Delayed release due to the difficulty to communicate and verify exact reports: cross culturally between Palestine/Israel and the multiple church/charitable organizations involved.
HOPE FOR THE HOLY LAND
Our most recent HOPE FOR THE HOLY LAND project was completed just before the Christmas Season. HOPE CHARITABLE SERVICES under the leadership of Bishop Frank Allen, missionary to the poor with principle offices in Portsmouth, Virginia, USA coordinated their second major relief effort for (Allen says) "The ancient and peaceful Christians that are silently suffering in the Holy Land ...as living saints, caught in the political, economical and literal cross-fire between radical Islam and Israel".
This effort was made possible by the generosity and hard work of our many volunteers and key partners: OPERATION COMPASSION provided relief goods including food, new clothing, furniture, diapers, hygiene products, school supplies and Christmas gifts that packed out a forty foot shipping container. PERRY STONE'S ministry, VOICE OF EVANGELISM, provided the funds to handle the great expense associated with international shipping. SAINT MATTHEW'S CATHOLIC CHURCH (Virginia Beach) contributed to help HOPE CHARITABLE SERVICES with the logistical expense. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land received, unloaded and stored the massive amount of goods. The Franciscan Holy Land Foundation’s Father Peter Vasko served as consultant to navigate the many cultural and political barriers. An Arab Christian businessman Nicola Canawati, owner Three Arches (Holy Land Christian Merchant) in Bethlehem covered the very expensive duty/charges/
The project focused on children. However, HOPE CHARITABLE SERVICES genuinely understands in order to truly impact the life of poor and distressed children, you have to strengthen struggling families and build community. Children received many wonderful items for Christmas and much needed school supplies. Yet mothers and families also received household goods, food and hygiene items. This was a truly wonderful event where over the Shepherd's fields of Bethlehem “Peace on earth and goodwill to all men" was heard once again as PERRY STONE shared a message of hope and a call for peace. Bishop Allen says "While many have heard the gospel preached, these precious people experienced the tangible gospel as God's good people from various walks of life, gave and worked; their only compensation was the understanding that they were ministering to the JESUS CHRIST (as found in Matthew Chapter twenty-five and verse forty) in the same community where He was born." The bulk of the relief goods were presented to various charities, orphanages, homes for the elderly and churches to distribute to the needy in their area.
Photographs Available Upon Request
For more information contact HOPE CHARITABLE SERVICES, P: 757.393.0664, C: 757.761.0974 or E: info@hopecharitable.org.
