The Chairman’s Report for January, PART TWO

In this issue of the newsletter
New: Christmas Program Review: Joy for Children in Bethlehem!
New: Christmas programs held in twelve different areas in Jordan
New: In Iraq children from families with “Muslim backgrounds” celebrate Jesus
New: Our orphanage’s Christmas celebration

Joy Returns to the Birthplace of Christ: Christmas 2025 in the Holy Land

For the past two years, the streets of Bethlehem and the surrounding Christian villages have been unusually quiet during the Advent season. Due to the conflict and instability rocking the region, the vibrant public celebrations that usually mark the birth of our Savior were replaced by silence and strictly private prayers.

But this year, thanks to the faithfulness of our supporters, the Religious Freedom Coalition (Heart for the Persecuted Church) helped bring the joy of Christmas back to the public square.

In December 2025, our Christmas programs successfully reached over 1,500 children and people with special needs across Bethlehem, Beit Sahour, Beit Jala, and Jerusalem. The theme of this year’s mission was not just material aid, but spiritual revitalization—reminding the “living stones” of the Holy Land that they are not forgotten.

At the Bethlehem Evangelical Academy, located in Area C just outside Beit Sahour, we hosted four hundred children aged 4 to 10. Because English is their primary language of instruction, these children lifted their voices in prayer and Christmas carols in both English and Arabic, bridging cultures through their shared faith.

We used facilities of several denominations including the Holy Forefathers Greek Orthodox Church. This event served seven hundred children ages 4 to 12. It was a true community celebration, not just a church event. In the community use area of the church children sang, interacted with fun mascots, and colored Nativity scenes, centering their hearts on the true reason for celebration, the birth of Jesus

Reaching the Most Vulnerable: Beyond the large gatherings, our partners on the ground conducted “Mini Events” to ensure the most vulnerable were not left behind. We visited the Home of God’s Child in Bethlehem, a shelter for thirty-five children with special needs who have been abandoned due to physical or mental disabilities.

Another smaller event was held for fifty abandoned children cared for by nuns. Recognizing the practical needs of these children, clothing was given to them instead of toys. Even in Jerusalem, where access has been difficult due to security checkpoints, we successfully supported a shelter for sixty-five orphaned children.

More Than a Gift: Every child who participated received a hot meal or sandwiches, Christmas chocolate, and juice. But the most cherished gift was a high-quality winter hoodie. On the front, it bore the symbol of our mission—the Heart for the Persecuted Church.

Christmas for Refugees in Nigeria, Bethlehem, and the Middle East

Nigeria: We held several events for IDP children in Nigeria, but just one Happy Birthday Jesus party at the orphanage.

Cakes were baked at the orphanage bakery by senior girls. The teenagers received gifts of new shoes…

There were songs, Scripture reading and our annual coloring contests of the nativity.

Bethlehem: Several events were held in the Bethlehem area.

Children received hoodies and other gifts, either toys or clothing depending on the needs of the families.

Worship songs and Christmas hymns were song and the children all had a hot meal.

Iraq: Several events were held in Iraq. In the three photos from Iraq below is one of a very young worship team on stage. Some gatherings were over 200 children. All celebrated the birth of Jesus.

Jordan: In Jordan each child received a box that contained a personal gift plus some essentials for the family.

Christmas events were held at thirteen different locations and gifts varied by the needs.

The first Christmas for Refugees program was held in Jordan in 2012!

On the back of each hoodie was the promise of Matthew 1:21: “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

In a region that has seen too much darkness recently, these 1,500 children became beacons of light, wearing the promise of salvation on their backs. Our operations officer reported from the ground, “Everyone was very, very happy and thankful… most of these children do not have the opportunity to enjoy the festive season on their own.”

Thank you for helping us proclaim the birth of the Prince of Peace in the very land where He was born.

Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq: Our Christmas programs in Middle Eastern nations followed the same format as those in the Holy Land. In Jordan more than 2,000 Christian children, many still refugees from Syria, participated in Christmas programs in thirteen different towns and villages.

The largest event in Jordan was held in Smakiyeha, a Christian village about seventy-five miles south of Amman, the capitol of Jordan. This year for the first time an event was held in Aqaba, the port city on the Gulf of Aqaba just across the border from the Israeli city of Eilat. Events were also held in the capital city of Amman.

In Iraq, our Christmas programs cannot be as open as in Jordan. In Jordan, the malls in Amman have Christmas decorations. That is not the case in the areas of Iraq we are currently working in. Still, hundreds of Christian children enjoyed our Christmas programs centered on the coming of our Lord. Many of these children have parents who recently accepted Jesus. Often the women are still wearing a hijab out of fear, but they still celebrated Christmas.

The churches we work with in Iraq refer to the new Christians as having a “Muslim background” rather than calling them converts. Still, for any children this was their first celebration of Christmas. Many Muslims in Iraq have accepted the Lord in the past ten years.

Lebanon had more Syrian refugees than any other area during the decade long war finally won by the jihadists. The secular government is gone and the hope many Christians had of returning to their homes in Syria is gone as well. But the Syrian children in Lebanon did attend our Gospel themed Christmas events. Just as those in the Holy Land, they also celebrated with worship songs and Christmas carols, along with games, shared meals, and gifts.

Our events are held in both churches and rented halls. Regardless of the location there is always an opportunity given for the children to form a closer bond with Jesus.

Nigeria: The first newsletter of 2026 focused on Nigeria and the Christmas events held for IDP (Internally Displaced) children. The older children from our orphanage did much to minister to the children whose families and homes were destroyed by the Muslim Fulani Herdsmen. Their work was rewarded by a grand “Happy Birthday Jesus” party that was held at the orphanage.

In this newsletter I have included photos from the orphanage event as well as photos from the Holy Land, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon.