INSID E THIS ISSU E :
• Baking skills in Jordan • Palliative care in Bethlehem • Voices from the West Bank and ways you can help ...and much more
ISSUE 3
W ELCOM E
A message from Brendan Dear Friends, For many Christian families in the Holy Land, planning for the future has become inseparable from the struggle to meet today’s needs. In 2026, your generosity has helped us respond to both. Through our local team and trusted partners, we have helped children continue their education and families access essential medical care. Replacing damaged water tanks has brought relief to households facing unreliable supplies, while providing much-needed work for local Christian tradespeople. Alongside this practical assistance, we continue to invest in opportunities to earn a living. Our vocational training support helps young people gain qualifications and develop skills they can use to support themselves and their families.
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In this issue of Giving Hope, you will meet women in Jordan putting new baking skills to use and aspiring entrepreneurs developing business plans in Jerusalem. Their determination deserves our continued encouragement and support. Our Christian faith calls us to stand alongside these communities, listening to their needs and helping them remain and thrive in the land where Jesus walked. That commitment matters just as much when their circumstances slip from the headlines. Thank you for the prayers, gifts and time you have shared this year. As you read these stories, please consider how you, your church or your community might help us continue this work. With gratitude and every blessing,
Brendan
Brendan Metcalfe, Chief Executive
Inside this issue...
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Baking skills open new possibilities
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Ibtasim turns an idea into an income
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Helping communities respond to trauma
07
Our longstanding work in the West Bank
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Chuch leaders call for action and renewed hope
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Bringing hope home in Bethlehem
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A future worth building at home
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Be a voice for Christians in the Holy Land
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Open a little shop. Give hope.
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Reaching further as needs grow
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A Litany for the West Bank and Gaza
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An update from our work in the UK
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Will you give hope today?
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Giving Hope Editor: Matt Adcock | Design: Robin Fisher
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J ORDAN | SWE E T
Baking skills open new possibilities Practical training is helping women in Jordan take their next steps towards earning an income. In Amman, 20 women have completed pastry training through SWEET, a programme supported by Friends of the Holy Land that brings practical skills within reach of women facing limited opportunities to earn. Run by Habibi Association, SWEET brought together Jordanian women and refugees from Syria and Iraq. Across two courses, participants learned from a professional pastry chef, combining theory with hands-on practice. Financial support towards attendance helped with transport and other costs, while flexible arrangements took account of family responsibilities. The next step was experience in a working kitchen. Eighteen women completed the full 32-day practical placement, building on their training in 04
NEW PROJECT
cafés and restaurants. All 20 received starter kits, including a hand mixer, digital scales and baking equipment, so they could continue practising after the programme ended in September. The results give grounds for hope. All 20 improved their assessed skills, and 18 recorded an improvement of at least 10 per cent. Some have begun using their learning in home production, local sales or existing activities. There is still work to do. By the end of the project, one participant had started her own business, while most were still seeking suitable work. Equipment costs, expensive ingredients and limited job opportunities remain obstacles.
20 women trained. 18 completed placements.
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J ORDAN | A P A RT IC IP AN T’ S S TO RY
Ibtasim turns an idea into an income A mother of three spotted an opportunity at her local bazaars. SWEET helped her act on it. For six years, Ibtasim Al-Faour made handmade accessories, selling at local bazaars. But the income was not enough to support her three children. As she watched shoppers, the 47-year-old noticed how often they chose food. Could her own cooking skills offer a different way forward? A message in a WhatsApp group introduced her to SWEET. She joined the training in March and, with support from Friends of the Holy Land through the programme, began turning her idea into a small food business. Training and help to obtain materials gave her a starting point. She also received a baking kit,
including a mixer, scales and cake tin. Today Ibtasim makes pizza and other savoury and baked foods, selling locally Sharing skills in the SWEET kitchen through a café and supermarket in the Qasr Hallabat area. The activity generates an estimated 10–15 Jordanian dinars a day and up to £100 a week. She now wants to expand her range and learn cheese-making, helping her manage the cost of an important ingredient.
“Without SWEET, it wouldn’t have been possible.” 06
Ibtasim Al-Faour
N EW IN ITIATIVE | C OMMUN IT Y SU PPORT
Helping communities respond to trauma We are helping to fund a new resource that draws on local experience, trusted relationships and Christian faith. For families facing raids, checkpoints and constant uncertainty, trauma can touch every part of life, including children’s learning, parents’ wellbeing and the ability to imagine a future. Friends of the Holy Land is helping to fund the development of a resource that will equip Palestinian Christians to respond within their own communities. The development plan includes expertise contributed without charge by the Concord Foundation and Mosaic Middle East, with Fr Fadi Diab of St Andrew’s Church, Ramallah and Chair of our Holy Land Committee, among those identified to help guide the work. Listening to local people shapes the resource from the outset.
NEW PROJECT
Community members, church leaders and specialists help develop materials that reflect their experiences, testing them with local groups and refining them in response.
ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY The resource will equip trusted people within congregations, schools, scout groups and existing support networks to help others understand trauma and support one another. Children, young people, mothers and those caring for their communities are central to this work. Its focus is on everyday understanding, peer support and resilience, strengthening the relationships through which people already find comfort and encouragement. Your support is helping turn that local knowledge and care into practical resources communities can use. 07
LONGSTAN DIN G P R OJ E C TS
Our longstanding work in the West Bank Your support continues to sustain projects that have been part of FHL’s work since our earliest days. St Martha’s House Since 2011, FHL has supported St Martha’s House (pictured above) in Bethlehem, where older women, many widowed or living alone, find friendship and practical care. Shared meals, activities and health checks help ease their isolation. For women whose families have emigrated or cannot support them, your generosity helps provide a welcoming place where they feel valued and cared for.
Keeping education within reach As the new academic year begins, help with fees remains essential. Unemployment and irregular incomes leave families struggling to pay, while Christian schools must cover teaching costs without government funding. FHL helps children remain in school and supports nursing students at Bethlehem University, sustaining the education their communities need for the future. 08
School of Joy In Beit Sahour, the School of Joy offers children with learning difficulties an education suited to their needs. FHL has helped fund the school since 2014, supporting specialist teaching, meals and improved facilities. With no state funding and many families unable to afford fees, your continuing support helps children develop their abilities and build towards a more independent future.
A fresh start for Muin
Financial Support for Manar
Former construction worker Muin Fahmi Daoud is building a poultry business with FHL’s support, after war and the pandemic left his family struggling financially. Muin is married with three children, and his children’s ability to offer support is limited due to near-unemployment resulting from the war and, prior to that, the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Before the war, my husband (Rami) worked in Israel and our family had a stable and dignified life. We were able to provide for our children, support their education and meet our everyday needs without having to ask others for help.
We provided an incubator, chickens, feed and essential supplies. Thanks to this support, production sales of eggs are now bringing in an income, and Muin hopes to expand. Muin and his wife say this support has rescued them from poverty and strengthened their faith through the practical kindness of fellow Christians. Their message to supporters: “May Jesus bless you.”
Manar and Rami
But the war changed everything. While my husband was working in Israel, the Israeli police raided his workplace and arrested him, despite him having a legal work permit. We had to pay 9,000 shekels for his release, and since then, a year has passed without him being able to work. Our financial situation quickly became very difficult. Every day brought a new worry: how we would pay for our children’s university fees, provide the basic needs of our home, or afford the medicines that my husband and I need. There were many nights when I found myself asking, ‘What can we do except pray?’ During this difficult time, Friends of the Holy Land supported my husband and me with the cost of our medication. Your support not only helped us financially; it gave us hope when we needed it most.” 09
LONGSTAN DIN G P R OJ E C TS
Life-changing medical supplies
Building a livelihood in Nablus
Majed, from Birzeit, used to work fitting pipes and laying tiles but became ill and was no longer able to continue working. He had heart problems which required open heart surgery. FHL have helped provide vital medication, and thanks to their support, he knows that he will receive all of his medicines.
Alaa Wiliam Hrimat, 31, lost his job when the war started as new checkpoints and gates disrupted his commute to Ramallah and forced his employer to cut staff. He said: “Finding a new job has been incredibly difficult. I’ve been searching for months, but the challenging economic climate means there are hardly any engineering opportunities in Nablus. Rather than give up, I decided to take matters into my own hands with the support of the Friends of the Holy Land. Leveraging my past marketing experience, I designed and started manufacturing local plastic moulds and construction products.”
As the Pharmacist in Ramallah explains: “For the 30 years I have been running this pharmacy, we have never experienced circumstances as difficult and challenging as those of the last 2 years. We are very grateful to Friends of the Holy Land for supporting those who need medication, especially people with chronic illnesses. For them, their lives depend on having access to their medicines. This support helps them feel that they are reducing the burden on their sons, daughter or those responsible for providing their medicines. They feel a great sense of relief and happiness.“ 10
The business now generates around $3,000 a month, and Alaa is expanding his range of mould sizes. For him, support from fellow Christians in the UK is a practical expression of “the real body of Christ”.
N EWS | DIOC ES E OF JERU SALEM
Church leaders call for action and renewed hope The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem has warned that “our peoples and communities face an existential crisis”, while renewing its determination to serve those living through war, displacement and insecurity. The appeal followed its annual Majma, or synod, held in Amman, Jordan, from 14 to 18 September. In a communiqué issued on 20 September, the diocese called for urgent attention from churches and the international community, and urged Christians to put prayer into practice through action for a just and lasting peace.
Alongside its concern for Gaza and the West Bank, the statement highlighted suffering elsewhere in the diocese. It reaffirmed a commitment to care through churches, hospitals, schools and rehabilitation centres, serving communities without discrimination. Its message also carried a clear determination to remain: “We will keep hope alive, for hope is at the heart of our Christian calling”. Please remember these communities in your prayers, and those working daily to sustain them. 11
BETHLEH E M | C A R E A N D H O S P I C E TRUS T
Bringing hope home in Bethlehem
NEW
We’re proud to announce that Friends of the Holy Land is now working with Bethlehem Care and Hospice Trust, providing free specialist palliative care at home for people with chronic and terminal illnesses across Bethlehem and its surrounding villages. Rooted in Christian values and open to everyone, the Trust’s small nursing team has delivered thousands of home visits for hundreds of patients, including more than 100 who received end-of-life care. Nurses ease pain, manage symptoms and help families cope, alongside emotional and spiritual support and help with medicines and medical tests. As economic hardship stretches household budgets and younger relatives move away, this care is especially precious for people with limited support. We need your help to sustain and extend this vital care. Your donation can help fund nursing care, medicines and home visits, enabling the team to visit more often and reach more people. 12
Even when an illness cannot be cured, there is still so much we can do. For someone in pain or a family struggling to cope, a nurse arriving at the door can make an enormous difference.
PROJECT
The BCHT nursing team SCAN TO SUPPORT
Please give today to bring comfort, dignity and compassionate care to someone who needs it.
JER US A L EM | UPPER ROOM
A future worth building at home Thirteen aspiring entrepreneurs have developed practical plans for businesses in Jerusalem.
13 participants. of 8 weeks training.
An app connecting children with English tutors, a mobile food cart for celebrations and a professional tattoo studio: the ideas emerging from Upper Room Mission’s latest entrepreneurship course reflect the ambitions of people determined to build a future in Jerusalem. Over eight weeks, thirteen participants worked through the practical questions: Who would their customers be? What would it cost? How could they explain their idea and make it work? Participants completed business proposals and celebrated their achievements at a graduation ceremony on 24 July 2026. 13
G ET I NVO LV ED | VO L UN TE E R
Be a voice for Christians in the Holy Land Your time, your connections and your willingness to share their stories can help others take action.
Could you help more people hear what life is like for Christians in the Holy Land, and discover how they can stand alongside them? Friends of the Holy Land welcomes volunteers across the UK. Whether you enjoy talking to your church or community, helping with fundraising or putting research skills to use, there are ways to contribute. Our free webinar is a good place to begin if you are interested in becoming an advocate. Hear about the people behind the headlines, learn more about FHL’s work and explore how sharing their stories can inspire others to get involved.
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JOIN OUR FREE WEBINAR 45 minutes to find out more Fourth Monday of each month 7.30–8.15pm UK time Register at bit.ly/4xkvWTA
New to FHL, or already a supporter? You are welcome to join us.
Interested in another volunteer role? Explore volunteering with FHL at: friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/volunteer Or call 01926 512980.
FOR C HUR C H ES & GR OUPS | S HOP IN A B OX
Open a little shop. Give hope. Sell goods from Palestine. Bring people together. Raise funds for FHL’s projects. Could your church or group make room for gifts with a purpose? We have a new Shop in a Box offer to help churches and community groups sell goods from Palestine and raise funds for Friends of the Holy Land’s projects. A stall after a service, at a coffee morning or during a Christmas fair could introduce more people to Palestinian craftsmanship and the communities we support. Bring your community together and let the gifts open a conversation about the people and places behind them.
Interested in having a Shop in a Box and directly supporting Palestinians? Contact us to register your interest and discuss what could work for your church or group. email: office@friendsoftheholyland.org.uk | telephone: 01926 512980
* visual representation of potential box shown
From your heart… to the Heart of Christianity 15
O UR T EAM IN T H E H O LY L A N D
Reaching further as needs grow Faced with travel restrictions, checkpoints and opposition, we have had to expand our local team so our courageous staff can continue delivering practical support through offices in Ramallah, Bethlehem and Jerusalem, with outreach to Zababdeh and across the Bethlehem governorate. Our monthly humanitarian support helps families meet essential costs, including medication, bringing essential practical care closer to those who need it. The economy has been devastated with unemployment in the West Bank standing at 31%. In the Christian community it is even higher at 54% - hence the desperate need. Alongside this, our job creation programme is providing vital work in villages and towns. We have supported the creation of 39 small businesses with grants for essential equipment for ventures including honey production and car repairs, enabling families to earn an income within their own communities. 16
With access to work in Israel severely restricted, tourism devastated and public-sector salaries paid only in part, vocational training and small-business support offer vital Grant collection with Dima opportunities. It is your generosity that is helping people develop skills and rebuild livelihoods. With waiting lists across our work, sustaining this support into 2027 remains essential.
FA ITH AND PR AYER
A Litany for the West Bank and Gaza With the suffering people of the West Bank and Gaza on our hearts, we make our cry: ‘O Lord, hear, O Lord, forgive, O Lord, listen and act and do not delay.’ (Daniel 9.19) Lord, hear us. ‘They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastation of many generations.’ (Isaiah 61.4) Lord, we lift before you so many who weep in desolation and long for hope. Lord, hear us.
The things that make for peace are hidden. (Luke 19.42) Lord, let your light shine in the darkness, bringing a new dawn of hope. Lord, hear us. ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’. (Matthew 5.9) Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, give them wisdom and guide them in your ways. Lord, hear us. ‘Blessed are the merciful.’ (Matthew 5.7) Lord, strengthen those in every community who strive for reconciliation. Bless, encourage and protect them. Lord, hear us.
‘Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.’ (Ps. 30.5) We pray for the homeless, the unemployed, all bereft of hope, and those striving tirelessly to support them. Lord, hear us. ‘I was sick and you took care of me.’ (Matthew 25.36) Bless and sustain all doctors, nurses, and all whose skills, presence and dedication bring healing and hope. Jesus, Prince of Peace, with your Church in the Holy Land, let us never be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12.21) Amen. Amen.
SCAN TO ACCESS OUR PRAYER RESOURCES 17
G I VI NG H O P E | Q U IC K UK UP D ATE S
An update from our work in the UK A generous gift from Schoolsigns.co.uk Schoolsigns.co.uk has given £5,000 to Friends of the Holy Land, helping us bring practical support to Christian families facing extraordinary pressures. Steve Martin presented the cheque on 27 August, joined by Bishop Timothy Menezes and our CEO Brendan Metcalfe, who called the gift “a wonderful sign of hope”. Could your business follow their lead with a donation or fundraising activity? To explore how you could help, contact office@friendsoftheholyland.org.uk or 01926 512980.
FHL at WeBelieve FHL was at this summer’s WeBelieve festival with Fr Yacoub Rafidi, parish priest in Ramallah and director of the Latin Patriarchate’s schools in Palestine. In a conversation with Brendan Metcalfe and Edmund Adamus, he described the pressures on families and the importance of Christian schools, where Christian and Muslim children learn together. He thanked supporters for helping to “keep the light of faith alive” in the Holy Land. 18
Fr Mamdouh visits London During his recent UK visit, Fr Mamdouh, Founder of the School of Joy, spoke at masses over 2 weekends in Haverstock Hill and Highgate. He also attended Evensong and spoke at the 50 Faces of the Holy Land exhibition, hosted by Haverstock Hill. His lived experiences from the Holy Land allowed those listening to hear the realities of life there and how your support truly helps.
Archbishop Sarah meets Friends of the Holy Land team during her pilgrimage Friends of the Holy Land staff welcomed the opportunity to meet our new Patron, the Most Revd and Rt Hon Sarah Mullally, Archbishop of Canterbury, during her pilgrimage to the Holy Land. As part of her visit to the West Bank, Archbishop Sarah spent time with members of the Friends of the Holy Land team and heard firsthand about the realities facing Christians living in the region today. Among those she met were FHL’s West Bank operations leader Nader Issa Ghneim, as well as Lulu Nasir (Ramallah area coordinator) and her daughter Layan. Layan’s case prompted international prayer and advocacy efforts when she was imprisoned for 10 months. During the visit, Archbishop Sarah listened to Layan’s story, prayed with the family and assured them of the prayers of Christians around the world. Archbishop Sarah spoke movingly about the challenges facing Christian families in the West Bank. Reflecting on what she had seen and heard, “I recognise the costliness of life for you and your families, and the costliness of following Jesus here in this land, which was our Saviour’s home and is your home.” 19
WILL YOU GIVE HOPE TODAY?
TOGETHER, WE CAN SHARE HOPE.
Your gift helps Christians in the Holy Land meet urgent needs and build a future through education, livelihoods and compassionate care.
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• Like, share and comment on our posts on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.
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Thank you for standing alongside Christians in the Holy Land. We can’t do it without you!
Friends of the Holy Land is a UK Registered Charity (Charity Number 1202568). Registered Office: Farmer Ward Road, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2DH. Telephone: 01926 512980 Email: office@friendsoftheholyland.org.uk