Musalaha News letter
May, 1999

FAMILY
BBC
CANCELLED SINAI
STAFF
YOUTH PROGRAMS
YOUTH DESERT ENCOUNTER
CLOSING COMMENTS

FAMILY

Kay and the boys are doing fine, everyone seems to be well after a long winter of colds and the flu. Salim will be taking a trip to Germany in June and looks forward sharing about his work and ministry with fellow believers.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for Salim to teach Israeli teachers about Christianity. He have been invited to instruct these teachers on Christian beliefs. The response has been positive with many people asking questions, and he has been able to give out some literature such as C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity. Join us in praying that the Lord will work in the hearts of these teachers.

BBC

The academic year at Bethlehem Bible College is drawing to a close. It has been a busy year, as we are working hard to implement the recommendation of the accreditation committee for our B.A. program. This year we have a graduating class of about 15 students, many of whom will be moving into ministry in their communities. Other graduates will be continuing their education. We praise the Lord for these students and pray for them as they continue to serve the Lord.

The Bible College has been asked to create a Christian education curriculum for Palestinian schools. Along with Chris Wright (Anglican School), we have already produced the first book entitled Who is Jesus, and have finished the first draft of the second, a Christian ethics book entitled Christian Living. These books are the first of their kind in Arabic, and we are thankful for the opportunity to add quality Christian texts to the local schools. Please pray for the distribution and reception of this curriculum.

This spring has had its share of setbacks and successes. Our planned trip, "Post-Army, Post-Intifada Desert Encounter," was cancelled due to the fact that the Palestinians were unable to receive Egyptian visas. We waited right up until the last day, having been led to think that we would obtain the visas. Of course, this was a great frustration to all of the participants. The Jewish believers shared the disappointment of their Palestinian friends and initiated a picnic in Shepherd's Field, just outside of Bethlehem. About 25 people enjoyed a delicious lunch together and spent the day in fellowship and worship. We plan to reschedule the desert trip as soon as possible. Please pray that we will be able to arrange the time and details of this trip.

In March, Musalaha was sad to say goodbye to Christina Crespin, our administrator and the backbone of our office. Christina was a hard worker, faithful servant, and dear friend. She returned to the U.S. after four years here, and we greatly appreciate her dedication and effort. We pray the Lord's blessings on her as she makes the transition back into the States.

We are thankful for the addition of two new staff members, Brittany Browning and Mina Frenkel.

Brittany grew up in Nazareth, where her parents pastored the Nazarene church. She has returned to Israel after finishing college at Wake Forest University and teaching in Russia for three years. She will take over the office management, and work on expanding our youth department.

Mina is a student at the Israel College of the Bible here in Jerusalem. Born in Haifa to a religious Jewish home, she became a believer while visiting South Africa after the army. God has given her a love and burden for both Arab and Jewish people, and she has come for a trial period to work in the office.

On June 4, the youth plan to meet for a second Service Project. This time, they will meet together in West Jerusalem to paint the youth rooms of the Narkiss Street congregation, followed by a barbeque. All that hard work deserves a good meal! This will be a great opportunity for the youth to get to know one another and especially to serve each other. We pray for that they will develop meaningful cross cultural relationships as they work side by side.

We are in the process of planning our third annual Youth Desert Encounter. In the second week of July, a group of thirty-five Palestinian and Jewish teenagers and leaders will venture into the desert to sweat together, ride camels together, and hopefully grow closer together by the grace of God. We are looking forward to this opportunity for our young people to cross community and cultural barriers.

Please pray for the leaders as they plan the trip, and that the Lord will prepare the hearts of the youth for His work of reconciliation.

By the time this newsletter is finished and distributed, we will all know the results of the May 17 Israeli elections. The results of this election will have an impact on the believers in this region, and of course on the future of this area and the entire Middle East. The words of the Lords prayer come to mind, "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Whatever political change may came, we rest in Christ's promise in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you," and we continue in our hope and purpose of reconciliation among our brothers and sisters in this land.