Inside the gate of Ahli Arab Hospital, the heartbreaking poverty of Gaza City is supplanted by hope and healing |
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Last week a small group of AFEDJ trustees and staff visited Malalha, an impoverished neighborhood of 3,000 Bedouins native to Gaza, and Ahli Arab Hospital, a beacon of light for all who seek care. |
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Shortly after the May 2021 war in Gaza, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said before the General Assembly that “if there is a hell on earth, it is the lives of children in Gaza.”
Seventeen months later, after a visit to Gaza on October 11, five representatives of American Friends would have to agree. In the midst of the extreme poverty they found there, Ahli Arab Hospital stands out as an institution whose leaders and staff - in partnership with Community-Based Organizations at work in the poorest neighborhoods and refugee camps - bring free healthcare to those in need with love, compassion, and professionalism. Your support makes their ministry possible.
See for yourself! Accompany AFEDJ trustees and staff on their recent visit by watching the short video below.
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It’s not too late to take our brief donor survey! |
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A telling indicator of a good friendship is that friends listen to each other with care and intention.
Your generous support for the ministries of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem is vital to our mission. We value the opportunity to hear from you.
If you haven’t weighed in already, we invite you to take this brief (3-5 minute) survey by clicking the button below.
We want to learn what drives you to engage with our work and look forward to hearing your suggestions and ideas.
Once you complete the survey, we are delighted to share a “sneak peek” video from our upcoming small group study program, "Bearing Witness: A Journey with Holy Land Christians.”
Thank you once again for your faithful support of our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land. We promise to share our findings with you soon.
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AFEDJ trustees and staff inspired by the witness of Christian leaders across the Holy Land |
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Every three years the AFEDJ Board of Trustees journeys to the Diocese of Jerusalem to see first-hand the impact of your generosity on diocesan schools and hospitals.
We discuss challenges, advancements and needs with institution leaders, and listen to the stories of students, teachers, nurses, doctors and patients who benefit from your support.
They openly share with us their gratitude for your prayers, your financial support, and your remembering them and their struggles.
The twenty trustees and staff on our visit returned home last week deeply moved by the resilience, creativity and dedication of the Palestinian Christians who lead these institutions and determined to do more to raise awareness and support of their
witness in the Middle East.
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John Lent with Jerusalem Princess Basma Center Director Violette Mubarak with the Center's new mobile clinic van purchased by a gift from the Campbell Family Foundation through AFEDJ. |
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We visited 11 institutions in Jordan, Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza, and Israel. They operate in politically charged Islamic and Jewish contexts where the Palestinian Christian community is a minority within a minority. Yet, I cannot overstate the impact of these Christian ministries in their communities. They rise above the political, religious and cultural battles to focus on their mission.
Their enormous impact, which far outpaces their resources and size, is rooted in a fundamental ethos – to serve everyone in need with respect and dignity in the name of Jesus. It is a joyful revelation to see this Christian witness at work and a profound honor for all of us at AFEDJ to partner with our sisters and brothers in the Holy Land on your behalf.
Faithfully,
John Lent, AFEDJ Executive Director
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Holy Land Advent calendar starts each day of Advent with a splash of joy |
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What better way to learn about the Christian witness of the current-day followers of Jesus in the place where he was born, lived, and ministered than a daily journey across the Holy Land. |
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Beginning on December 1 American Friends will launch its annual online Holy Land Advent calendar to offer a daily glimpse into the lives of Holy Land Christians and the humanitarian ministries of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem in Palestine, Israel, Jordan, and Lebanon.
Our Holy Land Advent calendar offers a way for individuals and families to participate in a meaningful daily Advent devotion.
Who knows what you’ll discover behind each new door?
Check out the calendar at www.afedj.org/advent. Visit the calendar each day beginning December 1 or sign up here to receive a daily email alert. (You’ll need to subscribe to receive 2022 calendar alerts even if you subscribed last year.)
We hope you’ll join us on a daily journey of discovery and inspiration this Advent season.
The brief video below featuring a delightful student at Saviour’s School in Jordan offers a glimpse of what you might discover behind a door each day.
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AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF JERUSALEM
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AFEDJ offers a safe, secure channel to make gifts to support the work of the humanitarian institutions of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. |
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