Living and Working in the West Bank

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The Evangelical Lutheran Churchin Jordan and the
Holy Land
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• Although Palestinian Christians have been in
  Jerusalem since the first Pentecost, the roots of
  the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the
  Holy Land the ELCJHL - began in the mid 19th
  century when German and English missionaries came
  to teach and minister to the local people.

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The six congregations of the ELCJHL and their
ministries are located in Amman, Jordan,
Jerusalem, Ramallah and the Bethlehem area. We
are largely people who became refugees after the
tragic wars that followed the formation of
Israel. We also operate 4 schools and 4
additional educational programs in Jerusalem,
Ramallah and the Bethlehem area. This map shows
you the location of our ministries in Palestine
in reference to the cities and the new Separation
Wall (the red line).
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God calls the ELCJHL to proclaim the Gospel
within an Arab context in the Holy Lands.
From the ELCJHL Mission Statement
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• The ELCJHL is called to serve the marginalized,
  the elderly, those who suffer or are traumatized,
  and all who are in need - regardless of race,
  gender or political affiliation.  The ELCJHL
  empowers youth, women, men, and children,
  encouraging all our baptized members to be the
  people of God in service and witness.

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• We seek to be brokers of justice
• ministers of reconciliation
• and apostles of love.

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• ELCJHL Bishop Munib Younan is a leader among
  the heads of local churches in Jerusalem. He and
  other Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant
  Palestinian Christians work to promote peace and
  justice through their churches, schools and
  community groups.

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• Bishop Younan and the ELCJHL also work with
  Muslim and Jewish leaders to fight extremism that
  threatens our world and to promote common values
  of equal human rights, justice and
  reconciliation.

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• The 4 schools and 4 additional educational
  programs seek to promote excellent, holistic
  education while shaping the Palestinian Christian
  identity of our future leaders. ELCJHL goals
  include teaching democratic principles, religious
  tolerance, equal rights for women and
  peace-building.

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Life and Faith in Jerusalem
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
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• Redeemer Church, in Jerusalems Old City, is
  home to the Arabic speaking congregation led by
  Pastor Sani Ibrahim Azar, as well as
  international congregations using German,
  English, and Danish.

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The Separation Wall (in red) is close to being
sealed and completed. At least 25 of our
congregation is outside the Wall, and it will be
impossible for them to come to church unless they
find a way to come and live in Jerusalem. For
most, however, rents have risen too dramatically
for them to afford this. Many families are
forced to live in tiny houses in very
overcrowded conditions. Pastor Azar
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The Abu Leil Family
Samir, Mira and their three children live a house
just outside the Wall. The Wall isnt even
closed yet, but the last time they tried to go to
church, it took them 2 hours (they live 5 km away
from the church, but have to go around the Wall
and through a main checkpoint.) It is simply
too hard now, and will eventually become
impossible. For now, Feraz is able to attend
confirmation only because Pastor Azar is able to
pick him up on the other side of a checkpoint
that will probably soon be closed.
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The Kawas Family
"I don't want a big house. I just want one
bedroom for my children and one bedroom for Saleh
and me. God willing when the babies are big we
will have a bigger house. Sahar
The Kawas family Saleh, Sahar and their 5
children live in a house in the Old City with
one bedroom, a bathroom, a small kitchen and a
courtyard covered with tin which doubles as
another room as long as it's not raining. The
seven sleep together, eat together, study
together and play together mostly all in one
room. They dream of a house with more
space., but cant afford it because rents have
risen so dramatically.
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ELCJHL Ministries in Jerusalem
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The Martin Luther Elderly Center

• The Martin Luther Elderly Center, a ministry of
  Redeemer Lutheran Church, serves over 250 of the
  1500 elderly people known to live in the Old City
  of Jerusalem. Programs in health, education,
  fellowship and empowerment increase the
  well-being and health of the Old Citys elderly.
  

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Health Programs at the Elderly Center
The center provides a physical therapist who
comes to the center to offer individual physical
therapy, swimming exercise at a local pool and
group stretching and fitness classes for both men
and women.
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Other Programs
Other Activities at the Elderly Center
Fellowship Outings
Gardening
Education
Social Gatherings
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Elderly living Alone
There are more and more elderly people living
alone, some with no families to care for them no
where for them to go. Many are too ill or
disabled to go out and navigate the uneven, stone
pathways and steps of the Old City. Nurses offer
home visits for basic health monitoring, support
with medications and nutrition.
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Khalil
Khalil, a Palestinian Christian, is one of the
elderly men that used to come to the center but
now is too sick to come. He has no family left
here and no one to care for him. Workers from
the center visit him and countless others every
week, sometimes daily.
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The Hadawar Family
The Hadawar family Grandparents Michael and
Hannah, son Hana and wife Jumana and baby Michael
all live together in a tiny house in the Old City
with one bedroom, a bathroom, a small kitchen
sitting room.
My dream is to get the permit to live with my
family and to have a home of my own" Jumana
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Above left, Jumana stands in her half of the
bedroom with Michael. Above right, a photo taken
from elder Michael and Hannahs half of the
bedroom. Long time members of the Arab-speaking
Redeemer congregation, they would be good
candidates for the housing project.
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The Al Mahaba Kindergarten
One of the four additional educational programs,
the Al-Mahaba Kindergarten serves an average of
30 students a year, preparing them for elementary
school. Christian and Muslim students alike look
forward to playing Mary or Joseph in the
Christmas play.
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Martin Luther Community Development Center
Classes
The MLCDC is devoted to meeting the needs of the
Old Citys community. This year, a series of
Teachers Forums are being offered to improve the
skills of the private school teachers in East
Jerusalem.
Childrens Activities
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Fitness Center
Supervised Day Care Center
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I am very much afraid for the future of
Palestinian Christianity, especially in
Jerusalem. If we dont act now there will be no
more local Palestinians in the Holy Land in 10 to
20 years. Bishop Younan
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Here in our Lutheran school, from the wounds of
Palestine, a new generation has risen, to work,
to live, to love, and to be loved. But let us
not give up hope. Justice will prevail, and
freedom will come. All we have to do is to
stand together, to keep the candle of hope
burning, and to work and struggle for our
freedom. Salaam Bannoura,
Graduate At the Evangelical Lutheran School in
Beit Sahour, 2005
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• We need you. Our mission is your mission.
• Help us invest in our future and our young people
  so that Palestinian Christians will remain a
  living witness of love, hope and forgiveness so
  needed in this land.

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• Stay with us on this road, that we might continue
  to proclaim from this Land of the Resurrection
• Christ is Risen! Al Masih Qam
• He is Risen Indeed! He Haqan Qam!
• Bishop Dr. Munib Younan, Easter, 2004

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Thanks to Rev. Mark Brown and Sister Sylvia
Countess who provided some of the pictures and
slides for this presentation.