A message from Nigel Edward-Few, Director:

As we draw near to Christmas, I would like us for a moment to move away from thinking about our own forthcoming celebrations - the Carols, the familiar story of the Crib, the angels, the shepherds, the visit of the Magi - and think on to just a short time later in the narrative, when an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,

“Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt…”

While the whole of creation was echoing with celebration and the Holy Family were able to escape, there were many who were going through the agony of losing their baby sons through the murderous acts of King Herod in his desire to rid the world of a perceived threat to his authority and power and where we are told:

“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."

So it remains this Christmas.

While we celebrate, there will be many in the Sudan, and in the Darfur region in particular, who will be mourning the loss of their children through persecution and starvation. There will be many others, who may be more fortunate and are able to flee into Egypt as the Holy Family did some 2000 years ago.

But like the Holy Family, many of those who now flee into Egypt have not had time to gather up their belongings or even all their family members and often arrive with alone and with nothing.

This Christmas, BibleLands is making a special effort to support its Partner Projects who work with the most needy of all in this already desperately needy country – the refugees from Sudan, Somalia and Eritrea, for whom this is a ‘strange land’ with a different culture, a different language and where they have become exiles and refugees and where such individuals and groups are often not entirely welcome. Details of some of the Partner Projects with whom BibleLands works are given on the information sheet. 

As you read and see the relieved and revitalised faces of the children and their families who are receiving support from these four BibleLands’ Project Partners, I would ask you to consider giving generously to our Christmas Appeal, so that not just at this Christmas time, but in the months and year ahead, your Christmas gift to these refugees, and the many more who will flee into Egypt, may be that of healing and hope for the future. 

Thank you for your generosity. From all of us here at BibleLands, our best wishes to you, your families and friends this Christmas.

Yours sincerely in Christ

Information Sheet
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Response Form

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Nigel Edward-Few
Director