WS Chronicle

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

The Emmanuel Baptist Church of Winston Salem will host a Palestinian Christian delegation from Bethlehem over the weekend of Saturday, April 9 – Monday, April 11. The visitors will consist of Salamen W. Bisnara, a staff member of the Director of Education’s Office of the ELCJHL. He is also the Resource and Curriculum Development Officer and Program/Project/Activity coordinator for the Evangelical Lutheran Schools in Palestine. Salame is also the coordinator of Kairos Palestine curriculum in ELCJHL, which is taught in the English language. Salamen is Co-founder of the “Interfaith Palestinian Friends and Educator’s Forum.” He previously worked as a mathematics teacher with the Martin Luther School and Talitha Kumi Lutheran, and as Principal of the Evangelical Lutheran School in Beit Sahour.

Accompanying Salamen is Reem Jabar, middle school math teacher and peace, justice, and reconciliation activist. The purpose of their visit to the U.S. is to try to help Americans understand the realities of living under occupation by Israel, which is the equivalent of living under apartheid. They are hoping to gain support for the Palestinian people. Dr. John Mendez, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church, visited Palestine in April 2015. Dr. Mendez attended a five-day conference in Nazareth. This occasion is open to the public. Salamen will speak at the 10 a.m. worship service on Sunday, April 10.