Steven Khoury

Steven Naim Khoury was born in Jerusalem. His father, Dr. Naim Khoury, is the founding pastor of First Baptist Church in Bethlehem. Khoury grew up in Bethlehem and attended Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, where he earned a bachelor's degree in pastoral ministry and theology.

Khoury is the president of "Holy Land Missions", a non-profit organization which was established in 1979 by his family. The organization provides health and financial aid to needy families in the region and supports the largest evangelical Arab ministries in the Holy Land.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}}

Steven Khoury is the pastor of The First Baptist Church in Bethlehem which was established by his father, Dr. Naim Khoury. He is also the pastor of Calvary Church in Jerusalem.

As a Christian pastor he has faced persecution, including being attacked for his beliefs. His uncle was murdered, his father was shot at on multiple occasions and his religious establishments have been firebombed and defaced.{{cite web|url=https://www.charismanews.com/world/52593-israeli-arab-pastor-preaches-in-the-dangerous-backyard-of-jesus|title=Israeli Arab Pastor Preaches in the Dangerous Backyard of Jesus|first=TROY|last=ANDERSON|publisher=Charisma News|date=10 December 2015|access-date=9 February 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://morningstarnews.org/2014/08/palestinian-church-forced-out-of-building-in-east-jerusalem-israel/|title=Palestinian Church Forced Out of Building in East Jerusalem, Israel|publisher=Morning Star News|date=28 August 2014|access-date=9 February 2020}}

In the late 2000s, following a meeting with David Nekrutman of the Center for Jewish–Christian Understanding and Cooperation (CJCUC), the two decided work together to help the disadvantaged and persecuted Christian community living in Bethlehem and its surrounding areas. Initially, it was facilitated by the two through the center via a food voucher program and was later instituted through the center's "Blessing Bethlehem" aid organization which was established in 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/David-Nekrutman-Connecting-Christians-610505|title=David Nekrutman: Connecting Christians|first=PAUL|last=CALVERT|publisher=The Jerusalem Post|date=23 December 2019|access-date=8 February 2020}}

In 2012, Khoury was informed by Palestinian Authority officials that his church, The First Baptist Church in Bethlehem, lacked the authority to function as a religious institution under PA jurisdiction.{{cite web|url=https://www.algemeiner.com/2012/03/13/exclusive-baptist-church-in-bethlehem-declared-illegitimate-by-palestinian-authority/|title=Exclusive: Baptist Church in Bethlehem Declared Illegitimate By Palestinian Authority|first=Dexter|last=Van Zile|publisher=The Algemeiner|date=13 March 2012|access-date=13 February 2020}}

In July 2014, the congregation of Calvary Baptist Church, which Khoury ministers, was evicted out of their building in the Shuafat area of Eastern Jerusalem after Islamists threatened their landlord. This eviction came eight years after Khoury's organization "Holy Land Missions" was forced to close another church in Beit Hanina in 2006.{{cite web|url=https://www.algemeiner.com/2014/08/29/eastern-jerusalem-church-forced-to-close-after-years-of-islamist-harassment/|title=Eastern Jerusalem Church Forced to Close After Years of Islamist Harassment|publisher=The Algemeiner|date=29 August 2014|access-date=9 February 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://video.foxnews.com/v/1769554565001|title=Why are Christians leaving the Holy Land?|publisher=Fox News|date=3 August 2012|access-date=10 February 2020}}

In January 2020, Khoury called out for peace following U.S. President Donald Trump's "Deal of the Century", this in contrast to the Palestinian Authority which called out for mass demonstrations and violence.{{cite web|url=https://www.israeltoday.co.il/read/palestinian-christian-in-bethlehem-as-trump-announces-deal-of-the-century/|title=On the Streets of Bethlehem as Trump Announces 'Deal of the Century'|publisher=Israel Today|date=29 January 2020|access-date=8 February 2020}}

In 2023, Khoury, along with members of The Isaiah Projects organization, led a humanitarian effort to save Dina, a Gazan woman whose husband was murdered over a property dispute. The joint effort helped to secure safe passage for Dina from Gaza to Bethlehem in the West Bank.{{cite web |last1=MITCHELL |first1=CHRIS |title=Christian, Jewish Ministries Unite to Help Persecuted Christian Widow Escape Gaza |url=https://www2.cbn.com/news/israel/christian-jewish-ministries-unite-help-persecuted-christian-widow-escape-gaza |publisher=Christian Broadcasting Network |access-date=3 August 2023 |date=3 August 2023}}

• Diplomatic Christianity (2008) – {{ASIN|B002JMEV20}}
• In the Backyard of Jesus (2012) – {{ISBN|978-0882640549}}

• Munther Isaac

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{{Commonscat|Steven Khoury}}

• {{Official|https://www.holylandmissions.org/}}
• {{YouTube|dFn0pB6E-OE|Guest Speaker – Steven Khoury – Sun Morning}}
• {{cite web|url=https://www1.cbn.com/content/minority-within-minority-arab-israeli-pastor-tells-story-sharing-christ-holy-land|title=A Minority Within a Minority: Arab Israeli Pastor Tells Story of Sharing Christ in the Holy Land|date=8 November 2018 |publisher=Christian Broadcasting Network|access-date=9 February 2020}}

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Category:Baptist Bible College (Missouri) alumni

Category:Israeli Baptists

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:Clergy from Jerusalem

Category:Israeli Arab Christians