Background/History

For the last forty years, in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, Palestinians have been living under military occupation. Particularly for the small Christian community, this situation has been extremely challenging and has created a fragile situation where the original Christians of the Holy Land are facing problems of emigration, economic distress, and political oppression. Meeting the Needs: Sabeel's liberation theology seeks to deepen the faith of Palestinian Christians, to lead them to act for justice and love, to work for the unity and renewal of the church, and to transform society. Sabeel is committed to a prophetic ministry in solidarity with the oppressed and to the holistic liberation of all people. Sabeel strives to develop a spirituality based on justice, peace, nonviolence, liberation, and reconciliation for the different national and faith communities. Goals: Sabeel strives to promote a more accurate international understanding of the situation of Palestinian Christians. It encourages individuals and groups from around the world to work for a just, comprehensive, and enduring peace informed by truth and empowered by prayer and action.

Goals & Objectives

1. To let all the Palestinian Christian youth from different churches meet and get to know each other and each other's faith traditions with Bible studies and spiritual trips.
2. To encourage and support youths in serving their churches by coordinating activities for them to encourage their attachment to the wider church.
3. To empower the youth to be responsible leaders through leadership development activities, including volunteer opportunities.

Activities Plan

1. Young Adults Program: a monthly program that brings together young unmarried Christians to speak about the problems that they face with the occupation, their feelings of frustration, the lack of employment, marriage issues, and Christian identity.
2. Weekly Bible Study: a weekly program led by youths that allows young people to discuss their questions about scripture, theology, and their lives today with each other and caring adults.
3. Service projects: a bimonthly program that brings together teenagers to volunteer with some of the underprivileged in the community?disabled and ill?to both learn about their needs and share with them time and energy.
4. The annual International Youth Conference?an eight-day summer conference that is held with half international and half Palestinian young people ages 18-30 to learn about the situation of Palestinian Christian youths, build an international network, and together share their experiences as Christian young people in the world today.