Bethlehem Bible College - February 2021 Update
Bethlehem, Palestine
Bethlehem Bible College (BBC) is an evangelical, inter-denominational Bible College in Palestine where students can study and serve in their native land. Students Nahida Sleibi and Marsail Al-Jilda share their stories here:
Nahida Sleibi
I thank God with all my heart for the blessing he has bestowed upon me, so that I may grow in his love, gain more knowledge in his holy word, and draw closer to his divine mercy day after day. I also thank Bethlehem Bible College for opening the way for me to study and delve deeper into the Bible and the Word of God, which will enable and qualify me for Christian ministry in my community.
This past fall, the last semester before submitting my master’s thesis, I studied two subjects. The first was Pastoral Care and Counseling, which added a lot to my knowledge, especially in Christian guidance and methods of counseling for people in need, by telling them they are loved by God and they are created in his image and likeness. This course also contributed to the development of the necessary skills that I must possess, such as the art of good listening, which will help enable me to serve in the church. It is important for us to reflect love and unity with each other, to be witnesses of the love of Christ, and to convey salvation to every needy and seeking person that God puts in our way.
The second subject we studied this semester was Biblical Theology. Through it, I delved into the events of the Bible in sequence, from Genesis to Revelation, discovering that God’s love extends to all human beings and contributes to building his kingdom on earth.
I can say that this semester was rich and added a lot to my previous knowledge, despite the difficult conditions in which we studied. Due to the spread of the coronavirus, we had to study remotely through Zoom and were not able to meet face-to-face. Studying at home was not easy for me because my house is small and full of distractions, and there is no room for me to study and focus fully on lectures. We also struggled with internet problems.
Thanks to the Bethlehem Bible College administration for their communication with us, supporting and encouraging us despite all the harsh circumstances as they provided us with all the books and materials necessary to complete this semester. I also thank the professors for their cooperation with us to the fullest extent, for they were very patient, and gave us sufficient time to complete the reports and duties required of us … to all of them I say thank you!
Marsail Al-Jilda our Student from Gaza
I never imagined for a moment that I would be able to join an educational institution like Bethlehem Bible College, especially since we (as residents of the Gaza Strip) had no idea of its existence. This is due to bad political and economic conditions, the continuous closure of Gaza for more than twelve years, and the severing of internal relations between parts of the Palestinian homeland. I consider myself one of the lucky ones to go through this wonderful educational experience of studying at BBC.
I loved working in spiritual ministry and helping with the activities of my church in Gaza, especially the young women’s meetings and the summer camps. I also enjoyed studying theology courses at the Thomas Aquinas Center of the Holy Family Church in Gaza. All of that encouraged me to register at BBC for a master’s degree in Christian Leadership and Ministry. The courses offered during this study have strengthened my sense of belonging to this land, my faith, the Holy Bible, and the Word of God.
Since joining the program, the college has helped in my development as a master’s degree student. They assigned highly qualified people to communicate with me and follow up on academic matters, in terms of books, lectures, and research. Gaza suffers from a scarcity of special books for Christian and theological studies. This scarcity of information available for us, as Christians in the Gaza Strip, led to a decline in my performance at the beginning of my academic journey, but the support I received from my brothers, priests, and leaders at the college transformed that obstacle. They encouraged us by sending recorded lectures and following up with us in person through private communication sites and encouraging us to give our best and not to give up.
As a mother of three young girls in their teens, I am particularly impacted by the conditions that Gaza suffers from politically, the strict presence of Islamic rule, and the successive wars on the Strip, which terrorize us and our children. Due to all these conditions, and the ruling party which does not respect Christians as persons but considers them a winning card to use to obtain protection, all of this pushed me to settle in Bethlehem while my husband is still living in the Gaza Strip. This puts even more burdens on my shoulders. However, the college and those leading it continue to help me academically and to support and encourage me.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to the administrators and faculty. I wish them success on the local and global levels. I hope the college will continue to work to raise more awareness in Christian communities about Christianity, the word of God, and his love for us, for it is the beacon that illuminates our hearts and minds.
Read more about Bethlehem Bible College HERE.
THE NEED
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts totaling $2,000 per month to support the mission and ministry of Bethlehem Bible College. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.