 |  | March 22nd News Bulletin Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP and in the news. | | | | | |  | Image: Israeli soldiers walk past houses destroyed by Hamas militants in Kibbutz Be’eri, Israel, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. The kibbutz was overrun by Hamas militants from the nearby Gaza Strip on Oct.7, when they killed and captured many Israelis. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) | | | Jesus’ comfort is for all who suffer: A response to Mike Cosper and Christianity Today Written by CMEP Ambassador Warren Clark Fellow Dr. Ben Norquist, Religious News Service “As their March cover story, Christianity Today published an article ostensibly about Hamas’ ideological roots. While not a pleasant topic, it is an important one to tackle, lest the violence of Oct. 7 be repeated in the future. The article’s title promised to unpack the ‘evil ideas behind October 7’ and their “grotesque ideological history. After reading the article numerous times, I’m certain author Mike Cosper did not fulfill these promises nor that it was his primary goal. ” | | | | | |  | Image: Photo by David McLenachan on Unsplash | | | Prepare Our Hearts Written by CMEP’s Executive Director Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, DoJustice. “Lent in the Christian calendar is a time of preparing our hearts, minds, and bodies to understand better what is known in the history of the church as the ‘pascal mystery’—the life and story of Jesus, his work of redemption, and what was accomplished on the cross through his death, resurrection, and glorious ascension. This is the work of Lent.” | | | | | | | |  | Susan Hayward is the Chair of CMEP’s Leadership Council and will be speaking at the concluding prayer service of the Advocacy Summit on
April 11th. Learn More. | | | Advancing Religious Literacy in Governance: The Religious Freedom Around the World Subcommittee Hearing Religion and Public Life, Harvard Divinity School “In the hearing titled ‘The Dire State of Religious Freedom Around the World,’ [Susan] Hayward brought light to minority groups that have been historically disadvantaged and left out by how we choose to define ‘religion’ and ‘religious freedom.’ She gave pertinent examples from events around the world, such as Indigenous traditions, while specifically presenting three recommendations to the Committee in its consideration of US policy options to advance religious freedom.” | | | | | | | | Elevate Voices from the Middle East | |  | Donate Your Seat: CMEP’s annual Advocacy Summit is just three weeks away. If you cannot attend this year’s summit, consider donating your seat to someone with financial need by clicking here! | | | | For more info on the summit, and how you could hear directly from Palestinian peacemakers: | | | | | Educate Your Community by Attending Together | |  | Join Churches for Middle East Peace for an Evangelicals 4 Justice event: Myths and Facts - How to Determine the Truth about Israel, Hamas, and Gaza? The Prevention of Genocide and Faithful Christian Responses with Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon and Dr. Ben Norquist, sponsored by Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and the Network of Evangelicals for the Middle East (NEME). | | | | | | | Advocate for a Ceasefire by Joining those Marching | |  | Last Chance- Join a Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage: Be a part of the global movement of Christians around the world walking 22 miles, the distance from Gaza City to Rafah, as a symbol of solidarity with the people of Gaza. This Saturday the 23rd, CMEP is hosting pilgrimages in Chicago, Grand Rapids, the Twin Cities, and Washington D.C. Find a pilgrimage in your area or join one of these! | | | | | | | | Save the Date: Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday from Jerusalem | |  | | | | | | | CMEP presents this year’s Lenten devotional series entitled “Faithful Resilience: A Lenten Sojourn for Peace.” Read the devotional from last Sunday, written by Rev. Kent D. Johnson, “The Heroes of Faith.” Read here. | | | | | | Finally, a word from Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac... | |  | | | | | | | Contact Us Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)
110 Maryland Ave NE, Suite 505
Washington, District of Columbia 20002
(202) 543-1222 info@cmep.org | | | | | | | |
