Rateb Y. Rabie, KCHS
President/CEO
HCEF
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Hallelujah! He is Risen! What good news this is for us! A risen Savior to give us new life! I believe we could all attest to the fact that Jesus is the perfect example of a merciful servant-leader, as he laid down his life that we might have life anew and eternal. With His death and resurrection we have been empowered to support and serve others!
Servant-leaders are merciful, genuinely caring about the needs and provisions of those they serve, and, in service to others, lead by example. As true Servant leaders we empower those whom we serve!
Our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land need our help and our support for empowerment as they daily face the trials and injustices of life under occupation. Easter is the most important holy celebration for Christians, and yet many Arab Christians are not free to enter the Holy City, let alone visit and worship at the Holy sites. Rights and freedoms are denied, harassment of the faithful, whimsical checkpoints are endured, religious blockades and travel restrictions are heavily enforced and the ever-present view of the 25-foot high wall of separation are just a few of the ‘crosses’ these living stones must continuously bear.
They desperately need our prayers and our help! Our spiritual, moral and financial support in service to them empowers them to continue to be steadfast in their faith, and undergirds them as they, like we, are required to love those who despitefully use and persecute them. We are exhorted to remember and support those who have not the freedoms and comforts we experience! We need your help to ‘replace despair with hope, fear with security and humiliation with human dignity’ for our Christian brothers and sisters who remain in the Holy Land.
As we participate in our individual celebrations of our Risen Savior, let us follow the exhortation of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, to “Pray that those who are responsible for the fate of Jerusalem enter the way of peace with courage and follow it with perseverance.”
The HCEF Board of Directors, Staff, Volunteer Leaders and I are deeply grateful for all you do in support of the living stones, and we pray that this resurrection season for you will be overflowing with love, joy, peace and hope eternal!
Happy Easter!
God bless,
Rateb Y. Rabie, KCHS
President/CEO
