to support those who were in need.
Canon Marc Steele:I want you to take us up towards the border with Lebanon. You spent some time there, and I was wanting you to tell us about the different kinds of people you met within that region.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:Well, up in that part of the very north of Israel, which borders both where Lebanon, in the west, and then as you begin to move east, it borders with Syria. And then as you come down certainly into the borders of Israel, you've got the Golan Heights. People might be able to picture that, in their understanding of the geography, which plays out so much into, the situation. Up on the border of, of Israel with Lebanon, there's some very ancient faith groups. There are, people who have been gathering in family groups in that area since the time of Jesus Christ.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:That's true across the border also in Lebanon and Syria. I obviously didn't cross the border, given the the, circumstances. I have been to both of those countries, and and they met with those ancient people groups. So up on the border, I met with some Palestinian Christians. Those, who, Israeli citizens, but Palestinian.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:And they have been serving the lord faithfully in that context, for generations. I was fascinated as I listened to their ministry, their outreach, wanting to encourage them in the faith that they said to me, it's so important for us as Palestinian Christians to have a strong Israel because Israel is the only country in the region that allows someone to freely choose and change their religion without fear of reprisal. And for that reason, we, they said to me, are able to practice our faith freely here in the land of Israel. Up on the very north, right on the border with Lebanon, I was able to meet with some Aramean Christians, who whose whose families have been there in that borderland area since the time of Christ. They speak in Aramaic, the language of Jesus.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:They pray the lord's prayer. In fact, they prayed it with me, in the language of Jesus, in Aramaic. And there, they're suffering rockets from Hezbollah, even though now Hezbollah has been significantly diminished in its military power. Rockets still coming into their their, villages, randomly and indiscriminately to kill them and, to slaughter them and to eradicate them from the region. And what I want people to understand is this is more about much more than geography and much more than land and ownership of land.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:This is about the right to freely choose and practice faith, especially for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Canon Marc Steele:So while you were in Israel, we had all these rockets coming in, from from Hezbollah, up in Lebanon. You had them coming in from Iran. You even had them coming in from Yemen. Did you see these? Were you exposed to them?
Canon Marc Steele:What was that experience like?
Bishop Julian Dobbs:Well, look. This is a war zone. I imagine most people today as we release this on October 7, 2024 will be significantly aware of the escalation of hostilities in the Middle East. Prime minister Netanyahu declared that Israel was at war, and is at war. So when you're in a war zone, obviously, things are different.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:I've never been in an active war zone before. So I was attempting to be conscious of my environment. I had people back here and in the land of Israel, ensuring as best they could that, I was safe. However safe you can be in the midst of a war zone when your phone lights up and multiple rockets are coming into the areas where you are. I was in Israel for 7 days.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:The people of Israel are there permanently. Mhmm. Thousands upon thousands of Israeli citizens, Jews and Arabs and others, have had to flee their homes, abandon their homes in the north of Israel because of the rockets coming in now from Iran, from Hezbollah across the border. But, ultimately, as I looked up towards the hills of Jerusalem, what does the psalmist reminds us? He reminds us, I lift up my eyes to the hills.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:Where does my help come from? It comes from the lord, the maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip. He who watches over Israel, all his people shall neither slumber nor sleep. So it's not about having a blind faith and that you you're foolish.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:It's about saying, I'll be careful, but, ultimately, like everyone, I must trust the maker of heaven and earth. And that's our great hope as followers of the Lord. We take his word to be true, and he promises to watch over us even though there'll be challenges and difficulties. He'll walk us through the fire. We'll not be burned.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:He'll keep us safe in the time of trial.
Canon Marc Steele:We talked about the northern border, but you also went to the border with Gaza, and you talked to some of the Jewish communities that make their lives in that region. What can you tell us about these conversations?
Bishop Julian Dobbs:Down in the south, towards the southern border, I met with, survivors, people deep, personally impacted, by the atrocities of 1 year ago today. I think of standing in a bus shelter and seeing the, grenade holes and the bullet holes, hearing stories of a courageous, Israeli citizen who would pick up grenades as they were thrown in to a bus shelter with, 7 or 8 other people and throwing them back out. And on the 8th one, he was not so lucky, and he was killed. I met, individuals at a Mushav close to the border with Rafah. Mushav is a Jewish agricultural community similar to a kibbutz, but has a an agricultural, component to it.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:And I met a young man there, who rushed to the gates of his, Mushav on October 7th having received a text message from his brother. And the Hamas terrorists, very clever, had jammed the frequency of the Mushav gates so that it couldn't close, so they had free access to the area. And, he told me of the great challenge. His brother was hit, took gunfire. They had to rush him away.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:Fortunately, he survived. But he lives on that mishap with his wife and children. 3000 terrorists cut holes in a border fence and raped, killed, killed, and randomly executed, innocent individuals on that day. That can never be right. That can never be supported no matter what political persuasion or other you come from.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:That is never right. 2,000 citizens of Gaza followed the 3,000 terrorists and entered in, pillaging homes in that border region. None of this were got was good. And those people are attempting to rebuild their lives. There's also there, Mark, at the site of the, Nova music festival, down there in the southern part of Israel.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:What a what a tragedy that was when the terrorists came across the Nova Muscial Festival site, killing, 370 attendees, taking 44 hostages, a day of innocence and love crashing to the ground in an avalanche of, shattered dreams. That site, let me tell you about it. It's in the middle of nowhere. There is nowhere to hide. There is no possibility of ensuring escape.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:It's desert. And into that arena comes terrorists filled with hate determined to eradicate people because of their faith. That cannot be tolerated. To tolerate such a thing is preposterous. We must get beyond supporting an ideology that is determined to eradicate Jews and Christians no matter what the cost.
Canon Marc Steele:How are the Palestinian Christians in that West Bank region, maintaining life and and worship amidst all this kind of turmoil and suffering surrounding them?
Bishop Julian Dobbs:So, Mark, I've long worked with Palestinians, in the West Bank. Many people know that Brenda and I, have been privileged to spend almost 20 years of our lives working with persecuted Christians, in the Muslim world where Christians are in a minority. That's the case for Christians in the West Bank. They are in a minority. Christians, for example, like my good friend, Ashraf, who I saw just 10 days ago in, in Bethlehem, Christians are in a minority in that very holy place.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:And so they're endeavoring long before October 7th to work out their faith in the midst of a religion that's determined, to oppress them. I was moved in my inner core to listen to the firsthand accounts of the Palestinian Christians in the West Bank in places like Beit Jala, who are supporting, caring for orphans, from Gaza, who have, who whose whose families have been killed or separated as a result of the military incursions into that region. I'm so proud to hear the stories of faithful Christians who are adopting and caring for mothers with small children who have had to flee their homes in the Gaza region. I I was so honored to listen to the stories of those Palestinian Christians whose lives have have have, have have had such suffering themselves because their incomes and and livelihoods have been changed, listening to them, emptying of themselves, giving out to those, in their regions, who in so need, So such greater need. The the situation is is is unbelievably difficult for all peoples of the land of Israel at this juncture.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:And that is why the psalmist urges us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. We're in the midst of a temporal battle and a spiritual battle, and we must take God's word as we receive it. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. And and I encourage Christians right across the world to pause at this anniversary and pray for the people of that region that Christ may be honored in their lives and that Christ would rule in the hearts of men and women in that nation. Look, Mark.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:None of this none of this situation there is good. I was in the control room of the, Red Cross, in Israel when rockets were coming in, to Israel watching them respond in real time. The stress levels for everybody involved in this situation, is enormous. And that's why we can go to prayer and seek the lord asking him to be at work on behalf of his people.
Canon Marc Steele:Well, we thank you for joining us again on your own podcast, but, to bring this international update, and we're really excited about your new role. I I can see we'll have many of these as you tour the globe and, represent the Anglican Church of North America and seek to enable our mission of proclaiming the gospel across the globe. As we conclude, will you help us understand the importance of today, the connection between Yom Kippur, Simchat Torah, and October 7th? What what is the meaning there?
Bishop Julian Dobbs:Thanks, Mark. That's that's a very helpful, thing for us just to focus on before we conclude. We're in a season of the 4 feasts, in the Jewish calendar. The the high and holy days, they begin, the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, which is followed by Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, both, days of self examination and repentance. I want us to be thinking about this working itself out in a place where human sin and demonic wickedness is evident.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:And in that context, the blast of the shofar announces the holiday. And why does the shofar announce the holiday? To awaken the complacent soul and to confuse the devil. So when I was in Israel just 10 days or so ago, I was at the western wall saying my own prayers, and the blast of the shofar came while I was there. And why did that come?
Bishop Julian Dobbs:To awaken the complacent and to confuse the devil. That's the symbolic nature of that. So let's think about the biblical calendar for a moment. The biblical calendar was given to the people of Israel to foster an annual remembrance of god's redemption. The Jewish people do this so well.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:And in fact, our own liturgical calendar, which we get from them, helps us to do something similar, to remember God's redemption, his faithfulness, and his loving actions to towards his chosen people. And so, that day, October 7th, the horrific events of October October 7th unfolded on Shamchat Torah, a day meant to celebrate the joy and receiving of god's word, the Torah, on Mount Sinai. And Shimkab Torah is a festival of rejoicing where the Jewish people dance. They dance, with their sacred texts. Some people would have seen them doing that.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:We could learn much about that in the way we respect and have joy over the word of God. And it's a moment of, communal unity and spiritual elation, and yet, on this day of commanded joy. Let's think about what happened 12 months ago today. Violence and devastation struck, turning a celebration of divine revelation into a time of profound mourning. The contrast couldn't be greater.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:The juxtaposition of of darkness with a day that is devoted to light reminds us of the stark contrast of the human experience where joy and sorrow often collide in the brokenness of our world. Now I could say a lot more about the connection of these high and holy days in October 7th. Our friends at CMJ, the church's ministry among the Jews, the Jewish people, have, written a a fantastic piece outlining this. I just quoted from some of it. We'll put that link, in the show notes of this podcast.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:Encourage our listeners to click on that, to look at it, to learn about CMJ, to support their ministry. I'm privileged to serve on the board of CMJ, and I commend its ministry to you.
Canon Marc Steele:Bishop Julian, the province, the Anglican Church in North America has issued a prayer, that we prayed within our congregations this past Sunday. Before we close, I was wondering if you'd leave us in this prayer and as we, pray for God, to bring peace to this region, to exalt the name of Christ, the Messiah, will you lead us in that prayer?
Bishop Julian Dobbs:Archbishop Steve has, released a prayer that he's asking be prayed at this time. It was prayed in many churches across the Anglican church in North America and around the world yesterday. Mark, it's a prayer that, you had some hand in writing. And, in fact, I'd like you to pray it today, if you would.
Canon Marc Steele:God of all comfort and hope, who in your son, our lord Jesus Christ, proclaimed good news to the poor, bound up the brokenhearted, and set the captives free. We remember before you this day all who are affected by the violence of October 7th, and we ask you to heal the wounded, comfort those who mourn, and bring justice and peace to the land of Israel. Look with mercy upon the peoples of the Middle East that in your great compassion, the light of Christ may shine in the darkness and bring hope to every nation. As Simeon rejoiced to see your salvation, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people, Israel, so we pray that Jesus, the Messiah, would be known as the true hope for all the earth. May your kingdom come, and may your peace reign in every heart through Jesus Christ our lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one god now and forever.
Canon Marc Steele:Amen.
Bishop Julian Dobbs:I'm Julian Dobbs, and this has been Living Through the Word. I've been joined today by Ken and Mark Steele, and we've been remembering the atrocities of October 7th 2,023. I commend you to god and to the word of his grace.