Our friends at the Pastoral, Outreach, and Mission Council (POMC) with the Synod of the Nile in Egypt, continue to do God’s work in the Middle East. POMC helps revitalize existing churches, plant new churches, and send missionaries across the globe to places where God’s hope and love are most needed. And now, a major portion of their outreach is helping those in Palestine as POMC addresses critical humanitarian needs for vulnerable populations in the region.
Read MoreIn our waiting and grief over our tremendous losses, sometimes we cannot help but cry out with the psalmist, “Relent, Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:13-14). Our hearts long for the joy and gladness of Christmas and the celebration of our Lord and King. We do live daily in a deep reverence for the wonder that is the Christ Child, that He was given to us here, even in our hometown!
Read MoreExcerpts of a letter received from the Middle East Council of Churches and the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees:
Our hearts ache to convey this message during what should be a season of joy and togetherness. Amid strife and sorrow, we reach out to you, dear partners supporters, and friends, with heavy hearts. This Christmas, our usual celebrations are shadowed by turmoil and the tragedy of Gaza.
Read MoreThe Outreach Foundation has received a tremendous amount of support for the Israel/Lebanon/Palestine Emergency Relief Appeal. Here is the latest news received from two partners there — Nader Abou Amsha, Director of the Middle East Council of Churches Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR), and the Rev. Joseph Kassab, long-time partner in Lebanon and moderator of the Synod of Syria and Lebanon:
Middle East Council of Churches
Unfortunately, we have lost another colleague to the war. She was killed along with her husband and child in an airstrike on their home. In a separate attack, we lost our Center in Al-Daraj — the entire building including the clinic, physiotherapy unit, pharmacy, and dentist clinic — just flattened to the ground.
We continue our work in Gaza. Here is a summary of that work, often conducted under fire:
Read MoreWe at Musalaha lament the devastation and unfolding tragedies in Gaza and Southern Israel. We stand firmly against the embrace, use, and justification of violence against civilian populations in the name of justice, vengeance, and liberation. We are distressed and overwhelmed, never having seen this scale of inhumanity, anguish, rage, and hatred before.
Read MorePeace and grace to you all in the mighty name of the Prince of Peace, Jesus. This is our second letter from Bethlehem Bible College after passing a very difficult week as a people and as a country.
It has been 10 days since the Hamas attack and since Israel began to attack Gaza unleashing the worst ever attack on Gaza and its people. I am not sure if you know that Gaza is one of the smallest and most densely packed cities in the world. The area around Gaza City is home to nearly 2 million people living in an 88-square-mile expanse, which is about 21,000 people per square mile.
Read MoreIn recent weeks, we have witnessed the intense suffering of people in the Middle East. We are shocked and deeply grieved by the horrific violence and loss of life in Israel on October 7, 2023. Our grief is only deepened by the continued suffering of an escalating war.
Many innocent people in Gaza have now endured countless days of tragedy with no water, food, or medical supplies. Attempts for people to leave Gaza have been thwarted. There appears to be no safe place to go.
In response to the war that is now expanding into parts of Lebanon, The Outreach Foundation is launching an Emergency Appeal. Our partners in the region will help aid the people in Gaza, Israel, and Lebanon. All funds will be used to help the innocent victims of war.
Read MoreMusalaha is a faith-based organization that teaches, trains and facilitates reconciliation, mainly between Israelis and Palestinians from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, but also international groups, based on biblical principles of peace, tolerance, and love. We recently received news about Musalaha from Executive Director Daniel Munayer:
Equipped with courage and strong faith in our reconciliation mission, the entire team has prospered in transforming 343 Israelis and Palestinians across the Land in 2022. Musalaha bridges antagonism through faith and by finding each other in joint, meaningful encounters.
Read MoreThis year, we were delighted to be able to arrange several Easter events for communities throughout the country. The main event took place on Good Friday and attracted people from all over the Ramallah district, mostly Christians but several Muslim families attended, as well. We originally expected between 400 and 600 children but welcomed at least 800 children of all ages (excluding their parents). Miraculously, we had enough candy to hand out as a previously canceled event had left us with excess, and thanks to the big area we had reserved, there was more than enough space for all of them to run and play in the beautiful weather.
Read MoreMy name is Ghadeer Hanna Khoury. I’m a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend! I’m the mother of triplets, Youhanna, Itay, and Andrew; they are six years old and a true blessing from the Lord. I have been working as the registrar at Bethlehem Bible College since 2012. The college is a blessing, with so many genuine friends who build me up every day, and of course, the word of God which we listen to daily, and which helps us grow in faith.
Read MoreMusalaha is a faith-based organization that teaches, trains, and facilitates reconciliation, mainly between Israelis and Palestinians from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, but also international groups, based on biblical principles of peace, tolerance, and love. We recently received news about Musalaha from Executive Director Daniel Munayer:
I find myself both excited and humbled to be taking on the role of Executive Director. I am well aware of the big shoes I have to fill, but together as a team, we have already begun rethinking our strategy and approach as an organization. Some changes include revisiting our organizational structure and sharpening our mission statement. Some other changes include further developing our projects domestically and expanding our vision and expertise internationally.
Read MoreThe Palestinian Bible Society’s 8th “Bible Day”
The Bible Day event has become an anticipated annual event bringing unity, joy, and strength to the different denominations in the Holy Land. Though last year’s event was online, due to the pandemic, the event took place this year in one of the most spiritually significant settings in the world, the Nativity Church in Bethlehem – where the birth of Jesus happened and where Jerome translated the Hebrew Bible into Latin, now known as the Vulgate.
Read MoreGraduates Making a Difference in Christ’s Kingdom
Baseel and Ghaida Daibes are Bethlehem Bible College (BBC) graduates. Baseel graduated in 2016 and Ghaida in 2017, both from the Biblical Studies program. They met at the college, fell in love, and got married in 2015. They now have a beautiful boy named Iyad, and they live in a small town north of Palestine called Zababdeh. They shared:
Bethlehem Bible College had a huge effect on our lives; we learned incredible things about the Bible, and we grew in our faith. But mostly we loved the atmosphere and the relationships between the students, faculty, and staff!
Read MoreIn a place where the Christian population has dwindled to only about 2%, the Palestinian Bible Society (PBS) is working diligently and faithfully to nurture the next generation of leaders who will stay in this fractured land to heal it and to be the light of Christ so that all may know the Good News and be saved by it.
Over the past few years, PBS has focused on the district of Jenin, which is located in the very northern part of the West Bank. It has an attractive history, beautiful nature, and numerous touristic sites. It is also home to the American Arab University, which is one of the major universities in Palestine. Around 7 years ago, PBS launched activities in this area through different projects, mainly in the village of Zababdeh---a largely Christian village.
Read MoreChildren's Summer Camp
Musalaha was happy to report that they successfully executed a fantastic children’s Summer Camp in Givat Haviva this year. With less than two months' notice after the pandemic lockdowns were lifted, they organized the licenses and correct permissions the Ministry of Education required, trained a camp leader to conduct antigen COVID-19 tests, and tested all non-vaccinated participants.
In late July, they gathered over 80 individuals from every corner of the land. Children and teenagers from Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza attended, including Palestinian Christians, Palestinian Muslims, Messianic Jews, secular Jews, and several international volunteers. The camp theme was the story of the prophet Jonah, reflecting upon how God deals with our attitude towards people who are different from us.
Read MoreBethlehem 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.
Read MoreThe Palestinian Bible Society (PBS), registered with the United Bible Societies, is committed to making the Word of God available to Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. The PBS ministry also includes children’s programs, vocational training projects, and leadership development. Nashat Filmon, General Director, shared a recent update:
Community Care-Jenin and Beyond
In July, the Palestinian Bible Society welcomed to its Zebabdeh office the governor of Jenin, the town’s mayor, and the pastor of a local church. The meeting launched a campaign to distribute masks and sanitizing materials around the governorate. The governor thanked PBS for this initiative, and those present then distributed masks in the town. PBS is also distributing food and other basic supplies throughout the country, including the Gaza strip, to help those in need because of the pandemic.
Musalaha Ministry of Reconciliation is a non-governmental and non-profit organization that promotes and facilitates reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians, and internationally with people from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds. Musalaha encourages participants to engage in conflict resolution by going through a process developed in our 22-chapter reconciliation curriculum called, "Six Stages of Reconciliation." One of our most popular and successful projects is with children. Every year we provide summer camps across Israel and Palestine. Depending on the location, some camps are mixed Jewish-Palestinian, and others are mixes of Christian-Muslim Palestinians. Indeed, after women, children have proven to be the most successful segment in achieving reconciliation. Often, children find it easier to recognize the humanity in their fellow campers and develop lasting relationships. Moreover, children who grew up attending Musalaha's camps tend to be more successful in later years at reconciliation.
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