Dr. Simeon A. King, pastor of Mission for God Evangelical Ministries on Park Place in Brooklyn, is calling for the end of the Israeli-Hamas War, stating that, the longer the war continues, the more innocent lives will be lost on both sides.
Pastor King said that this, in turn, will bring more pressure on the global economy.
“Hamas will not give up, although they can’t win,” the Vincentian-born evangelical pastor told Caribbean Life exclusively on Sunday. “And, for Israel to keep retaliating, is not Christlike. Both Israel and Palestine communities are suffering, if the war continues.
“In my opinion, this war is not about winning or losing; it’s about innocent lives being killed daily to gain power,” added Pastor King, who accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior at 12, was a public school teacher, a driving school instructor, and an evangelist preaching the “good news” throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines before he migrated to the United States in 2002.
“Many families are torn apart and are grieving due to loss of lives, hunger and homelessness on every side,” continued Pastor King, who obtained his Ph. D in Christian Counseling from Macedonia Theological Seminary on Farmers Boulevard in Queens, and is a licensed counsellor. He also works at Family Service Network of New York as a care manager.
“I’m calling on all authorities to end the war for the sake of love for humanity, and make peace among themselves,” urged Dr. King, adding, however: “In any case, God will give Israel the victory over Hamas because the battle is the Lord’s.”
In quoting Jesus in Matt. 24:6, in the King James Version, he said: “You shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you not be troubled for these things must come to pass.”
In Deut. 20: 3-4, he also said: “Hear Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid, do not panic or be terrified by them. For the Lord, your God, is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”
Pastor King said that Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel “may have taken years to plan, with a possible motive of gaining power in Israel.
“At the core of the conflict is a big problem. Israel and the Palestinians want to take control over the same piece of territory, and everyone believes it’s rightfully theirs,” he said. “Each group has a basis for their claim and believes they are right, and no one wants to settle for less. The conflict between these two groups has been fueled and sustained by an array of third parties whose self-interest intervention has usually been counterproductive.”
Pastor King said this problem dates back for years, stating that “Hamas, who is jealous of Israel, decided to attack without notice.
“Israel, therefore, that very day, defended himself against his enemies by declaring war on Hamas,” he said. “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued to maintain the war will go on for as long as necessary, as he vowed to destroy Hamas.
“This statement sounds like the war will continue, with many innocent lives lost, and no one cares, except they got their wishes,” he added. “Both sides will use whatever means possible to destroy each other until someone surrenders. The way I see it, no one wants to surrender; maybe until someone becomes incapacitated.
“Hamas has the backing of the Arabs nations, who will never give in or give up,” Pastor King continued. “On the other hand, Israel has the backing of the United States and other third world countries. And both want to be victorious.”
He noted that the prophet Jeremiah “lamented Jerusalem” following its destruction by the Babylonians, stating that, in the Scriptures, lament is a passionate expression of grief and sorrow that goes beyond sympathy and empathy.
“We lament because, the longer the war continues, it’s more economic hardship, and more lives are lost,” Dr. King said. “We ask that God would stretch out his mighty hand to bring an end to this war. As we lament, let’s pray for peace in the Middle East and that peace prevails to bring an end to the war.”
He also prayed for salvation for the Jews and Palestinians-Hamas, stating that “God is in control.”
“In this war, God can turn around for his glory,” he said. “As Christians, we should be concerned that souls be saved. God can use this war to speak to the Jews and their enemies. The church is a beacon of light in this dark world. So, we should let our light shine by reaching out to those who are being negatively affected by the war, and are homeless, hungry, and grieving over loved ones.
“The church ought to preach love and not hate,” Pastor King added. “Love your enemies, do good to them who hurt you and despitefully use you. Sometimes, God allows evil to happen, so he can speak to us. Jesus said, when you see these things lookup, your redemption draws near.
“Above all, let’s pray for the salvation of those in authority and for those believers in Israel and Gaza who are caught up in the middle of this conflict,” he continued. “Let’s look at this war as God is speaking to man. Repent or perish. Let’s pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6).”
Dr. King said that when one weighs the pros and cons of the Israeli-Hamas War, “the negative effect outweighs the positive.”
“As a Christian, I believe in making peace, and the all-seeing eyes of God will bring justice,” he said. “I believe that Israel is on the right track. However, it’s time to end the war and start to rebuild.
“The escalating conflict between the two groups has many questions more than answers,” he added. “The question is, when will the war end? Will it cause more innocent lives to be lost and more economic hardship? We know thousands of Israelis and Palestinians have died or have been injured.
“Lifelong injury in this conflict and death toll will rise, if there’s no end to this war,” Dr. King warned. “Despite some calls for peace, a cease fire looks like it’s impossible. What the world needs is Jesus. He’s the only answer for the confusion today.”
Pastor King said he categorically rejects anti-semitism, stating that: “We are all made in the image and likeness of God.
“The word Anti-Semitism means prejudice or hatred against Jews,” he said. “Anti-Semitism is the oldest and most persistent racial hatred in humanity, and arises from jealousy and ongoing hatred for the Jewish nation. Anti-Semitism is a sin, and Anti-Semitic acts are criminals.”
As a Christian, Pastor King said he has “an obligation to speak out against anti-Semitism and to reject any form of anti-Semitism and racialism.”
He said the world is divided “due to anti-Semitism and racialism, which caused violence and wars against nations.
“Therefore, I’m appealing to everyone to love each other, stop the discrimination, especially against the Jews,” Pastor King said. “God called us to be peacemakers. Therefore, let’s make this world a better place by taking our stand against injustice and showing love instead of hate.
“Let’s look for opportunities to reach out to a Jew and love them with the love of the Lord,” he added. “Remember, we are our brother’s keeper.”
The Mission for God Evangelical Ministries is located at 1569 Park Place, Brooklyn. Pastor King can be reached at (347) 322-7437.
