David Retter is a trustee of Southampton and Winchester Visitors Group (SWVG). In this short video he explains why he is working with asylum seekers in Southampton.
To find out more about how you can get involved, please visit SWVG
A Christian Response to Israeli Apartheid
Although we would love to meet in person, this year we have made the decision to keep our conference online in the hope that as many of you as possible are able to join us.
This year our theme is ‘A Christian Response to Israeli Apartheid’. We will be hearing from two excellent speakers about apartheid in both the Palestinian territories, and inside Israel itself.
Alongside this we will be joining together in worship, reflection, and action, and we will be hosting a number of workshops in breakout rooms, looking at how we can work within our Churches and communities to combat apartheid.
We will also be hearing direct from our partners Sabeel Jerusalem and Kairos Palestine about their work on the ground in Palestine/Israel, and the highs and lows of the last year!
We are very much looking forward to this event, and hope that you can join us.
Tom Hewitt MBE, Global CEO of Surfers Not Street Children
In this brief interview Tom Hewitt gives an update on the work of Surfers Not Street Children in the light of the recent civil unrest in South Africa.
To support their work visit www.surfnotstreets.org
Instagram: @tomhewittmbe
Facebook: Surfers Not Street Children SNSC
Instagram: @surfersnotstreetchildren
Watch the film ‘Continuance Part 2’ on why 11 time world surf champ Kelly Slater supports Surfers Not Street Children: www.continuancetour.com
Book Aid: 35 Million Christian Books Delivered
Delighted to meet up with Joyce at Jubilee Church in Southsea and Joseph from Book Aid Charitable Trust today. Joseph drove down from the Book Aid base in London to collect donated Christian books which, after sorting, will be delivered to other parts of the world to help resources churches.
Continue readingRevd Dr Andrew Ashdown: Advocacy with HART
Dr Andrew Ashdown gives an update on some of the world’s trouble spots where Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust (HART) is working with local relief agencies. For more information visit www.hart-uk.org
Andrew is also a member of the Peacemaker Trust Board of Reference.
The Bible, Israel and the Church
This video is taken from the first Christ at the Checkpoint conference held in Bethlehem in 2010. It has been viewed more than 14,000 times. The title of my presentation was: The Bible, Israel, and the Church: Challenging Zionism, Anti-Semitism and Replacement Theology. The presentation was based on my book, Zion’s Christian Soldiers.
Continue readingAn Update from Wendy Hough
I would like to express huge thanks once again to all those who have been praying for me through this time of such disorientation. It means so much to feel that I am accompanied from afar on this wilderness journey.
It has been a period of disenfranchisement. I came over to the Netherlands eventually as it was impossible after almost half a year to continue paying to rent a room. Here I can stay with old friends to whom I am very grateful for hospitality and friendship. It is undoubtedly restorative, and I can get my CoVid vaccinations whilst here. When I arrived, my daughter, Lily, thought I had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder!
It has certainly been the biggest challenge of my life to process this all and psychologically/emotionally and spiritually find a way through and beyond this. I do find openings and encouragement, then find myself overwhelmed and almost paralysed by the practical consequences of this all. It is still an emotional roller coaster. I feel very small indeed at accepting financial help but it has been a lifeline and I am humbled and deeply grateful for such kindness and generosity.
I have had to engage new lawyers to present the appeal to the ministry. Every time I feel that we have taken a step forward it seems another door is locked and we have to go searching for another route.
As you may have heard me say before, my concern for and investment in supporting the dispossessed and displaced has always featured highly in my personal life and ministry and now after this experience I shall continue to work in this arena for justice even more so.
With deep thanks and warmest wishes,
Wendy
You may contribute toward Wendy’s appeal costs here
The Bethlehem Institute of Peace and Justice
The Bethlehem Institute of Peace and Justice at Bethlehem Bible College invites you to enroll in its fully online course beginning this September 2021
Introduction to Peacemaking and Justice in the Palestinian Context 1
This asynchronous, guided, online course, taught by Palestinian and international professors, explores fundamental concepts in peacebuilding and justice, the history of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and present realities on the ground; Biblical theologies of peace; reflections on peace and justice from the perspective of Judaism and Islam; non-violence and peacemaking; the practice of sulha in Arab societies and how it relates to other models of reconciliation, and more.
The course may be taken for credit or audit by either students already enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs, or by non-traditional students. The course is offered internationally and to people of all faiths.
All the course material, including required reading, is located on the educational platform, Its Learning, which the Institute uses. The tuition is inclusive of reading assignments.
The tuition fee is determined on a per-credit basis. The rate for the academic year 2021/2022 is $495 ($165 per credit hour) for internationals and $240 ($80 per credit hour) for local and auditing students. The course is for 3 credits.
This course especially serves:
Those who are passionate about affirming the relevance and reasonableness of peacemaking in the world.
Those who desire to learn more about the Palestinian Christian experience – its joys and sorrows – in peacemaking.
Those who want to explore the holistic discipline of peacemaking and justice studies.
Find out more at www.bipj.org or direct your inquiries to Info@bipj.org.
Morally Responsible Investing
Israel’s oppression of Palestinians and flouting of United Nations resolutions is ongoing and unwavering. Dozens of international corporations profit off this oppression by contracting with the Israeli government and participating in the construction of illegal settlements. As we mark the beginnings of the BDS Movement on July 9, 2005, here’s what you need to know about morally responsible investment and what you can do so that together we can rise up.
Our guest will be Charlotte Marshall of Sabeel-Kairos UK.
Time: Tuesday, July 13, at 4:00pm London time (6:00pm East Jerusalem, Palestine time UTC+3)
Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/94679502800
(There’s no registration page, so please set an alarm for yourself and use this link on Tuesday.)
Remember, if you’d like to receive a reminder about the gathering an hour before it begins, please use the registration form at the bottom of the page.
SWVG Supporting Asylum Seekers
As a trustee of Southampton and Winchester Visitors Group (SWVG), I am delighted to share this short introductory video about our work, befriending and supporting asylum seekers and refugees in the Southampton area. We are also continuing to lobby the government for a more compassionate approach toward asylum seekers.
