Ten years have passed since Musalaha was established, and we are grateful to God for our accomplishments in the ministry of reconciliation. In light of the complex reality in our region, each program and success gives us great joy and satisfaction as we follow God’s calling to be reconciled one to another. Reconciliation has become a central issue within the body of Christ here in the land, and believers are being compelled to deal with it on many different levels. It is our belief that Christ’s death and resurrection are the foundation of reconciliation, and that forgiveness and healing can only come through following His example and obeying His word. We hope to emulate and teach Christ’s model of forgiveness, mercy, and love, breaking down the walls of enmity that so easily embitter and ensnare.

In an area with such complex political, social, geographical and spiritual realities as the Middle East, it is difficult to find common ground that is an appropriate forum for teaching and advancing in the process of reconciliation. There are very few locations that are neutral and easily accessible. In order to solve this problem, Musalaha developed the Desert Encounter, where we take different groups of Palestinian and Jewish youth, young adults, and leaders on a desert journey. Groups in the past have shared donkey trips, camel treks, jeep tours, and hiking trips through the deserts of the Sinai, Negev, and Jordan. Each trip has been a unique experience of cultural and spiritual discovery. We have found that the challenges of survival and cooperation provide an excellent occasion for relationships and open communication.

The Desert Encounter was the first fulfillment of Musalaha’s vision to implement the teachings of Jesus in a practical manner. In the ten years that have followed, we have expanded our projects to include conferences, publishing, cultural teaching, and leadership training. As theological questions can be a divisive issues that have much bearing on cultural understanding, Musalaha has placed an emphasis on the Theology of the Land, through conferences and seminars with local and international speakers. We have published two collections of articles on the nature of peace and reconciliation, and are working on a third book. One other important aspect of understanding is raising awareness and knowledge of Palestinian and Jewish history. Musalaha sponsors trips to "Hardship Places," where people from both sides share stories and visit places where painful experiences have taken place.

As we look ahead to the future, we at Musalaha would like to move into the next stage. Musalaha has been very effective in its ministry among Messianic Jews and Palestinian Christians, and increasingly Palestinians from traditional churches are participating now in the reconciliation ministry. In the next ten years our aim is to find ways that we can reach Israeli Jewish and Palestinian general public. To be able to accomplish this we will spend much time in thought, planning and prayer for ways in which to reach our communities. We plan to invite people from around the world who have experience in reaching out to a whole nation, and provide learning experiences that will lead us into a deeper and more far-reaching process of reconciliation.