Holy Land Christians issue appeal for help

Dear brothers and sisters,
As Christians, the sunrise on Easter morning brings us more than the dawn of a new day. It is a Christian symbol of the hope for new life in the glorious resurrection of our Lord. As morning breaks from the east to the west, Christians will proclaim the hope of the gospel: "Alleluia! Christ is risen!" Our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land will also follow the traditions begun by the very first Christians as they celebrate Easter with the whole Body of Christ. The light of their eternal hope, however, finds them in the thick darkness of economic sanctions, occupation, and fear.

Some of the Arab Christians cannot see any future left in the Holy Land. The darkness of poverty and the fog of occupation have left the Christian residents of the Palestinian Territories grasping for hope – and finding little to hold. They suffer the effects of economic sanctions and blocked aid or relief efforts, and unemployment reaching past 60%. The school teachers, village administrators, and social workers have gone without pay for months. Even those who were lucky enough to have subsistence jobs and who wanted to stay are now looking for a way out. If we don't act now, time will run out for Christians in the Holy Land – even faster than I thought it might. They are moving away, leaving hope and energy for peace- building and spiritual continuity behind. They are simply unable to carve out a life any longer.

HCEF has aid programs in place, and they work. Every one of them was created to address a specific need, and those who benefit from our support express their deep thanks. They know we haven't forgotten them – instead, we bring the light of hope and the warmth of solidarity to these Christians left on the doorstep of the international political arena. Your commitment and our programs can make the difference. I feel compelled to emphasize this:

Your commitment and our programs can make the difference! Donate here

During eight years of work, we have sponsored Christian education for thousands of children, built new housing and community centers, created jobs and sustained industries supporting hundreds of families, and built a vast network of Christians across the world who are praying and acting in support of their brothers and sisters. Our efforts as a community united by faith have made a life-changing difference for thousands of Arab Christians across the Holy Land.

Your donations at work.

I never wanted to have to say these things about the lack of hope, the crushing conditions, and the insecurity weighing on the Holy Land Christians, and I hope that our involvement will reverse their effects. After seeing the extent to which conditions have deteriorated for Arab Christians, I would be irresponsible to keep this information to myself in favor of blithely hopeful language. If I had more powerful words, I would use them now.

Please, support the Holy Land Christians. They need your fervent prayers, your solidarity, and your awareness. Most of all in these desperate times, they need your material support. Do not wait for your neighbor or your friend to make the difference – log on to our website and bring help as soon as you can. You can light a candle for peace here and let the world know you care about the Arab Christians.

If you would like to support us, donate here. We need everyone on board to accomplish our mission:

To replace despair with hope, fear with security, and humiliation with human dignity.
With heartfelt prayers and trust in God, I wish all of us an Easter full of the hope of the risen Lord.

Rateb Rabie, KCHS
HCEF President
For Comments Email: news@hcef.org
Phone: 301-951-9400
Web: http://www.hcef.org

For additional articles or more info or to add your own comments please visit our website at www.hcef.org The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, Inc. (HCEF) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that provides support to the Christians of the Holy Land who live in Christian communities dating back in time to those who first heard Jesus Christ preach his gospel. HCEF sponsors programs that support children's education, create housing, and provide work programs for community development and indigenous handicrafts. HCEF Pilgrimages enable Western Christians to develop bonds of solidarity with their Christian brothers and sisters living in the Holy Land.