Eleven persons will travel to Bethlehem, Palestine, on May 23 to lend support and encouragement to people seriously affected by the recent Israeli army occupation of the West Bank town.
"We pray for strength and perseverence and for vision on the part of all of us as Christian brothers and sisters to be effective ministers of reconciliation in these difficult times".

Special for Come and See, May 19, 2002

Christian Arabs in the Bethlehem area are getting back to normal life - which includes plans to emigrate.
"We have no political agenda except survival".
"Even 20 years ago France and Italy defended the Catholics, and the British protected the Protestants, and the Russians the Orthodox, and now they have stopped looking eastward".


Jerusalem Post, Matthew Gutman May. 16, 2002

The wife of the Baptist Minister in Gaza went to visit her family in Jordan eight months ago. She cannot get back home because the Israeli authorities will not issue her a visa.

Special for Come and See, May 15, 2002

LA Times photographer Carolyn Cole writes about her experience as the only photographer inside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem

LA Times, May 11, 2002

Grace and Truth Congregation in Rishon Litzion is in the process of establishing a Fund to channel finanical assistance to Jews and Arabs.
The Fund has already been begun with a generous donation of $25,000 from Patmos International in Finland.

Special for Come and See, May 13, 2002

"When we first got to Egypt a few years ago, the Egyptian Christians told us, 'Don't tell any Muslim about Jesus, even if they ask you'.
Now, a lot of the same people are coming up and asking, 'How can we share with Muslims? What do we do?' I think it's the beginning of something big."

Baptist Press, May 13, 2002

An interesting discussion of theologians was held at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Participants cautioned Christians against blind support for Israel. All panelists agreed that Israel should be held morally accountable.

Baptist News, May 3, 2002, By Michael Foust

This is another way for silent voices to be heard," said Bishop Ann B. Sherer of the United Methodist Church. "We need to hear what has happened to Palestinians who have been forced from their land without compensation and many now remain homeless."

By the Rev. J. Richard Peck, United Methodist News Service, May 7, 2002

As Jobs and Freedom Are Lost, Hardships of Incursion Outweigh Appeal of Living in Holy City.
"I want to live a normal life, where my children are not afraid," said Grace Handal, 27. "Where shells don't go over our house and tanks don't come into our yard. My kids used to draw pictures of birds. Now they draw tanks."

By Doug Struck, Washington Post, Monday, May 6, 2002