At Easter 2002, Around 50,000 Christians are living in the Palestinian Authority - Less than 2% of the total population - Compared to 10% in 1948. This is not preventing several organizations to work for the sake of preventing the dispersion of the Christian population from the land of our Savior's birth, death and resurrection.

The Bethlehem Bible College is one of these organizations, based in Bethlehem, the town where Jesus was born.

According to Bishara Awad, President of Bethlehem Bible College: "Even as we hope and struggle to encourage the Christian community around us, many families are emigrating due to the area's conflict, the siege, and the military bombardment of their neighborhoods. In the last year, over 500 Christian families have emigrated from the Bethlehem area alone. This is tragic for the Christian community, which has been eroding rapidly over the past several decades. We realize the importance of the Christian church's presence as a force for love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Without its influence, there will be a vacuum that will bring about more hate and destruction".

"The violence around us is not preventing the Holy Spirit from touching the lives of people. Many people in the community are turning to Christ for a refuge from the storm. In May we anticipate that 12 students will receive their BA degree and another 12 will finish the 2-year diploma. Also, the Tour Guide program is continuing to operate, even though tourismis currently at a standstill."

In the last week the home of one of the college students, Michael Katimeh, was hit with two rocket missiles. Michael was miraculously spared along with his parents. As he moved to the corridor to answer the telephone, the first missile hit the room he had just vacated. When the second missile hit, he was thrown 11 feet into the air. Michael's first reaction was "Praise God!" and declared: "It is a miracle that with all the damage the missiles have done to the house, none of my family members were killed or received life endangering injuries".

For more information about Bethlehem Bible College, visit www.bethlehembiblecollege.edu