GlocalNet

“Today in Bethlehem a Savior is born” . . . we have heard that many times - and it warms our hearts as Christians - but today in Bethlehem there are still people who live there - thousands.  They are Christians and Muslims.  Bethlehem where Ruth and Naomi travel and meet Boaz, where Rachel is buried after giving birth to Benjamin, where Jesus is born.  I have a friend Bishara Awad, a pastor and was President of the Bethlehem Bible College who always said “Bethlehem is going to be only a museum if the Christians don’t get involved here.”

The Christian community in Bethlehem is dwindling - and not because of Muslim persecution - if you ask them, they leave because economically they can’t make a living and they generally have better access to the West. 

I’m sorry to say for years I didn’t realize that there were Christians still there - let alone evangelicals.  They also believe, just like me, that they have a role in sharing the Great Commission and serving humanity.  There are several evangelical pastors I’ve eaten with and hung out with in Bethlehem - some of their churches are growing strongly.  They have a heart and vision for their city.  The level of commitment they have to the Gospel and their city is far above most of us and what we talk about with reference to our own city. 

Those of us as pastors, would we stay somewhere where our kids had to be raised in occupation?  Would we stay somewhere where we didn’t know if they would be able to pay us or not?  Would we stay where we were a religious minority?  Would we stay somewhere where there was physical conflict and war and you never knew from one minute to the next if you might be in the middle of a war?  Want to talk about loving your city?  Talk to a pastor in Bethlehem, they put me to shame. 

I received an email from my good friend Sami Awad and I want you to know what he is doing.  He is Bishara’s son - and has a very significant organization of his own.  He has the Palestinian non-violence center called the Holy Land Trust.  He’s an evangelical and spoke at our http://www.globalfaithforum.org and other things I’ve been a part of.  His father has trained pastors - Sami as an evangelical trains Palestinians, Jews, and others in non-violence and Jesus centered action.  I believe in him and support him I invite you to do the same -  Merry Christmas All the the AWADS of Bethlehem - may the Gospel spread freely there and may you increase.

For contributions you can send them to:  .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) directly or http://holylandtrust.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=201&Itemid=154

Dear Friends,

I wish you a beautiful and blessed time as we remember the birth of the Prince of Peace. In Bethlehem the busyness of Christmas is apparent, hotels are full, streets are decorated and people from all over the world are here to celebrate the miracle birth. As i write this email I hear in the distance some scout troops practicing their drum rolls for the last time before they head to Manger Square.

Much is said and much has been written about Bethlehem at Christmas; talk of the wall, of checkpoints, of restrictions and of occupation.

Similar things existed 2000 years ago, and in a place where there was war, oppression, and very little hope ... the miracle happened… Life, Joy, Peace and Salvation came to earth…

It is time we bring that pure and simple message of peace and love back to the place where it was born. It is time Bethlehem shines again with its message of goodwill and true healing to humanity.

Yes, we may not have the specific answers of “how” to get there, but we will not surrender to the “not knowing”. We will work, study, research and engage in finding the means ... and for this we need your help and partnership.

Please take a look at the following Youtube. It is a brief introduction to where we are heading as an organization. We are very excited about this vision to establish a peace and nonviolence research and learning center in the heart of Bethlehem and hope to share more of this vision with you as supporters and partners of this work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_AEa-la-dI&feature=player_embedded

Beautiful greetings to you and your loved ones and my best wishes for the year to come.

In the name of the Prince of Peace and Love,

Sami Awad
Holy Land Trust