Category: Human Rights

Christ at the Checkpoint: 5-9 June

In less than four months, hundreds of Christians from the Holy Land and around the world will gather in Bethlehem for the Christ at the Checkpoint conference. Together, we will pray, worship, study Scripture, and engage in what it means to follow Christ in the shadow of walls and conflict, and how to be resilient in our Christian witness, keep hope alive, seek just peace and truth, and preach good news in the midst of a broken world. 

The conference will be taking place June 5-9, 2020 in Bethlehem – and you can register now to be part of this important gathering.  The Conference comes in the wake of the so–called “deal of the century”, and it will offer an open space for engagement in what it means to be peacemakers today. It will also coincide with Bethlehem being the Capital of Arab Culture for the year. What better time to come and experience both CATC and more of Bethlehem!  

Continue reading →

Living Stones of the Holy Land Trust: Who is My Neighbour?

Did you realise that once broadcast, TV signals begin an endless journey outward into the cosmos at the speed of light?  That means our earliest TV broadcasts are probably travelling through star systems more than 400 trillion miles from earth. Do you realise that our neighbours living 60 light years away are watching the first episodes of the Lone Ranger in black and white. 50 light years away they are now watching Bonanza. 40 light years away they have moved on to the original Star Trek series. 30 light years away they are able to watch the Dukes of Hazzard. Just 20 light years away it’s the Sopranos. Those only 10 light years away are being blessed by countless episodes of Lost. Scientists tell us that the further away your neighbours live, the more likely they are to hold outdated, inaccurate and stereotypical views of you.

Does it worry you what your neighbours think about you? What impression do you give them? Is it accurate or a distortion? When they see you coming, are they welcoming or do they lock the door and hide? Does it matter what impression you give? What about the people next door? Over the road? Down the street?

Continue reading →

One Democratic State in Palestine/Israel – It’s Time: Jeff Halper

At the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) UK annual conference held at Amnesty International in May, Jeff Halper gave a presentation entitled “One Democratic State in Palestine/Israel- It’s time”. With the “Two-State” solution increasingly regarded as dead, the case for one democratic state with equal rights for Israeli Jews and Palestinians is gaining traction. The slides below summarise Jeff Halper’s presentation and basis for resolving the conflict peacefully and based on international law.

Continue reading →

Compassion UK: Betty Sander’s visit to Columbia

When I had the opportunity to go on a mission trip with Compassion UK to Colombia in Feb 2019, I jumped at the chance.  This was the 1stvisit to Colombia by Compassion UK and we were joined by Compassion Netherlands (again a 1stfor Compassion UK to travel with another country).

I have been sponsoring her for 10 years.  I told Melanys that I didn’t choose her, because I didn’t know which child to choose.  Esther Wood had profiles from Compassion Sunday, and I knew I wanted a girl and preferably from South America.  Esther prayed over the profiles and chose Melanys for me.

Continue reading →