The Point: An Enduring Testimony in Stone

It’s an enduring testimony in stone. For two years ISIS terrorists occupied the town of Manbij in Northern Syria. But they had no idea they were standing on top of a secret—and ancient—Christian site. Beneath a mound on the edge of town was either a church or a hiding place for Christians. The chamber has crosses etched in stone, hidden doors, and what appears to be escape tunnels. Like their more modern Christian brethren who were forced to flee or hide from ISIS, the third- or fourth-century Christians who gathered here faced a different force: the Romans, who, as Southeastern University history professor John Wineland told Fox News, “misunderstood Christian practices and would often charge them with crimes, such as cannibalism.” International archaeologists have been invited to study the site, but most consider Northern Syria too dangerous. Still, the find is an exciting reminder of the enduring faith of Christians—even in the hardest of times. For more on faith and culture, come to BreakPoint.org.  

05/8/18