5 November 2025, Bethlehem, Palestine: School principal Rev. Anton Nassar of the Dar Al-Kalima Lutheran School in Bethlehem welcomes Lutheran World Federation president Bishop Henrik Stubkjær of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark for a visit to the school. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
Walking together as local church and global communion
(LWI) – “The people here must know that we stand with them and that we support them as a global communion,” said The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) President Bishop Henrik Stubkjær at the onset of a visit currently underway in the Holy Land.
From 4-9 November, the LWF President is meeting with representatives of the local LWF member church the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), the LWF World Service program, as well as partners and political representatives.
Receiving Bishop Stubkjær in Beit Jala, Bethlehem, on 5 November, ELCJHL Bishop Ibrahim Azar said it was a joy and a privilege to welcome the LWF President, affirming the role that the LWF has played through the decades for the local LWF member church.
“Being a member of the LWF, we feel that we are not alone, we are held with the strength to our relation with God and with the Lutheran World Federation,” Bishop Azar said.
Reflecting on the hardship felt by Palestinian people and communities at this time, the Bishop then spoke to the importance of witnessing as a church even in the face of extraordinary challenges.
“Our calling here as Christians, is to be with our people in this time. We need to see how we can look to their needs, how we can be close to the people, and how we can look to their future,” he added.
We accompany you, and indeed, you are not alone.
Henrik STUBKJÆR, LWF President
Life and ministry of the ELCJHL a source of hope
On the opening day of the visit of the LWF President, Bishop Stubkjær visited a range of local projects of the ELCJHL in the West Bank, to learn more about its efforts in education, environmental sustainability, as well as other aspects of diaconal ministry.
At Dar Al-Kalima Lutheran School in Bethlehem – one of three schools run by the ELCJHL totalling together more than 1,500 students from ages 4-18 – children and teachers shared testimonies of the role of education as a space for children to learn, grow, and ultimately contribute to their societies.
"Our students live under occupation, and it places strain on their access to education. Many come late to school in the morning because of checkpoints blocking the road, children living in refugee camps around Bethlehem experience regular military raids to their own homes,” explained school principal Rev. Anton Nassar of the ELCJHL.
“Yet we need our students to become leaders in their communities, we want them to become peacemakers when they grow up,” he said.
“We will continue to create a new generation, believing in serving the community, in building peace, and believing in God, Christians and Muslims together... Jesus says we are the light of the world, so serving the Lord through education in this difficult situation is not easy, but we will continue, to give hope to our students,” he concluded.
Eva Azar, Director of Education at the Lutheran Schools, continued to paint the picture of Lutheran education in Palestine as a legacy dating back as far as the 1870s, noting a pioneering role of the schools in educating boys and girls together under the same roof already in the early 1900s.
While the daily reality of many Palestinian families is one of struggle, with many unable to pay tuition fees because of the economic situation following first the COVID-19 pandemic, and now the recent war, “we have been steadfast, we have been resilient, even in face of war we decided that we will not lose a single day of teaching,” she said.
“And when parents say they barely have food to eat, we have decided as a church that we cannot kick the children out from school,” she added, noting that with support of partners the schools have continued to be able to remain operational so far.
LWF president Bishop Henrik Stubkjær hears the testimonies of local students of the Dar Al-Kalima Lutheran School in Bethlehem. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
Rana Zeidan, ELCJHL Diaconal Ministry Director (left) greets Lutheran World Federation president Bishop Henrik Stubkjær (right) as he visits the ELCJHL in Beit Jala. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
LWF president Bishop Henrik Stubkjær pictured alongside ELCJHL Bishop Ibrahim Azar during a visit to the church in Beit Jala, Bethlehem. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
Working holistically core to church’s diaconal ministry
“As a church, we work in a holistic way,” said Rana Zeidan, ELCJHL Diaconal Ministry Director and herself a recently ordained deacon in the church.
“We work not just with the children or with the mother or the father of a family, but with the whole family,” she explained.
Noting dwindling numbers of Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land, with many migrating families and with those who remain facing ever-shrinking living space under occupation and war, she says the church persists in supporting families by helping to provide access to medicine, food aid, hygiene support, and now on a weekly basis the provision of a hot meal for 85 families through the church in Beit Jala.
“The truth is we do not just serve a list names, or beneficiaries, we serve our community. And we are serving as the church, not as an institution – if someone comes to us, we cannot turn away to say we cannot help. There is always something we can do. And if nothing else, we can at least pray together,” she reflects.
"We will never forget the images we see from Gaza. As Christian's, Jesus taught us that even as we will not forget, we must find a way towards forgiveness. Real peace will come when there is real justice, and peace begins on the ground, when all can live with dignity and justice,” Zeidan added.
Global accompaniment and solidarity
Rev. Dr. Rospita Siahaan, LWF’s Regional Secretary for Asia accompanies the LWF President during the visit. She reflected that “even in the midst of challenges, the ELCJHL continues to stand impressively steadfast in fulfilling the mission of Christ, as proclaimed in John 10:10: ‘I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’”
“Through its dedicated educational ministry, the church extends learning, compassion, and opportunity to students of different faith traditions. My heart was deeply moved as I listened to a remarkable student share her message of hope: ‘If you cannot find the light, be the light.’ I hope her words inspire us all to shine with courage and grace, making a positive difference in the world, in alignment with the mission of the LWF,” Siahaan added.
Speaking to church representatives of the ELCJHL President Stubkjær underlined the importance of walking together as a local church and a global communion, and of learning from one another.
”We are here to learn from you, and also to express our solidarity with you, as a global communion of churches,” Stubkjær said.
“We are here to serve the people. To be church is to be with the people, in preaching and in service,” he continued, underlining the important role the church plays in society, not least through social care and education.
“We know how difficult it is at this time, we accompany you, and indeed, you are not alone,” Stubkjær concluded.
LWF President Bishop Henrik Stubkjæer visits the Holy Land on 4-9 November, to meet with representatives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, the LWF World Service program, as well as partners and with political representatives. Accompanying him were Rev Dr Rospita, Regional Secretary for Asia, Caroline Tveoy, Head of International Programs, and Sieglinde Weinbrenner, LWF Jerusalem Representative.
