ELCA Staff Visit to the ELCJHL

This week Bishop Dr. Sani Ibrahim Azar and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land were honored to host our Evangelical Lutheran Church in America partners for a solidarity visit.

Rev. Gabi Aelabouni, ELCA Global Mission Desk Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Shadin Nassar, MENA Regional Associate, and Maren Olson, Director of Lutheran Disaster Response, spent five days in the Jerusalem area.

They met with Bishop Azar and ELCJHL pastors and ministry directors, heard about the incredible work of Augusta Victoria Hospital, visited the Lutheran schools, saw the Diaconal Center’s Hot Meals program in action, and worshipped with the Arabic-speaking congregation in Jerusalem.

During their visit, Gabi, Maren, and Shadin heard stories from students, teachers, school social workers, congregation members, church staff, neighbors who the Diaconal Ministry serves, and many others about the immense challenges faced by Palestinian Christians and the entire Palestinian community, and how the ministries of the ELCJHL seek to show the love and care of Christ in the midst of them.

We appreciate support and solidarity from our partners like the ELCA who walk with the ELCJHL in our work of serving God’s children in Palestine and maintaining a Christian presence in the Holy Land.

Gabi and Maren will continue their visit with our ELCJHL ministries in Jordan including the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Amman and the Bethany Beyond the Jordan Baptismal Site. We hope to see them in the Holy Land again soon!