Lockdown Looms Over Christmas in Bethlehem
The Palestinian prime minister on Thursday (Dec. 17) announced a two-week lockdown in the West Bank that appears certain to curtail Christmas celebrations in the town of Jesus’s birth.
Christmas Tree-Lighting in Bethlehem a Muted, Virtual Event
Only a few dozen people attended the lighting of the Christmas tree in the biblical city of Bethlehem on Saturday (Dec. 5), as coronavirus restrictions scaled back the annual event that is normally attended by thousands.
Coronavirus Robs Biblical Bethlehem of Christmas Cheer
The coronavirus has cast a pall over Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, all but shutting down the biblical town revered as Jesus’s birthplace at the height of the normally cheery holiday season.
Palestinians May Limit Christmas Celebrations in Bethlehem
The Palestinian Health Ministry has recommended strict limits on Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem this year due to the coronavirus outbreak. Celebrations in the biblical town revered by Christians as Jesus’s birthplace are usually attended by thousands of people from around the world.
Baptists in Bethlehem Impacted by Coronavirus
Baptists and other evangelicals in the birth city of Jesus find themselves impacted by the global coronavirus outbreak as governmental leaders mandate the closing of schools and other institutions. Bethlehem Bible College, an evangelical school with several Baptists involved in leadership, announced Sunday (March 8)
Palestinians in Bethlehem Look Beyond Religious Tourism
BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — For decades, the people of Bethlehem have watched tour buses drive up to the Church of the Nativity, disgorge their passengers for a few hours at the traditional birthplace of Jesus, and then return to Israel.
Journey to Bethlehem: December 25
When I was a child, our phone rang late one fall evening, and the man on the other end of the phone explained that his name was Joe and that he and
Journey to Bethlehem: December 24
The Wise Men who followed the star to Bethlehem looked for truth, and sought to connect the star with the coming Messiah by following it. They knew enough of Old Testament
Journey to Bethlehem: December 23
Many of my journeys have been connected to mission projects. One such project that actually never came to fruition comes to my mind. It was a project in Chevrolet,
Journey to Bethlehem: December 22
Family upheavals, job loss, retirement, career changes, illness, unexpected babies. Doesn’t being a Christian mean having life easy? How do I integrate all these challenges into my faith in God?