KRISTINE Luken, an American tourist, who was killed in a forest outside Jerusalem was involved with an evangelical ministry that promotes Christianity among Jews.
According to an Associated Press report, Luken was stabbed to death on Dec 18 while hiking with a friend. Luken, who was in her forties, was initially involved with the Church’s Ministry among Jewish People in the US and later in England. The church is said to be active in Israel.
Luken had stated on the CMJ website that a study tour in Israel titled ‘Walking with Jesus in His Jewish world’ in 2007 had brought her to the church.
She became friends with Susan Wilson, a naturalized Israeli from the UK, on a study tour to Poland earlier this year, according to Rev. David Pileggi of CMJ’s Christ Church in Jerusalem.
She and Wilson had decided to go hiking together in Israel during Christmas holiday. It was while they were hiking together in a forest near Jerusalem that they were attacked by two Arab men. While Wilson escaped pretending to be dead, Luken succumbed to multiple stab injuries.
The forest is close to the border with the West Bank and the Palestinian villages of Husan and Wadi Fukin. There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack.
