Nazareth Project, Inc.

As we read this verse in Isaiah 41:18, we are reminded of God’s power to redeem. We pray that the current crisis in Israel/Palestine would end quickly. We pray that God would turn the barren wilderness of violence into the life-giving waters of peace.

Please join us in praying for the safety of our friends at Nazareth Hospital and Nazareth Academic School of Nursing during this difficult time.

"I found a lot of experience and exposure to my field of specialization."

Dr. Amer Yassen Abu Rumaila is a surgeon from Hebron in the West Bank and is being supported financially by NPI in conjunction with Nazareth Hospital’s Advanced Training Program for West Bank Physicians. His specialized training at the program is in laparoscopic and bariatric surgery. This specialization is urgently needed.

Bringing more specialized services into the West Bank health system could truly make the difference between life and death for many West Bank patients. To find out more about this important program, click the link below:

https://nazarethproject.org/our-work/advanced-training-west-bank-physicians/

“There are days where I feel overwhelmed by the pain and trauma the ongoing war is causing to Arab and Jewish people.” But he adds, [The conflict] has forced me to reconsider my priorities in light of the end purpose of life…It has also tended to make me more aware of the suffering of others and to ask God for his compassion and mercy for all those who are suffering, both Arabs and Jews.”

Frank Kantor, the Spiritual Director at the Nazareth Trust recently described his current experience at Nazareth Hospital during the present crisis in the Holy Land. To read please click the link: https://nazarethproject.org/2024/07/29/words-of-hope-from-frank-kantor/

Recently, Dr. Salam Hadid, Director of the Nazareth Academic School of Nursing, spoke at Summit Day during Summer Pioneers Camp in Haifa. This event took place at Sami Ofar Stadium with close to 600 people in attendance. During her presentation, Dr. Salam Hadid spoke on the topic of self-achievement in the face of challenges. She used her own story as an example. NPI is thankful for the inspirational work our colleagues in Nazareth are doing despite the challenges of the current conflict.

Jesus’ words inspire us to keep pursuing peace. May his kingdom of peace come closer through the work of our hands.

It is a blessing to proclaim and work for peace. This text from Isaiah 52:7 reminds us of its importance. NPI thanks everyone who partners with us to promote peace through medical care in the Holy Land.

Our partners at Nazareth Hospital have recently opened a new service for their community: Speech and Hearing Therapy. Shady Hanawi will be the head of this new department. Mr. Shady is a certified speech and hearing therapist having extensive experience in the field, including providing therapy for speech and language difficulties, to comprehension, to social and behavioral interventions among diverse populations.

NPI congratulates our colleagues in Nazareth for their continuing innovations in the care of those in their region.

Last month our U.K. partner organization The Nazareth Trust sent a team to Nazareth Hospital . An exchange of prayer, encouragement, and planning for the future happened in the time together. Our prayers and efforts will be joined in concert with them as we all move forward together.

Recently, nearly 60 students graduated from Nazareth Academic School of Nursing. NPI offers our congratulations to them all! Additionally, this year the Nursing School celebrates their one hundredth anniversary. We are very proud of the tremendous legacy that our partners in Nazareth have built. For more information about Nazareth Academic School of Nursing and the Nancy Martin Memorial Scholarships that empower students, click the link below:

https://nazarethproject.org/ways-to-give/nancy_martin_memorial_scholarship_fund/

How we interact with the world around us matters. What are we bringing to the table?

NPI is excited to announce to all our friends and supporters that on April 18, 2024, a cooperation agreement was signed between Nazareth Academic School of Nursing and Ono Academic College located in Kiryat Ono, Israel. This partnership will enhance and develop the level of education and training in the nursing field for the region. We pray that other collaborations like this will cross cultural boundaries for the promotion of peace and healthcare in the Holy Land. To read more about this exciting milestone, click the link below.

https://nazarethproject.org/2024/04/30/nazareth-academic-school-of-nursing-partners-with-ono-academic-college/

On Saturday, April 13, Nazareth Project held a morning webinar with Dr. Ez El Din Khalawi Abu Kharshi, Dr. Ihab Qasem Suleiman, and Dr. Suzy Srouji. The purpose was to hear the stories of the doctors NPI financially supports in Nazareth Hospital’s West Bank Physician’s Advanced Training Program. All three doctors took the time to dialogue with their U.S. supporters from Nazareth. Thank you to all who attended! A summary article can be found at our website:

https://nazarethproject.org/2024/04/15/west-bank-physicians-and-npi-participate-in-online-webinar/

Join us this Saturday at 10am Eastern, as we hear from the West Bank physicians that NPI supports. Registration is at the link below. We hope to see you all there!

https://nazarethproject.org/west-bank-physicians-webinar/

Happy Easter from NPI! May the peace of Christ be with you.

NPI invites our friends and supporters to join us April 13, 2024 at 10am (Eastern) for an informative webinar about our work with Advanced Training for West Bank Physicians at Nazareth Hospital. The Hospital provides West Bank doctors with an opportunity to undergo a year or more of specialized training to learn and advance their knowledge while preparing them to pass the medical board exams of the Palestinian Authority. This will equip them to better serve their communities in the West Bank, which historically lacked enough trained doctors to care for the population.

This Webinar will feature Dr. Abu Rmeileh and Dr. Abu Kharshi, who are doctors in the program NPI financially supports. Registration for the webinar is here: https://nazarethproject.org/west-bank-physicians-webinar/

NPI Chair Wayne Speigle shares this timely message in light of the conflict in Gaza and Israel:

“Since October 7 many of us have had daily concerns for the people of Israel and Palestine. Friends, relatives and colleagues struggle to live their lives as normally as possible amid the ongoing violence and uncertainty. We hope and pray for the violence to end and for a long-term solution that allows everyone to live with peace and security, no matter their religion or lineage.

Though the situation may often seem hopeless, we are not helpless. Because of our partnership with Nazareth Hospital and School of Nursing, we have been able to continue making “compassionate medical services and education available to all persons, regardless of religion, culture or ethnicity.

Though some work like the Nazareth Village and the SERVE program are currently on pause, we continue to train doctors and nurses, provide healthcare for anyone who needs, and minister pastorally to patients and staff. The work and needs will continue and will perhaps be greater when the region moves toward healing. We want to be there for them and welcome all who want to participate."

Please join us in prayers of peace for the region in the name and compassion of Jesus.

Waseem Dibbini, Acting CEO of our partner organization the Nazareth Trust, recently provided an update on the current developments at the Hospital and the School – all in the context of the four-month Gaza war that is still occurring. You can read about what is happening in Nazareth at the link:

https://nazarethproject.org/2024/02/19/an-important-update-from-our-partners-the-nazareth-trust/

NPI is happy to announce that at the end of 2023 we surpassed our goal of raising $200,000 towards the Nancy Martin Memorial Scholarship Fund. Amazingly, the total at years end was $215,605! These funds will be used to help support the education and living costs of nursing students at Nazareth Academic School of Nursing. This will help ensure that future generations of students can be equipped in the medical profession regardless of socio-economic status.

Merry Christmas from NPI! We pray that all of our friends and supporters would have a blessed holiday and prosperous 2024.

For the past eight years, The Nazareth Project has worked closely with Richard Mayhew (pictured on the right) as the CEO of the Nazareth trust— our primary partner in Nazareth. Richard will complete his service in that role at the end of this year. NPI is grateful for the excellent collaboration that we have experienced with Richard.

We would like express our gratitude to everyone who gave towards NPI’s mission on ExtraGive Day last week. We also wish all of our friends and supporters a happy Thanksgiving!

Hello everyone, today is ExtraGive Day! Please remember NPI today and consider donating to help our mission of bringing medical care and peacemaking to the Holy Land.

Our ExtraGive page is here:

Support Nazareth Project, Inc | ExtraGive I’m ready to support Nazareth Project, Inc on November 17, 2023 during ExtraGive. Learn more about Nazareth Project, Inc and all the other organizations participating in ExtraGive.

Next week, November 17th is ExtraGive Day! We are excited to invite all of our friends and supporters to consider giving towards NPI during ExtraGive. Your donations will help empower Lancaster County participants to become active partners with Nazareth Hospital in promoting medical care and peace building in the Holy Land. Check out this link to NPI’s ExtraGive page: https://www.extragive.org/organizations/nazareth-project-inc

“And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” -Mark 4:39 ESV

NPI is praying along with many people from all over the world, for the peace of Christ to calm the storm of conflict raging in the Holy Land. We ask that our friends and supporters would remember to do the same.

Recently NPI was able to secure a $1.5 million grant from a US program called ASHA to help with the expansion of Nazareth Academic School of Nursing. In light of current events, it is our prayer that more nurses and staff will be trained and ready to help the hurting in Nazareth and throughout the region.

To read more about NPI and ASHA please click the link: https://nazarethproject.org/2023/10/25/nazareth-project-secures-1-5-million-grant-for-nursing-school/

Prayers for peace were written from students at Lancaster Mennonite School during a presentation from our colleagues at SERVE Nazareth. We pray for peace along with the students in our community, and encourage all of our friends and supporters to do the same.

Join us as we pray for peace and a de-escalation to the conflict happening in Israel/Palestine. We also ask that you would pray for the protection and safety of all of our friends at Nazareth Hospital, Nazareth Academic School of Nursing, SERVE Nazareth, and Nazareth Village. For an update on the situation in the holy land, click this link to read a statement from Richard Mayhew, President of The Nazareth Trust: https://nazarethtrust.org/solidarity-and-prayer-a-message-from-the-nazareth-trust/

2024 will be here before we know it! Are you interested in making a life changing pilgrimage that will benefit the mission of Nazareth Hospital in Israel/Palestine? If so, click the link to register and start your own journey in the land where Jesus walked. https://nazarethproject.org/contact/

2024 Jesus Trail Hike dates are March 17-23 and November 3-9.

Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.
-Mark 1:16-17

Jesus calls all of us to be his apprentices. Pray with us as we ask God to help us love and serve like Jesus in Nazareth, Israel.