And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
John 1:45–46
Home of Jesus the King Church is located in the ancient town of Nazareth in northern Israel, and through the ages has been one of the most important places in the world for Christians from all over.
Nazareth is also known as “the Arab capital of Israel” and has a population of 77,445of whom 69% are Muslim Arabs and 30.9% are Christian Arabs. In June of 1974 Nof HaGalil (formerly known as Nazareth Illit) was declared a separate town, and it is located alongside old Nazareth. , and has a Jewish population of 41,734.
In the New Testament, Nazareth is described as the childhood home of our lord Jesus, and as such has been a center of Christian pilgrimage since time immemorial, with many churches, shrines and monuments erected to commemorate biblical events. From ancient texts two locations are referenced, namely the Galilean (northern) Nazareth featured in the Bible, and a southern (Judean) location mentioned in several early non-canonical texts.
Modern-day Nazareth is nestled in a natural bowl which reaches from 1,050 feet (320 m) above sea level to the crest of the hills about 1,600 feet (490 m). Nazareth is about 25 kilometers (16 miles) driving distance from the Sea of Galilee and about 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) west of Mount Tabor. The major Israeli cities of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv are situated approximately 146 km (91 miles) and 108 km (67 miles) from Nazareth, respectively.
Nazareth is home to dozens of monasteries and churches, with most of them located in Ancient Nazareth:
The Church of the Annunciation is the largest Catholic church in the Middle East, and according to Roman Catholic tradition, marks the site where the Archangel Gabriel announced the future birth of Jesus to the Mary (Luke 1:26–31). The Church of St. Gabriel is an alternative Eastern Orthodox site for the Annunciation.
The Synagogue Church is a Melkite Greek Catholic Church and the traditional location of the synagogue where Jesus preached (Luke 4).
The Church of Saint Joseph marks the traditional location for the workshop of Joseph, the father of Jesus.
The Mensa Christi Church, run by the Franciscan religious order, commemorates the traditional location where Jesus dined with the Apostles after his Resurrection.
The Basilica of Jesus the Adolescent, run by the Salesian religious order, occupies a hill overlooking the city.
The Church of Christ is an Anglican church in Nazareth.
The Church of Our Lady of the Fright marks the spot where Mary is said to have seen Jesus being taken to a cliff by a horde of synagogue goers.
The Jesus Trail pilgrimage route connects many of the religious sites in Nazareth , while enjoying a walk through the scenic beauty of the Galilee.
Our doors at Home of Jesus the King Church are always open to nominal and traditional Christians who want to study the Bible and know more about our Lord Jesus Christ in the very town where He grew up. We are working on multiple projects every month to be a blessing to Arab and Jewish families in Nazareth to show them the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in practical and relevant ways.
We chose the name of our church as “Home of Jesus the King Church,” because we believe that our Lord had His home in Nazareth in Biblical times, and even now, through the presence of His Spirit, remains present here in Nazareth.
We believe that revival is coming to Nazareth, even though only 25% of the residents are currently Christian. We as believers are here in Nazareth, because God wants and needs us here, to share the Gospel and to prepare Nazareth for the coming of the Lord, and to be presented to Him as a pure and spotless bride.
Our mission as believers here in Israel is to proclaim freedom for the captives through prayer and intercession, as we strive to share the Good News through friendship relationships and by helping the poor and needy. This includes serving the local population through impacting and effective feeding projects, humanitarian aid distribution, and pro-life ministries.
We also seek to nurture our congregants by passionately teaching the Word, while strengthening the foundations of our congregant’s faith, and creating vibrant children’s church programs.
We appreciate your prayers for all the people in this strategic Biblical city, for our church, and for Pastor Saleem Shalash and his family. We love you and we are praying for you as one family in Jesus Christ. God bless!
