Rateb Rabie, KHS, President of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF), announced today that several members of the HCEF Board and committees plan to travel to the Holy Land for a two-week fact-finding mission between May 16 and June 1, 2001.

Press Release (For immediate release)
The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF)*

Rateb Rabie, KHS, President of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF), announced today that several members of the HCEF Board and committees plan to travel to the Holy Land for a two-week fact-finding mission between May 16 and June 1, 2001.

The first stop will be in Amman, Jordan where the group spend 5 days and will meet with government and religious leaders. It is planned that meetings will occur with officials of the Ministry of Tourism. Ministry of Information and Ministry of Education. One issue of importance that will be discussed relates to the strategies needed to augment Christian tourism to the holy sites in Jordan. In addition, the delegation will review ways to increase cooperation between the Christian schools and HCEF in the area of improved funding. The delegation will also meet with Bishop Salim Sayegh, Latin Bishop of Jordan and religious leaders of the Melkite, Orthodox, Lutheran and Anglican Christian denominations.

The second stop will be Palestine. The group will visit a number of Christian towns and villages and see first hand the effects of the present conditions in the Holy Land. An effort will be made to speak to local secular and religious leaders and townspeople to determine the impact that the Intifada has had on the Christian community and how HCEF can provide support to help relieve the suffering of our brothers and sisters. The delegation intends to meet with Palestinian Authority officials. Meetings are planned with the Latin, Lutheran, Episcopal, Orthodox and Melkite religious leaders to discuss how HCEF can assist them in supporting our Christian brothers and sisters in the Holy Land. The delegation will visit schools where HCEF’s Child Sponsorship program has helped by providing funds so that children can continue their education. The HCEF delegation will engage in round table discussions with travel agents, tour guides, transport and hospitality companies etc., to develop pilgrimage packages to support Christian tourism. Discussions will also occur with leaders of NGO’s to find mechanisms for improved cooperation. The delegation will meet with local pastors of Christian churches to find ways to develop partnerships between American Christian churches and churches in the Holy Land. The group will visit crafts workshops and look for products to sell in the United States to benefit the crafts trade. The delegation also plans to visit the Holy Sites and offer prayers for the safety of the Christians who are struggling to survive under the present conditions.

Rateb Rabie announced that a substantial amount of financial aid for emergency relief will be distributed during the course of the visits to local institutions. “HCEF has worked hard to raise funds for our Christian brothers and sisters; our only regret is that we will not be able to assist everyone in need.”

The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation was founded in 1998 and is dedicated to supporting the indigenous Christians in the Holy Land. HCEF also informs the American public about the fact that the Christians in the Holy Land are descendents of the original Christians who first followed Jesus Christ as he preached the Gospel 2000 years ago. During this season it is especially important to remember that Christianity had it origin in the Holy Land during the Pentecost in 34 AD.

HCEF sponsored two National Conferences and is planning the Third National Conference for October 19, 20 which will be held at the National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. HCEF activist committees are present in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, MD, Houston, TX, Atlanta, GA and Detroit, MI. The Detroit Committee sponsored its first HCEF Symposium and Banquet on March 31, 2001 in that city. The Atlanta committee planning its first Symposium on June 15, 2001 that will honor Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem who will speak on: Jerusalem, The Mother Church of Christianity. -30-

* The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation is a tax exempt, non-profit organization committed to improving the lives of Christians in the Holy Land by developing bonds of solidarity with Christians in the United States. HCEF, PO Box 6687, Silver Spring, MD 20906. (301) 871-9222, Fax (301) 871-2277. www.hcef.org. Email: news@hcef.org