Words from friends on COVID-19: Bethlehem Bible College

Bethlehem Bible College 

#15thdayunderquarantine #StaystrongBethlehem #Coronavirus #Covid19 We bring you special greetings from the Holy Land and pray that you are all keeping safe in light of the Covid-19 pandemic that has hit the world in a way that none of us expected.

Bethlehem has not been spared this calamity, as you probably know. So far, over 40 cases have been reported in Palestine. When things happen globally, we tend to think that the problem is far from us. That illusion has been shattered. Several of the local cases are people we know personally, including one of our dear staff and a few of our graduates. That’s how close it is to us! We praise the Lord that they are all recuperating. Most of the staff and faculty of BethBC have been working from home or quarantine due to the commands of both governments. We are trying as much as possible to continue with the semester and deliver online classes to our amazing students who have been very cooperative. 

Bethlehem has probably been one of the hardest-hit cities in terms of lockdown. Most of the entrances to towns within the Bethlehem governate have been closed by the Israeli military. We understand the need for taking such measures to contain the virus, but it is causing a dramatic humanitarian need. Probably 60% of Bethlehem’s economy depends on tourism. With all of the hotels, restaurants, and shops closed, you can imagine how many people are jobless - and who knows for how long. 

We at BethBC will be affected financially too. We have always depended on income from our guesthouse, gift shop, and lectures. All of that has stopped for the foreseeable future. In this global crisis, everyone is suffering but some areas are being harder hit than others. 

If it is within your means, may we ask that you consider giving to the college so that we can continue providing salaries and delivering classes to our students? By using this link: https://bethbc.edu/support-the-college/