--- title: "The Document Every Christian Should Read (But Almost None Have)" date: "2026-02-10" tags: [Israel, Prayer, ChristianLeadership, InformedIntercession, Hamas] categories: [InformedIntercession] author: William Busch, Certified MPD Coach image: ../../resources/blog-files/graphics/the-document-every-christian-should-read-sm.png image-alt-text: “The Document Every Christian Should Read” summary: As Iran faces massive internal protests in February 2026—with its government killing demonstrators in the streets while simultaneously threatening regional war if the US intervenes—most Christians still don't know what Hamas, Iran's primary proxy in the region, actually believes. I didn't either, until a chapel service last fall changed everything. --- **INFORMED INTERCESSION: Praying for Israel with Eyes Wide Open** *A 4-part series on understanding the Hamas Charter and praying with biblical clarity* **Part 1 of 4** | February 10, 2026 # The Document Every Christian Should Read (But Almost None Have) ## When Iran Faces Crisis, and We Still Don't Know What Hamas Believes #### **[PRINT PDF](../../resources/blog-files/pdf/2026-02-10_informed-intercession.pdf "Print PDF")** As Iran faces massive internal protests in February 2026—with its government killing demonstrators in the streets while simultaneously threatening regional war if the US intervenes—most Christians still don't know what Hamas, Iran's primary proxy in the region, actually believes. I didn't either, until a chapel service last fall changed everything. Dr. Mike Stallard was recounting his experience at a pastor’s conference in Duluth, Minnesota. He had just walked through the key points of the Hamas Charter—the movement's founding document that openly declares its goals and ideology. Then he asked a simple question: ![the document](../../resources/blog-files/graphics/iran-in-crisis-hamas-as-proxy-sm-240.png) **"How many of you have actually read the Hamas Charter?"** Not a single hand went up. Not one pastor in that room had read the document that explains the religious and ideological foundations driving the conflict. Dr. Stallard's response was direct: **"Hamas is not hiding who they are."** That moment—hearing about an entire room of pastors who'd never read this document—confronted me with an uncomfortable truth: **How can we pray effectively for Israel if we don't understand what she's facing?** ### My Journey from Ignorance to Informed Intercession I had to admit—I'd never read it either. I'd heard commentary, watched news analysis, and formed opinions based on what others told me. But I'd never actually read Hamas's own words. So I started searching. I found the full 1988 Charter. Then I discovered there was a 2017 update—a supposed "softening" of their position. I read both documents carefully, and what I found was sobering. **This blog series is my journey from ignorance to informed intercession—and an invitation for you to join me.** Over the next four posts, we'll explore: 1. **What the Hamas Charter actually says** (this post) 2. **How to love enemies who openly seek destruction** (Part 2 - Feb 24) 3. **Why every peace plan fails** and what the 2017 "evolution" really means (Part 3 - Mar 10) 4. **Moving from conviction to gospel-centered action** (Part 4 - Mar 24) This isn't political commentary. **It's informed discipleship.** ### What the 1988 Hamas Charter Actually Says The Hamas Charter is not subtle. It's not hidden. It's publicly available, and it's shockingly clear about the movement's goals and methods. #### **From the Introduction:** > "Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it." That's not commentary. That's not interpretation. That's the opening statement of their founding document. #### **Article 1: Islam as Total System** > "The Movement's programme is Islam. From it, it draws its ideas, ways of thinking and understanding of the universe, life and man." Hamas doesn't view Islam as just a religion—it's a comprehensive system governing every aspect of life, including resistance against Israel. #### **Article 8: The Movement's Slogan** > "Allah is its target, the Prophet is its model, the Koran its constitution: Jihad is its path and **death for the sake of Allah is the loftiest of its wishes.**" Martyrdom isn't a tragic outcome—it's the highest aspiration. #### **Article 11: The Waqf Doctrine** This is the theological foundation that makes negotiation impossible: > "The land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf consecrated for future Moslem generations until Judgement Day. It, or any part of it, should not be squandered: it, or any part of it, should not be given up." **Waqf** is an Islamic concept meaning a religious trust or endowment. Once land is designated as waqf, it belongs to Allah and all future Muslim generations. No individual, king, president, or organization has the authority to cede any part of it—ever. This isn't about politics or borders. **It's a religious duty.** #### **Article 13: No Room for Peace** > "Initiatives, and so-called peaceful solutions and international conferences, are in contradiction to the principles of the Islamic Resistance Movement... There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad." Hamas explicitly rejects peace conferences, negotiations, and diplomatic solutions. They state this plainly in their own charter. ### Why This Matters for Christians Who Love Israel #### **1. Hosea 4:6 - Knowledge Matters** > "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." We cannot pray effectively if we're ignorant of the realities on the ground. God calls us to be informed intercessors, not wishful thinkers. #### **2. Ephesians 6:12 - This Is Spiritual Warfare** > "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." When a movement's highest aspiration is martyrdom and its founding document calls for obliteration, **the battle is spiritual at its core.** Political solutions alone will never address spiritual strongholds. #### **3. Jeremiah 31:3 - God's Everlasting Love for Israel** > "I have loved you with an everlasting love." God's love for Israel is unchanging. As Christians, we're called to love what God loves—and that means praying with understanding, not just emotion. ### How This Changes My Coaching Work As a Ministry Partnership Coach for Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, I train 24 International Representatives across 9 countries to raise prayer and financial support in their own regions. Understanding the Hamas Charter has transformed how I equip these Reps. Les Crawford, FOI's Australian Director, shared his perspective after reading the Charter: *"My prayers for Israel are not limited to the threat posed by Hamas, but also consider the surrounding threats from a number of enemies, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and Iran. A quick review of the Hamas charters does not alter my prayers for Israel as they already focus on the nation's protection and prosperity, while calling on God for the salvation of Israelis, both Jew and Arab."* His response revealed something important: informed Reps already understand the broader spiritual battle. As Les noted, the Charter's focus on avoiding "accusations of Jew hatred by focusing on Zionism as the enemy" didn't change his perspective—because he was already praying with clarity about the real threats Israel faces. I now coach every Rep to: ✅ **Read the Charter themselves**—not just rely on commentary ✅ **Lead their partners in informed prayer**—specific intercession, not vague hopes ✅ **Recognize spiritual strongholds**—praying against ideologies of death and destruction ✅ **Multiply this approach**—teaching others to pray with biblical clarity **That's informed intercession.** ### Your Challenge This Week I'm issuing the same challenge Dr. Stallard gave that room full of pastors: #### **Read the Hamas Charter yourself.** Don't just take my word for it. Don't rely on news commentary. **Read Hamas's own words.** You can download the full 1988 Charter and the 2017 document when you subscribe to this series (link below). As you read, ask yourself: - How does this change my prayers for Israel? - What spiritual strongholds am I seeing at work? - How can I pray more specifically and effectively? ### What's Next in This Series **Part 2 (Feb 24): "When 'Love Your Enemies' Meets 'Death to Israel': The Impossible Command"** How do we obey Jesus' command to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44) when their stated goal is obliteration? We'll wrestle with this tension and discover what informed, gospel-centered love actually looks like. #### **[PART 2 HERE](https://go.www.coach.wlbusch.com/impossible-command "Part 2: The Impossible Command")** **Part 3 (Mar 10): "Why Every Peace Plan Fails: Understanding the 2017 'Softening' That Wasn't"** We'll compare the 1988 Charter with the 2017 document, analyze recent events (Iran's internal crisis and regional tensions), and explain why waqf theology makes negotiation impossible. #### **[PART 3 HERE](https://go.www.coach.wlbusch.com/why-peace-plans-fail "Part 3: Why Every Peace Plan Fails")** **Part 4 (Mar 24): "Answering Hard Questions: A Biblical Case for Supporting Israel in a Time of War"** James 1:22 says knowledge creates responsibility. After four posts, you'll know more than 99% of Christians about Hamas's beliefs. The question is: **What will you do with that knowledge?** #### **[PART 4 HERE](https://go.coach.wlbusch.com/hard-questions "Part 4: Answering Hard Questions")** ### Subscribe to the Full Series Get all 4 posts delivered to your inbox, plus: ✅ **Downloadable Hamas Charter** (1988 & 2017 documents) ✅ **Weekly prayer points** for Israel, Jewish communities, and Hamas leaders ✅ **Exclusive coaching stories** from FOI International Representatives #### **[SUBSCRIBE HERE](https://go.www.coach.wlbusch.com/subscribe "Subscribe Here")** ### A Brief Word About My Ministry I'm a Certified MPD Coach training 24 Friends of Israel International Representatives across 9 countries to raise prayer and financial support in their own regions. With 35 years of partnership development experience (3 years with FOI), I multiply ministry impact by equipping indigenous leaders to build sustainable, globally-diversified funding for frontline gospel work among Jewish communities. **This series is part of how I build informed, gospel-centered support for Israel and the Jewish people worldwide.** If you'd like to learn more about my coaching work or consider partnering with me, visit **[coach.wlbusch.com](https://coach.wlbusch.com)**. *Father, thank You for the opportunity to grow in understanding. Give us wisdom to see clearly, courage to pray boldly, and love that reflects Your heart—even for our enemies. Help us move from ignorance to informed intercession, and from knowledge to faithful action. In Jesus' name, Amen.* **Next Post:** Part 2 - "When 'Love Your Enemies' Meets 'Death to Israel': The Impossible Command" (February 24, 2026)