The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation expresses its sorrow for the victims and families affected by the tragedies in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. As we seek some redemptive value in our loss and the courage to move forward, we must also remember that we belong to Christ. In this unity, we at HCEF invite you to join us at our Third International Conference scheduled for October 19-20, 2001

The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF)*
News Release


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation expresses its sorrow for the victims and families affected by the tragedies in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania.  As we seek some redemptive value in our loss and the courage to move forward, we must also remember that we belong to Christ.  In this unity, we at HCEF invite you to join us at our Third International Conference scheduled for October 19-20, 2001. Sir Rateb Rabie, KHS the President of HCEF said, “We are moving forward with the planning because we believe that now, more than ever, the conference is vital to our citizens’ understanding of the panoply of forces that affect the indigenous Christians in the Holy Land.  We also believe that as Christians, we must remain united in Christ in each moment and that this conference will help us to achieve greater unity.  It was, after all, Christ’s own prayer: ‘Father, may they all be one!'” (John 17:21)

The Conference program, The Forgotten Faithful: Arab Christians Suffering in the Holy Land, will feature at least 33 speakers with intimate knowledge of the circumstances that have lead to Arab Christian suffering in the land where Christianity was born.  The speakers on the program will elucidate all aspects of the siege of Christian communities.  Workshops will explore how American Christians will be able to assist their brothers and sisters in the Holy Land to survive under very difficult living conditions brought about by town and village closures, road blocks, military checkpoints, economic siege and, recently, stepped up military invasion. 

The Awards Banquet at the Capital Hilton will be held on Saturday evening, October 20, 2001. Monsignor William Fay, Secretary General of the United States Catholics Conference of Bishops (USCCB) will be the keynote speaker.  The Living Stones Solidarity award will be given to the Diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and World Vision for their continued support as organizations for the Holy Land Christians.  Rev. Canon Drew Christianson and Rev. Dr. Don Wagner will receive the HCEF Award for their life long commitment to the Christians in the Holy Land. 

The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation is an all-volunteer 501c3 organization with the mission of informing Americans about the ongoing persecution of Christians in the Holy Land and to provide humanitarian assistance to relieve Holy Land Christian suffering.
*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, Toll Free (866) 871-4233