Brenda Awad

Brenda Awad

Brenda Kay Waddell Awad is a United Methodist missionary serving in Palestine with her husband, the Rev. Alex Awad, where they are involved with a small international church in East Jerusalem and in supporting the ministry of Bethlehem Bible College (BBC).

Brenda performs various functions in her role as the pastor’s wife – from Sunday School director and teacher, to women’s group leader and hospitality coordinator. At the Bible College she spends approximately 30 hours per week assisting with English administrative needs and developing proposals for the College’s worldwide support base. Brenda fills in as an English teacher when there is a need. In addition, she works with other UM mission personnel in the region to facilitate UM group visits.

In an effort to bring about reconciliation among Palestinian and Israeli believers in Christ, Brenda and Alex participate in and support the activities of Musalaha (Arab-Israeli Reconciliation organization). The Musalaha ministry conducts annual activities (women’s meetings, theology of the land seminars, desert encounters, and leaders’ events) that foster ties between the two groups and promote peace and understanding amid much diversity.

A native of Fleming-Neon, KY, Brenda says, “My parents taught me and my ten older siblings the value of hard work, honesty, and faith in God. My parents’ influence, plus interaction with school missionary programs and church groups led me to accept Christ and the basic tenets of Christian faith at an early age. I committed my life to God to serve wherever the Holy Spirit would lead.”

Acting on this rich Christian heritage and desiring to prepare for Christian service, Brenda attended Lee University in Cleveland, TN, where she received a B.S. degree in elementary education. While at Lee University, she was active in missions and felt the call to serve as a missionary, not knowing where God would lead. One scripture verse that seemed to follow her was Acts 1:8, “And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Upon completion of College, Brenda taught first grade in Calhoun, GA. She then married Alex, a native of Jerusalem, whom she met in her last year of college. They both taught in the public school system in North Georgia for several years. While teaching in Georgia, Brenda received a masters’ degree in education from North Georgia College in Dahlonega.

In 1979, the Awads responded to the call to go to Bethlehem and assist with the newly formed Bethlehem Bible College where they spent the next six years as independent missionaries. From 1985-87 they served at Hope Secondary School, a charitable boarding school for young people from ages 12-18 in Beit Jala (near Bethlehem). Most of the students were victims of previous wars and occupations in their land. During the course of this ministry the Awad family was forced to leave Israel because they were refused renewal of their tourists’ visas.

In 1989 the Awads were commissioned as GBGM missionaries, but spent the next five years struggling to obtain visas to re-enter the country. During that time they served as mission interpreters in various locations on behalf of the GBGM: as Mission Interpreters In Residence (MIIRs) in Ohio from 1989-90; peace and justice educators in upstate New York from 1990-91; and MIIRs in the South Central Jurisdiction from 1991-94. In 1994 they returned to Jerusalem where they continue to serve the body of Christ.

Brenda and Alex now live in the Jerusalem area. They have three adult children - Christy, Basem and Randy.

Missionary code: 10826Z
Last update: 7/06
E-mail: abawad@p-ol.com

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See also
Alex Awad
Other missionaries working in | Palestine | Middle East |
Other missionaries working as | GBGM MISSIONARY |
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Country Profile on | Palestine |