Christmas Message from the Middle East Council of Churches and Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees

Their unwavering spirit fuels our determination to stand by them in their time of need.

Excerpts of a letter received from the Middle East Council of Churches and the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees:

Our hearts ache to convey this message during what should be a season of joy and togetherness. Amid strife and sorrow, we reach out to you, dear partners supporters, and friends, with heavy hearts. This Christmas, our usual celebrations are shadowed by turmoil and the tragedy of Gaza.

Israel/Lebanon/Palestine Emergency Relief Appeal — December 2023 Update

The Outreach Foundation has received a tremendous amount of support for the Israel/Lebanon/Palestine Emergency Relief Appeal. Here is the latest news received from two partners there — Nader Abou Amsha, Director of the Middle East Council of Churches Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR), and the Rev. Joseph Kassab, long-time partner in Lebanon and moderator of the Synod of Syria and Lebanon:

Middle East Council of Churches
Unfortunately, we have lost another colleague to the war. She was killed along with her husband and child in an airstrike on their home. In a separate attack, we lost our Center in Al-Daraj — the entire building including the clinic, physiotherapy unit, pharmacy, and dentist clinic — just flattened to the ground.

We continue our work in Gaza. Here is a summary of that work, often conducted under fire:

Refugees, Refuge, Hope — Nasir Church Year End Appeal

For decades, civil wars in South Sudan have forced hundreds of thousands to flee to camps in neighboring Ethiopia. The village of Nasir was particularly affected. But as the conflict has declined and security has returned, the request from these refugees is, “We just want to go back home. Please help us get back to our homeland.”

The Presbyterian Church of South Sudan (PCOSS) is eager to welcome them home. In addition to basic needs, the people greatly need sanctuary, a place to worship. Therefore, a priority is to complete the historical Nasir Church destroyed by war.

Pars Theological Center — Training Underground House Church Leaders

Pars Theological Center is a London-based virtual seminary that uses the internet, satellite TV, and conferences to deliver Farsi-language theological training to Iranian Christians both inside and outside Iran. Classes are taught by well-known Iranian pastors, Bible teachers, and theological instructors.

Europe, Projects, PartnershipThe Outreach FoundationDecember 1, 2023Pars Theological Center, Iranian Diaspora

PEB Celebrates 25 Years of Denationalization of Schools!

December 2, 2023
9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST

Join Friends of the Presbyterian Education Board (PEB) for a "Zoom Party" in honor of 25 years since the denationalization of PEB schools in Pakistan. Connect with PEB's Executive Director Veda Gill and other staff members of PEB as they share stories and pictures of the past and dreams for the future. Please join us and meet other PEB supporters from all over the U.S.

Asia, Important News, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationNovember 27, 2023Presbyterian Education Board, PEB, Pakistan

PARS Student Testimonials — Prayerful Support and Encouragement

Hassan and Sara

Hassan, a student at Pars, hails from Abadan, where he had once served in the Iranian police force. Raised in a traditional and devout Muslim family, he underwent a profound transformation when he embraced Christianity. For six months, Hassan fervently prayed for his family, resulting in the conversion of most of his relatives, including his brothers, sisters, son-in-law, and around 30 others.

Europe, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationNovember 20, 2023Pars Theological Center

John McCall — November 2023 Update

For the past month, I have been on the road traveling to churches and conferences all over Taiwan. Thankfully, the transportation here is amazingly convenient.

Taiwan is a small island about the size of Delaware and Maryland combined, but running all the way down the center of the island are tall, rugged mountains. The west coast is mostly a huge megalopolis running from the capital Taipei to another large city in the south called Kaoshiung. In the 1960s, the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan started churches in areas that did not have churches, so now there is a church in almost every city neighborhood, town, and village.

Asia, Global Workers, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationNovember 16, 2023John McCall, Taiwan

FJKM’s Holy Race

It has been a very busy year with many accomplishments and challenges for the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM), The Outreach Foundation’s partner church in Madagascar. Dan and Elizabeth Turk, who serve with FJKM, recently shared this update and invite you to join a Zoom presentation that the Madagascar Mission Network is sponsoring on November 14th from 7:00-8:30 pm EST. Click here to register Turk event registration or go to the Madagascar Mission Network website.

Musalaha — As We Lament

Letter of Lamentation

We at Musalaha lament the devastation and unfolding tragedies in Gaza and Southern Israel. We stand firmly against the embrace, use, and justification of violence against civilian populations in the name of justice, vengeance, and liberation. We are distressed and overwhelmed, never having seen this scale of inhumanity, anguish, rage, and hatred before.

Important News, Middle East, PartnershipThe Outreach FoundationNovember 2, 2023Musalaha, Israel, Palestine

Philemon Project GROW Center — November 2023 Update

The GROW Center is safe and continuing our important work of providing the best early childhood development, food support, and adult mentoring, all in the name of our Savior, Jesus!

Projects, Partnership, Middle EastThe Outreach FoundationNovember 2, 2023Lebanon, Philemon Preschool GROW Center, Middle East

Presbyterian Education Board (PEB) — October 2023 Update

From November 10-18, The Outreach Foundation will be attending the 25th anniversary of “denationalization.” This marks the anniversary of when the government returned schools to the Presbyterian Education Board after decades aptly described as “the dark ages.” The work of PEB is a sacred work shining the light of God’s Word and bearing the hope of Jesus Christ into the lives of children and their families.

Projects, Partnership, AsiaThe Outreach FoundationNovember 1, 2023Pakistan, Presbyterian Education Board

Partner Updates

Their unwavering spirit fuels our determination to stand by them in their time of need.

December 2, 20239:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST

Letter of Lamentation

December 2, 2023
9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST