Unique Christmas Celebrations Bring Joy to Thousands
of Palestinian Children

JERUSALEM, Israel — As fighting continued between Israelis and Palestinians throughout the festive season, the Palestinian Bible Society (PBS) organised a series of special celebrations to bring the joy of Christmas to thousands of children in the West Bank. The response to the Unique Christmas program, funded through the UBS Rapid Response Reserve, has been overwhelming, prompting the PBS to continue its ministry to children by developing a Bible outreach program. The celebrations, which included puppet shows, games, refreshments and gifts, helped “redeem some of the childhood” of more than 3,000 children who have been living in an atmosphere of tension since hostilities began in September, according to Labib Madanat, PBS Executive Secretary. The program was mainly run by staff from the Bethlehem Bible Experience. “Instead of bringing the children to the BBE building, which is not ready due to the violence, the staff decided to…go out to the children everywhere they could,” explained Mr Madanat. “It is amazing how God intended the first fruit of the BBE ministry to reach the most worthy – the children of Bethlehem and the surrounding villages.” (WR 358/23 - 03.01) [PHOTOS] e-126