Bethlehem Ministry Update
- Douglas Smith
- 5 days ago
- 1 min read
All of the bills for Bethlehem Summer Camp 2025 have been paid; the resource gap was filled by unexpected and appreciate local assets as well as the international donations, including those from Epworth UMC. We have joined in partnership with many, to bring light, hope and joy to 100 children as the war conditions affecting the Bethlehem region of the Occupied West Bank are accelerating.
Community Engagement
The Bethlehem Ministry at Epworth is an example of Community Engagement ─ the community related to St. Joseph’s identified new possibilities, assembled local resources and invited partners to join them to fill the resource gap. We are working with the St. Joseph’s Community. The process has been long-term and focused on building the community's capacity. The community members themselves define the problems, set the priorities, and design and implement the solutions. This approach is in contrast to the more traditional and often seen in a charity or service-delivery model. It is also known as a needs-based or deficit-focused model ─ or “working for.” Both kinds of ministries are of value and needed.
Hope Through Community Engagement
“Look what we did!”, say the many community members in Bethlehem who made the Summer Camp happen. Yes, just look at some of the images and videos of the children.
Your On-going Support is Appreciated
We need your continued support to keep the monthly humanitarian relief ministry going. We are filling the resource gap of $800 per month for two shipments that provide food and supplies for 200 children representing more than seventy vetted Palestinian families in the West Bank. That is $4.00 per child.
