What will ministry at St Andrew's look like in the future?

St. Andrew’s Holy Land Committee

The Holy Land Committee is an important part of  St. Andrew’s Outreach Committee, through which financial support is given to the Evangelical School in Ramallah, the Fund for the Needy in Bir Zeit, and St. Peter’s Bir Zeit. 

 The Committee seeks to remain aware of what is going on in the Ramallah and Bir Zeit from news reports and communications with the pastor in Ramallah and other friends in the Middle East.

 The news is more and more devastating from the Middle East.  Everyday the newspapers and TV broadcast continue to show the conflict between Israel and Palestine, more bombings, more attempts at the peace process failing… What the news doesn’t show is how the conflict is increasingly putting at risk the children and staff in the school, and the clergy and parishioners in Ramallah.

 An excerpt from a  recent letter from St. Andrew’s in Ramallah , dated April 24, 2002 gives us some insight into what is happening.

"We are all getting tired of our long confinement to which is added the constant sound of explosions as the Israeli army continues to explode its way into houses, shops, businesses, institutions, cultural centers, theaters, clubs and the different ministries as well as the municipality. They continue to destroy everything in their way including valuable documents, archives, research work, medical and dental clinics ... etc ... etc.  In short, they are destroying the Palestinian people - their identity, their culture and their memory.

To pass the time in a positive way, Rev. Kopti organized a campaign of voluntary activity for the six teenagers and four children of the compound. They all set out energetically to do some spring-cleaning inside the church, the offices and adjacent youth club, compensating for the lack of exercise under curfew.

The youngsters also used their muscles to unload a truck full of food supplies donated by the church and people of Shefa-Amr, a town in Galilee. They then divided them into portions that were distributed when the curfew was lifted for a three-hour break later in the week. The families gratefully received the food parcels, but many who crowded outside the gates wee not as lucky. There wasn't enough for everybody.  We can no longer repeat the words: "give us this day our daily bread" lightly.  The prayer now takes on a more profound meaning and urgency.

Some parts of Ramallah are still without electricity, running water or telephones. One family called the Pastor to ask for drinking water that he will only be able to deliver in the curfew break. Garbage is piling up in the streets of Ramallah, which is turning into an environmental hazard - especially with the temperatures rising. The damage is extensive and it will take a long time for Ramallah to get out of its state of shock and destruction and return to normal, if ever.

The real tragedy is that of the families who have lost loved ones or whose sons were arrested and taken to an unknown destination. Ra'fat, a member of the youth group, is one of them, please pray for him."

 The Committee Invites You to Join in the Prayer Effort 

We all  feel helpless in the face of this news, but we are not helpless.  The crucified and risen Christ is present in Ramallah as with us here at St. Andrews.  Let us all resolve to pray more concertedly than ever for a successful peace process, and for strength and courage for the people of Ramallah, and all the people of the Middle East.

The Holy Land Committee asks everyone to add prayers for peace in the Middle East to their personal prayer list. You are also invited to join others in a short period of silent prayer between the 10:00 service and the Adult Sunday School or coffee hour.  The second Sunday of the month we will meet in the sanctuary; other Sundays we will use the small chapel. Please don’t be put off if you are the only one to come some Sundays,  as the committee is very small, and many of us must travel.  Your prayers are so important.

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