Advocacy

Increasing Awareness

In order to increase awareness among American Christians of the plight facing Holy Land Christians, HCEF has developed the Holy Land Christian Support Network (HCSN). HCSN helps carry out the HCEF mission by developing local means of support and education.

· Christian grassroots support
Local HCSN committees carry out the work of the foundation at a grassroots level. Each committee, while maintaining its own individual character, reflects the philosophy and goals of the national organization. Each local committee may organize and direct its energies in the most efficient way with the help and guidance of the HCEF's Board of Directors where appropriate.

· Educating Christian Americans about the plight of Holy Land Christians
HCSN committees support various programs dedicated to educating Americans about the history, culture, and current daily life of Palestinian Christians. Many of the educational opportunities, projects, and programs of HCEF involve simple acts of conscience affecting individuals and small groups of our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land.

· Official HCEF Newsletter: Living Stones
In order to increase the number of people we reach with our message, HCEF has created a newsletter entitled Living Stones: The Voice of the Holy Land Christians. We hope to reach those people who are interested in the work of HCEF who do not have access to our web site or who find print media more inviting. The newsletter includes articles from our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land that speak of their current situation as well as articles that describe the activities of HCEF. It celebrates the successes of HCEF, honors the work of volunteers, and voices the cry for help of the Christians who struggle daily to create sustainable lives for themselves in the land of our Mother Church. Contact HCEF to request a copy of our newsletter.

Among the events and services that HCSN committees coordinate:

· HCEF's Annual International Conference in Washington, DC

· Frequent symposia offered in the local venues of the HCSN committees.

· Volunteer Speakers Bureau (experts from both the Holy Land and the United States)

· Living Stones: The Voice of the Holy Land Christians, the official HCEF newsletter.

· HCEF web site and email news system

· Christian Pilgrimage to the Holy Land