Pastor Urshan's Jerusalem Home

 
 
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In 1948, the Timothy Urshan family, originally from Iran, was forced to leave their Jerusalem home with little except the clothes on their backs. The modern nation of Israel was being born and many people, such as the Urshans, had to leave their possessions and businesses behind. It was an era of conflict, war, and displacement.

One of the sons, Jonathan, was 18 years old at the time and Jerusalem is the only place he had ever called home. Decades later, he became pastor of the Bethel Pentecostal Church in St. Peters, Missouri. He was there about six months when Bill first walked through the doors of the church. Jonathan Urshan was the first person to greet him there. Bill’s life was forever changed by the gospel message preached by this great man of God. Four years later, when I married Bill, Brother Urshan became my pastor also. Our lives have been immeasurably blessed this man’s leadership and also by his wonderful wife’s kindness.

Our apartment in Jerusalem was less than two miles from Pastor Urshan’s childhood and adolescent home in beautiful Rehavia. One day we walked to this lovely neighborhood and located his home on quiet, tree-lined Radak Street. Though the existing house is not the one he lived in, we enjoyed visiting the address. We also frequently passed his school, Terra Sancta College, a large and imposing compound.

During his teaching and preaching, Brother Urshan often references Jerusalem, the Bedouin lifestyle, and aspects of living in this biblical land. After living there and gleaning so much within just three months, it is easy to see how his ministry has benefited by spending his formative years in Israel.