Podcasts about holy land trust

Online talk given 14th November 2024   Jonathan Kuttab is a co-founder of the Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq and co-founder of Nonviolence International. A well-known international human rights lawyer, Jonathan practices in the US, Palestine and Israel. He serves on the Board of Bethlehem Bible College and is President of the Board of Holy Land Trust. Jonathan was the head of the Legal Committee negotiating the Cairo Agreement of 1994 between Israel and the PLO. After graduating with his Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) from Virginia Law School, and practising a couple years on Wall Street, Jonathan returned home to Palestine. Jonathan was visiting scholar at Osgoode Law School at York University in Toronto in the Fall of 2017, and is a founding director of Just Peace Advocates Mouvement pour une Paix Juste, a Canadian based international law human rights not-for-profit organisation. Jonathan is currently the executive director of Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA). Jonathan is a resident of East Jerusalem, and is a partner of Kuttab, Khoury and Hanna Law Firm in East Jerusalem.

In this episode, David interviews Sami Awad: Palestinian peace and nonviolent activist and founder of Holy Land Trust in Bethlehem; and Leor Roseman, Ph.D.: Israeli neuroscientist, researcher, and senior lecturer at the University of Exeter.   They talk about Roseman's 2021 paper, "Relational Processes in Ayahuasca Groups of Palestinians and Israelis," which looked at what happened when people with fiercely different opinions moved beyond fear, anger, and othering, and sat together in a safe container and drank ayahuasca with the purpose of healing collective trauma. When the focus of the participants moved toward understanding each other, Roseman and Awad saw a unity that gave them a lot of hope, leading to the creation of their nonprofit, RIPPLES, which is focused on using psychedelics for peacebuilding – first in the Middle East, and hopefully soon, everywhere. As Awad says, "If it can happen here, it can happen almost anywhere." They discuss:  The efficacy of psychedelics as a tool for nonviolent activism, building peace, and recognizing – and healing – collective trauma The balance between the idealistic and the practical, or 'the irony of harmony' – if you focus too much on the connectivity of psychedelics, do you actually exclude voices? The concept of "my liberation depends on your healing and your liberation depends on mine" The challenge in doing something with the hope and enthusiasm that comes after a powerful experience: How do you make sure that wave of hope continues rippling through choppy waters?  Click here to head to the show notes page.

Elias D'eis, Executive Director of the Holy Land Trust, shares about his life as a Palestinian Christian in the West Bank, life under the Israeli military occupation, the role of a Christian in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the work of The Holy Land Trust. Elias D'eis was born into a Christian family with a long history of nonviolent resistance in Beit Sahour. His life was shaped during the First Intifada, watching his father and his community find the path towards justice through peaceful resistance. It was through his Christian upbringing, holding onto Jesus's sacred words of "loving thy neighbor," that led Elias into a life journey of engaging his community in transformation. Joining Holy Land Trust in 2007 as a travel coordinator, Elias has grown the Travel & Encounter program. His department now facilitates tours and educational packages to some 1,500 peacemakers and sojourners a year. In June 2019, Elias got promoted to the Executive Director of Holy Land Trust after he spent the last decade investing his life into the mission and vision because it is something that he truly believes in: "Building communities of trust and respect." Holy Land Trust: https://www.holylandtrust.org/ You can listen to Multifaith Matters on your favorite podcast platform, including Podbean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeart Radio. Learn more about our work at https://www.multifaithmatters.org  Support this work: One-time donation: https://multifaithmatters.org/donate Become my patron: https://patron.podbean.com/johnwmorehead #HolyLandTrust #IsraeliPalestinianConflict #GazaWar

Abongile speaks to Bethlehem resident, Sami Awad, who is also the founder of the Holy Land Trust, a Palestinian organisation working for peace and justice in the Holy Land, about how Christian Palestinians celebrate the 25 December.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At number five in the top ten, Beyond the two-state solution was aired 22 October 2021. Jonathan Kuttab is co-founder of Nonviolence International and of the Palestinian human rights group, Al Haq. A well known international human rights attorney, he has practiced in the US, Palestine and Israel. He serves on the board of Bethlehem Bible College and is President of the Board of Holy Land Trust. He is the Executive Director for Friends of Sabeel North America. William Law spoke with Jonathan just after he had published ‘Beyond the two-state solution' with Nonviolence International. Sign up NOW at ArabDigest.org for free to join the club and start receiving our daily newsletter & podcasts.

"Peacemaking is not about making a political commitment, it’s a commitment to a deep healing of deep traumas. Until we do that we can never do peacemaking.” When Sami was just 16, his uncle Mubarak Awad was permanently exiled for taking a leading role in the Palestinian nonviolent resistance movement during the first Intifada. “That is how dangerous non-violence is,” says Sami. His parents were refugees, displaced by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Sami watched his own father abused by Israeli authorities. Though Sami “had every excuse and justification to hate Israelis,” he did not. In spite of the violence, his mother emphasized the Christian teachings of “loving your enemies” and forgiveness, while his uncle exposed him to the messages of non-violence from Jesus to Mahatma Gandhi to Martin Luther King Jr. In the late 90s, Sami founded Holy Land Trust (HLT), a non-profit organization in Bethlehem, whose mission is to find peace, justice and understanding for people in this land that is sacred to faith communities the world over. HLT seeks to uncover the root causes and real reasons that people are not seeking and finding peace. The organization engages in deep healing work for the trauma—of both Palestinians and Israelis—from the existential fears and violence that mark their lives in the Holy Land. For Sami and HLT, healing the collective traumas that prevent peace is an intense and spiritual process focused on personal transformation and commitment to community. In seeking to create a Holy Land for all, Sami asks: "Can I make a decision that is motivated by the future that I seek—not the past that I experience?" In one word, Sami describes himself as an “activist.” He is continually plumbing the depths of how real change happens and how true healing occurs. He defines sacred activism as not just sitting and meditating, but engaging in direct action--stopping the violence—in a way that is infused by the mindfulness work and spiritual practices peacebuilders have been engaging in over the past decades. "I now believe that my own liberation as a Palestinian is not only about ending the Israeli military occupation, but also about addressing all aspects of violence—be they political, social, economic or environmental. Nonviolence is not a tactic to be taken out of the box when it seems fit to use. It is a way of life." Recently, he has been exploring the connection to nature as a peacebuilder’s guide and a comfort—to find the sacred understanding and messages that come through the elements of water and land. Sami and HLT are working with other partners to explore the intersections of environmental justice, non-violent resistance to the Israeli occupation, and sacred activism. Sami lives outside Bethlehem in the West Bank. He holds a Doctoral Degree in Divinity from the Chicago Theological Seminary, a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the American University in Washington D.C., and an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Kansas. Sami’s courage to be among the first activists to see Israelis not as “the Other” but as brothers and sisters together in this land—and his willingness to engage in the trauma work in both communities—inspired the Euphrates Institute to create the Visionary of the Year award in order to honor his unique vision. Today, as the director of programs at Holy Land Trust, Sami travels widely and is a frequent speaker, and leads intensive trainings and retreats for Palestinians and Israelis. Please join us in conversation with this visionary peacebuilder to kindle our own commitment to peace, justice, sacred activism, and connection to nature.

Sami Awad is a remarkable Palestinian Christian, an activist and a passionate believer in the power of nonviolence as a strategy to combat oppression and injustice.   The Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to fester and become more intractable. Sami is an inspirational voice that provides real hope and a third way. His organisation is the Holy Land Trust and his talks and articles can be found in many places online. He has spent a night in an Auschwitz hut in an effort to find empathy for those who are his natural enemies, and he has led nonviolent actions around the West Bank protesting the actions of the Israeli military and the policies of the Israeli government.

In light of the Israeli Government decision to designate 6 Palestinian human rights organisations as “terrorist”, Jonathan Kuttab has kindly agreed to devote the first part of his talk on Thursday at 3 pm (U.K.) to this crisis. Jonathan co founded al-Haq, one of the 6 organisations targeted by Israel. He will update us on the situation, and propose ways in which civil society – including the Churches - and Parliamentarians should work to oppose this decision. Before taking questions, Jonathan will speak briefly on his original theme: Beyond the Two-State Solution. Jonathan Kuttab is co-founder of the Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq and Nonviolence International. He is also Executive Director of Friends of Sabeel North America. A well-known international human rights attorney, Jonathan practices in the US, Palestine and Israel. He serves on the Board of Bethlehem Bible College and is President of the Board of Holy Land Trust. Jonathan was the head of the Legal Committee negotiating the Cairo Agreement of 1994 between Israel and the PLO. After graduating with his Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) from Virginia Law School, and practicing a couple years on Wall Street, Jonathan returned home to Palestine. Jonathan was visiting scholar at Osgoode Law School at York University in Toronto in the Fall of 2017, and is a founding director of Just Peace Advocates Mouvement pour une Paix Juste, a Canadian based international law human rights not-for-profit organization. Jonathan is a resident of East Jerusalem, and is a partner of Kuttab, Khoury and Hanna Law Firm in East Jerusalem.

What if Palestinians and Israelis would do an ayahuasca ceremony together? Would there ne more empathy and mutual understanding after the ceremonies? Scientist Leor Roseman and Peace Activist Antwan Saca really wanted to see what happened then. And so they arranged it, and created a study for The Imperial College in London. They recently launched the study “Relational Processes in Ayahuasca Groups of Palestinians and Israelis. Leor Roseman is a postdoc at the Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, where he received his Ph.D. and MRes, under the supervision of Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris and Prof. David Nutt. His research is focused on the neural and psychological correlates of the psychedelic experience, and the therapeutic application of psilocybin for depression. Currently, Leor is investigating the psychosocial potential of psychedelics. Antwan Saca was born in Jerusalem to a Christian family from the city of Bethlehem. He has spent his adult life working towards the dream of peace and justice in the Holy Land. He spent five years at the Holy Land Trust serving also as director of programs, where he experienced community-healing approaches that strengthened his interest in non-violent compassionate activism. Since then, he's focused on community dynamics and the many forms of personal/collective experienced and inherited trauma that influence conflict resolution in the Holy Land. He believes that healing the pain of the past is a prerequisite for healthy relations between nations and—ultimately—peace. Antwan serves as an associate at Leaders Quest. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.607529/full https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/leor.roseman13 http://www.leadersquest.org

In this episode of the Plant Medicine Podcast, Leor Roseman and Antwan Saca join to discuss their recently published paper: Relational Processes in Ayahuasca Groups of Palestinians and Israelis. Leor is a postdoc at the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London, where he also received his PhD and masters under the supervision of Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris. Leor has diverse research interests related to psychedelics, ranging from the neuroscientific and therapeutic, to the phenomenological and psychosocial. Antwan is a graduate of the Arab American University of Jenin with a BA in public law and has extensive experience working for justice in Palestine. He has served as the director of programs at Holy Land Trust in Bethlehem and as a program coordinator for Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation. Antwan has also worked as a research assistant for urbanization and geopolitical monitoring at the Applied Research Institute—Jerusalem. In this episode, Leor and Antwan discuss the details of the recent paper they co-authored which deals with impacts of ayahuasca on interpersonal peace building in the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict. The study consists of 31 in-depth interviews with Israelis and Palestinians who've participated in joint ayahuasca ceremonies and looks to investigate the impact of this psychedelic experience along three relational themes: unity-based connection, recognition and difference-based connection, and conflict-related revelations. Through open-ended interviews, Leor and Antwan were able to collect qualitative data from participants which allowed research conclusions to arise organically.  In the interviews, participants disclosed experiences of profound political revelations, connection with the land, and empathy for the other. Leor and Antwan stress that the initial motivations of the participants typically had little to do with notions of political peace-building and instead they were most often participating in these psychedelic ceremonies for reasons related to personal growth, so these outcomes arose naturally as a result of the intense interpersonal connections spurred by the psychedelic experience.  Though these ayahuasca ceremonies had significant positive impacts for both the Israelis and the Palestinian participants, Antwan notes the disparity of access to psychedelic healing for Palestinians and emphasizes that the “love for the other” the Palestinian participants experienced through the ayahuasca ceremonies is complicated due to the pervasive political supression and percarity experienced by Palestinians in their day-to-day lives. The study, however, demonstrates that profound experiences of connection through the use of psychedelic medicines are possible even in the context of a deep and traumatic geopolitical conflict. This opens the door for further study of the potential of psychedelics to facilitate conflict resolution and peace-building.   In this episode: How Leor and Antwan developed the idea for this study based on their personal backgrounds Different themes which came up in interviews with the Israelis and Palestinians in the study The moving story of a former Israeli military officer and how he experienced the pain of the Palestinian people during an ayahuasca ceremony How music and prayer in the ceremonies helped to encourage empathy and cultural connection among participants   Quotes: “It's not questionnaires, it's not about measuring things, it's about listening to stories and making meaning out of them.” [13:24] “Because the rituals were participatory and music and prayers were shared, a lot of times these opened up for people the strong connection to the other culture or the other people and that was very meaningful for many people.” [21:34] “A lot of us Palestinians end up in the interviews telling you ‘this is all amazing' and yet there is the reality, yet we live under this kind of suppression.” [29:11] “Not all people that came to the ceremonies came from the peace camp or from left-leaning camps. They come for psycho-spiritual growth, or even for physical illnesses… And they go there regardless of their politics.” [31:37]   Links: Full Article: Relational Processes in Ayahuasca Groups of Palestinians and Israelis Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

Don't know much about Israel and Palestine? This is a really good place to start, navigated by the Chair of History at Exeter University, Ilan Pappe. Ilan Pappe was born in Israel to parents who fled Germany in the 1930s. He is a historian, author of The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine and (with Noam Chomsky) On Palestine. This episode features an interview with Ilan Pappe in which we talk about Zionism, anti-Semitism, whether Israel is an Apartheid state, settlements and the Christian Zionist movement. Laura, Malky and Jonty also talk about anti-Semitism and racism. It's a sad fact that we even feel we need to say this, but, since there are so many fascists out there, we do: don't come to this podcast because you believe in some Jewish conspiracy or have anti-Semitic feelings. You are not our friend. You are in error and on the side of evil and need to repent. We rebuke you. But if you, like us, believe that racism is evil, you're very welcome.   Check out these organisations Want to find out more about the situation? Christ at the Checkpoint is a conference where Christians deal with the reality and immorality of the Occupation. It's a great place to start.  Rabbis for Human Rights are an incredible group within Israel working for human rights of Palestinians and others to be recognised.  Breaking the Silence is made up of former soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces, people who have served in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.  Holy Land Trust is a Palestinian non-profit doing peace work and running awareness tours to help people understand the Israel-Palestine situation.  The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions is an Israeli direct action group. opposing injustice against Palestinians.   About Beer Christianity Beer Christianity is a left-leaning, evangelical-adjacent Christian discussion podcast that often features interviews and always features a few drinks and laughs. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and to be entertaining. Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher.  Leave us a question or comment to be included in the podcast at: speakpipe.com/beerchristianity and we'll love you forever.  Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack.  Jonty's Show With Music on Spotify is called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious.  All Beer Christianity shows and info available at http://beerchristianity.libsyn.com  We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice.   

Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQCc3tXvXN0&feature=youtu.be∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞Rabbi Yehuda HaKohen is a West Bank Jewish educator and organizer. As a leader in the Vision movement, he works to empower students to become active participants in the current chapter of Jewish history. As a founder of Alternative Action, he organizes grassroots dialogue sessions for Palestinians and Israelis seeking to transcend competing one-sided narratives in favor of a more scientific analysis of the factors forcing both peoples into conflict.Get in touch with YehudaFb:  https://www.facebook.com/yehuda.hakohenWebsite: https://bit.ly/3fb4ejU∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞Antwan Saca, born in Jerusalem to a Christian family from the city of Bethlehem and has been working toward the dream of peace and justice in the Holy Land throughout his adult life. He serves as Director of Programs of the Holy Land Trust in Bethlehem, and previously worked as Program Coordinator at the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation and as a research assistant in the area of urbanization and geopolitical monitoring at the Applied Research Institute- Jerusalem (ARII). Get in touch with AntwanFb: https://www.facebook.com/AntwanSaca∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞Adar's Socials: Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdarWeinrebInsta: https://www.instagram.com/adarweinreb...FB: https://www.facebook.com/AdarWeinreb

Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Bethlehem activist Sami Awad of the Holy Land Trust. The two discuss the destructive influence of Western interests on the conflict and country, as well as the necessary conversations and healing processes that need to take place within Israeli and Palestinian societies.

The vast majority of Christians visiting the Holy Land of Israel, only visit the "Dead Stones" sites like the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem built over the site where it is believed to be the site where Jesus was born. The "Living Stones," the Palestinian Christians, who live there are only heard by a fraction of the tourists to Israel. Dr. Darryl DelHousaye, Chancellor of Phoenix Seminary asked Tom Compton of We Hold These Truths to provide a video with messages from "Living Stones of the Holy Land" that will serve as a supplement for members of the tour that he is leading to Israel. Included in this video are two inspirational presentations by Rev. Alex Awad, who was the pastor of the East Jerusalem Baptist Church and Dean and professor at Bethlehem Bible College and Sami Awad of the Holy Land Trust.

On this episode Matt speaks to a Jewish Rabbi and a Palestinian Christian to learn about the radical power of listening to others, forming relationships without borders and demonstrating Christ-like empathy for others. Both Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger (Director of International Relations for Roots/Judur/Shorashim) and Sami Awad (Executive Director of the Holy Land Trust) give incredible insight and profound challenge in this unmissable episode! Read about Rabbi Hanan at: https://www.friendsofroots.net Find out more about Sami at: https://holylandtrust.org For about Matt and the work of Cinnamon International please visit: http://cinnamoninternational.com

Sami Awad is a Palestinian from a Christian evangelical background with roots in the Holy Land land for over 800 years. He's also 80% Jewish, according to a DNA test. In this conversation, Sami speaks about his healing journey and the Holy Land Trust, an organization that he started in 1998 to address the traumatic histories of the people living in Israel/Palestine. Sami is dedicated to strengthening communities and creating safe spaces.   Learn from Sami about the power of stories, the devastating impact of fear, the deeper implications of being a peace maker and the promising potential of the future.    Learn more at www.inbodied.life  

What is the peace that we are seeking and is it actually ending a cycle of violence?   This conversation is a co-interview with me and my dear friend Lauren Taus, who is a therapist and writer. Journey with us to Bethlehem in the West Bank to speak with Antwan Saca. We’re exploring co-existence, peace activism, and collective healing in one of the most complicated areas of our world: Israel and the West Bank of Palestine.   Antwan was born in Jerusalem to a Christian family from the city of Bethlehem. He has spent his adult life working towards the dream of peace and justice in the Holy Land. Antwan spent five years as Director of Programs of Bethlehem’s Holy Land Trust, where he experienced community-healing approaches that strengthened his interest in non-violent compassionate activism. What You’ll Learn:   Begin to understand the complex and subtle nature of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict What is the impact of militarization on both Israelis and Palestinians? How physical barriers become mental/emotional barriers between people. Individual and collective healing amongst

What is the peace that we are seeking and is it actually ending a cycle of violence?   This conversation is a co-interview with me and my dear friend Lauren Taus, who is a therapist and writer. Journey with us to Bethlehem in the West Bank to speak with Antwan Saca. We’re exploring co-existence, peace activism, and collective healing in one of the most complicated areas of our world: Israel and the West Bank of Palestine.   Antwan was born in Jerusalem to a Christian family from the city of Bethlehem. He has spent his adult life working towards the dream of peace and justice in the Holy Land. Antwan spent five years as Director of Programs of Bethlehem’s Holy Land Trust, where he experienced community-healing approaches that strengthened his interest in non-violent compassionate activism. What You’ll Learn:   Begin to understand the complex and subtle nature of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict What is the impact of militarization on both Israelis and Palestinians? How physical barriers become mental/emotional barriers between people. Individual and collective healing amongst Learn more about Antwan and his work at http://www.shannonalgeo.com/blog/antwan-saca-bethlehem

We met the remarkable Ana Michele last summer at the Holy Land Trust's month long Iktashef Experience, based in Bethlehem, in the West Bank of Palestine. Ana Michele went to Israel and Palestine to find out for herself about the conflict because she had been inspired by a college professor that told a different side of the conflict, not widely known in the US. In this 25 minute interview, Ana Michele tells us about the transformation she experienced in Palestine that led her to help with the founding of the Museum of the Palestinian People in Washington, DC. If after hearing her inspiring stories about the Tent of Nations farm near Bethlehem and a heartwarming encounter with a Palestinian family she met in a refugee camp near Bethlehem, you may want to donate to the museum (Click Here). As mentioned in the program, there is a survey being taken by the museum to help them with ideas to eductate the public about Palestinians. (Click Here)

Palestinians have developed a number of creative, non-violent ways to challenge the brutal Israeli military occupation of Palestine. One of the more widely known forms of non-violent resistance is the BDS (Boycotts, Divestment & Sanctions) movement that was started in 2005 by about 150 Palestinian civil groups and joined by activists all around the world. When we spent a month in Palestine, based in Bethlehem, this past summer with the Holy Land Trust, one very innovative form of non-violent resistance came to our attention. We met Dr. Mazin & Jessie Qumsiyeh, who founded the Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability and the Palestine Museum of Natural History that is associated with Bethlehem University. This 14 minute video is a talk by Dr. Qumsiyeh, given at the meeting of the Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN) on Dec. 4, 2017. The meeting was held at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo. Professor Qumsiyeh’s paper dealt with challenges and opportunities for sustainable development in the 21st century with globalized systems. He highlighted the example of the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability at Bethlehem University in areas of research, education, and environmental conservation. As the only Palestinian speaker at this conference, Prof. Qumsiyeh took the opportunity to also highlight the issues of Israeli colonial policies that effect sustainability in Palestine.

In the US, the Israeli side of the Israel/Palestine conflict is the predomnant narrative presented by our main stream media and government. After all, the US government gives Israel over $10 million every day. Besides, we Americans have been educated that the Palestinians are terrorists and that they launch rockets against Israel and don't want peace. We Hold These Truths' Arizona Outreach Director, Tom Compton, spent a month in Palestine and Israel, based in Bethlehem, to find out more about what's really happening there. The Holy Land Trust, offered a unique, on the ground experience called Iktashef (Arabic for "discover"), that presented voices from both sides of the conflict. In this 22 minute podcast, Tom Compton, gives an overview and highlights of his adventure and explains the upcoming series "Voices In Palestine Crying Out For Peace and Justice" from We Hold These Truths. (Picture: Tom Compton and Ophelie, an intern from France at Holy Land Trust)

Mohammad Abdul Qavi was an activist for peace and justice for Palestinians. We met Qavi at the El Beit Guest House in Beit Sahour, the city next to Bethlehem, Palestine, where a group of us on the month long, Iktashef experience, sponsored by the Holy Land Trust, were staying. Qavi, who was from London, had chosen the El Beit Guest House as his retirement home and had been living there for over 6 years. This interview with this remarkable and compassionate man, who practiced only non-violent resistance, was conducted on August 14, 2017, less than two weeks before his passing on August 27, 2017. Qavi, a true friend to Palestinians will be sorely missed (26 minutes)

Sami Awad and Graham Hill discuss what it means to seek a lasting and just peace in the Holy Land. The GlobalChurch Project, podcast episode #61.This podcast (and its associated video) was made possible through the generous sponsorship of The Refuge – Oran Park Baptist Church.Sami Awad is the Executive Director of Holy Land Trust. He was born December 4th 1971 in the US. His parents are both Palestinians; his father, Bishara Awad became a refugee at age nine after his father was killed in the 1948 war and the family was forced out of their home in what is now West Jerusalem. Bishara Awad is the founder of the Bethlehem Bible College in Bethlehem. Sami’s mother Salwa is from the Gaza Strip. At a young age Sami was influenced by the teaching of his uncle Mubarak Awad, the Palestinian activist who promoted nonviolent resistance to the occupation during the first Intifadah (popular uprising) and was arrested and deported for his peaceful / nonviolent activists by the Israeli government. Through working with Mubarak, Sami was introduced to great leaders and visionaries of the global nonviolence movement; from Jesus to Gandhi to King.Sami Awad holds a Masters Degree in International Relations from the American University in Washington D.C. and an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Kansas.Since his return and establishment of HLT, Sami has engaged himself locally, through promoting and engaging in nonviolence, healing and transformation work and globally through visiting and speaking in different countries, communities, political and religious organizations in places such as India, South Africa, numerous European countries, the US, etc.

Voices In My Head Podcast Episode #211 with guest Stu GThe 5-star-acclaimed, multi-artist Beatitudes album made its debut on Yahoo! Music and released to digital and physical retailers worldwide from Stugiology Music with management, marketing and distribution through The Fuel Music. The album, which showcases 18 new tracks (plus 2 bonus tracks) from multiple GRAMMY and Dove Award-winning artists, leaders in their respective genres of Christian/Worship music, is called “uplifting and inspiring” by Entertainment Weekly, is featured along with Sheryl Crow, Incubus, Lana Del Rey and others in Apple Music's April 21 newsletter, and is JesusFreakHideout's first 5-star review of 2017. Featured on the cover of the current Christian Musician magazine, and with a CCM Magazine cover story set for this month amidst other features and reviews, the Beatitudes album is part of The Beatitudes Project (www.thebeatitudesproject.com, #TheBeatitudesProject), which is also a book, Words From The Hill (An Invitation to the Unexpected) available now from NavPress, and a documentary film, View From the Hill, currently in production. It is the culmination of GRAMMY-nominated, Dove Award-winning musician, producer and author Stu Garrard's (Stu G) 15-year excavation of these “blessings at the bottom of life.” “The guitarist and songwriter Stu G has spent the last two decades traveling the world to understand how poverty, prostitution, drug addiction, and sex trafficking have afflicted society globally. But he's turned those learning experiences into something uplifting and inspiring,” writes Entertainment Weekly as Yahoo! Music lauds The Beatitudes Project as “inspired by a rock star's two decades of world travel, and his encounters with extreme wealth and even greater poverty – both physical and emotional.” Along his journey, Garrard met amazing, present day peacemakers in Israel and Palestine and writes about their stories in his “Peacemakers—Living in the Contested Space” chapter of Words From The Hill. The stories include those of Robi Damelin, an Israeli living in Tel Aviv whose son was killed by a Palestinian sniper in 2002, Israeli Roni Keidar, who sees rockets made from lampposts fall on her farmland, indiscriminately killing workers who are like family to her, Palestinian Daoud Nassar, a farmer who refuses to be a victim, refuses to hate, refuses to be an enemy, Palestinian Sami Awad, a Christian and founder of Holy Land Trust, and Todd Deatherage of The Telos Group, which works to equip Americans to build a transformative pro-Israeli, pro-Palestinian, pro-peace movement. “We have to walk into the conflicted spaces and face those things and say, ‘no, I'm going to create a new future, and a new story.' That's what peacemaking does,” says Garrard in a video featured on his Facebook page. Can you meet me in the middle where the light don't shineWhere there are no sidesBetween you and ICan you meet me in the middle cos we got to findFind another way(Beatitudes rock anthem “In The Middle” sung by Garrard) In addition to peacemakers, The Beatitudes Project reveals a wide world of connected stories: real people from all faiths and walks of life who embody mercy, poverty, meekness, the hungry and thirsty, the mourners, and the pure in heart—as seen, heard and experienced through a 21st century lens. Video stories behind several of the songs featured on the Beatitudes album are highlighted on Garrard's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/stugworld, including the songs featuring Amy Grant (“Morning Light”), Michael W. Smith (“Carry On”), Martin Smith (“Holy Troublemakers”), Hillsong UNITED (“The View from Here”), Matt Maher with additional vocals by Audrey Assad (“Oh Mercy”), John Mark McMillan (“Heaven Is Around Us”) and Propaganda (“Make A Little Trouble”). In addition to the artists aforementioned, featured on the Beatitudes album are All Sons & Daughters, Amanda Cook, The Brilliance, Anthony Skinner, Terrian Bass and Becky Harding. Collectively, these artists have sold more than 62 million records, won 11 Grammy, 90 Dove Awards and amassed dozens of hit songs and millions of followers on social media. “The Beatitudes Project is meant to be a reset button in a world plagued with violence and division,” says Garrard. “These upside-down Jesus announcements on a hillside by the Sea of Galilee in Matthew 5 where Jews, Greeks, Romans and people of all ethnicities were gathered are a reminder that there is another way.” About Stugiology Music:Stugiology Music is a record label formed by Stu Garrard, who is perhaps best-known as the guitarist / songwriter for the RIAA Certified Gold-selling, GRAMMY-nominated and Dove Award-winning British band Delirious?. He is also a founding member of One Sonic Society (although no longer with the band) and recorded and released his first solo project in 2013, Of Burdens, Birds, and Stars. When not touring with Michael W. Smith or adding his sonic paint to Casting Crowns, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Meredith Andrews, All Sons & Daughters, Amy Grant and many others' recordings, Garrard is writing, recording, speaking, leading worship and working with JHS on a custom line of guitar pedals. He lives in Nashville with his wife Karen. For all the latest Stu Garrard news and tour information, go to www.stugworld.com. About The Fuel Music:Established in 2008, The Fuel Music & Management Co., LLC, is a leading artist management and artist solutions company that independently distributes music internationally. Based in Tennessee, the Fuel team brings nearly 70 years of combined music industry experience in record label operations, major label distribution and marketing, and artist management for artists ranging from upstart bands to GRAMMY Award nominated, multi-platinum artists. More information on the company can be found at www.thefuelmusic.com. About NavPress:The NavPress mission is to advance the calling of The Navigators by bringing biblically rooted, culturally relevant, and highly practical products to people who want to know and love Christ more deeply. Through The Message Bible and other insightful resources, NavPress seeks to bring positive spiritual movement to peoples' lives. In January 2014, NavPress entered into an alliance with Tyndale House Publishers to strengthen and better position NavPress and its rich content for the future. NavPress provides books and other content that bring spiritual impact, life transformation, and help lead in the mission of making disciples. A NavPress resource published in alliance with Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., NAVPRESS and the NAVPRESS logo are registered trademarks of NavPress, The Navigators, Colorado Springs, CO. This is a public episode. 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Voices In My Head Podcast Episode #211 with guest Stu G The 5-star-acclaimed, multi-artist Beatitudes album made its debut on Yahoo! Music and released to digital and physical retailers worldwide from Stugiology Music with management, marketing and distribution through The Fuel Music. The album, which showcases 18 new tracks (plus 2 bonus tracks) from multiple GRAMMY and Dove Award-winning artists, leaders in their respective genres of Christian/Worship music, is called “uplifting and inspiring” by Entertainment Weekly, is featured along with Sheryl Crow, Incubus, Lana Del Rey and others in Apple Music's April 21 newsletter, and is JesusFreakHideout's first 5-star review of 2017.   Featured on the cover of the current Christian Musician magazine, and with a CCM Magazine cover story set for this month amidst other features and reviews, the Beatitudes album is part of The Beatitudes Project (www.thebeatitudesproject.com, #TheBeatitudesProject), which is also a book, Words From The Hill (An Invitation to the Unexpected) available now from NavPress, and a documentary film, View From the Hill, currently in production. It is the culmination of GRAMMY-nominated, Dove Award-winning musician, producer and author Stu Garrard’s (Stu G) 15-year excavation of these “blessings at the bottom of life.”   “The guitarist and songwriter Stu G has spent the last two decades traveling the world to understand how poverty, prostitution, drug addiction, and sex trafficking have afflicted society globally. But he’s turned those learning experiences into something uplifting and inspiring,” writes Entertainment Weekly as Yahoo! Music lauds The Beatitudes Project as “inspired by a rock star’s two decades of world travel, and his encounters with extreme wealth and even greater poverty – both physical and emotional.”   Along his journey, Garrard met amazing, present day peacemakers in Israel and Palestine and writes about their stories in his “Peacemakers—Living in the Contested Space” chapter of Words From The Hill. The stories include those of Robi Damelin, an Israeli living in Tel Aviv whose son was killed by a Palestinian sniper in 2002, Israeli Roni Keidar, who sees rockets made from lampposts fall on her farmland, indiscriminately killing workers who are like family to her, Palestinian Daoud Nassar, a farmer who refuses to be a victim, refuses to hate, refuses to be an enemy, Palestinian Sami Awad, a Christian and founder of Holy Land Trust, and Todd Deatherage of The Telos Group, which works to equip Americans to build a transformative pro-Israeli, pro-Palestinian, pro-peace movement.   “We have to walk into the conflicted spaces and face those things and say, ‘no, I’m going to create a new future, and a new story.’ That’s what peacemaking does,” says Garrard in a video featured on his Facebook page.   Can you meet me in the middle where the light don’t shine Where there are no sides Between you and I Can you meet me in the middle cos we got to find Find another way (Beatitudes rock anthem “In The Middle” sung by Garrard)   In addition to peacemakers, The Beatitudes Project reveals a wide world of connected stories: real people from all faiths and walks of life who embody mercy, poverty, meekness, the hungry and thirsty, the mourners, and the pure in heart—as seen, heard and experienced through a 21st century lens.   Video stories behind several of the songs featured on the Beatitudes album are highlighted on Garrard’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/stugworld, including the songs featuring Amy Grant (“Morning Light”), Michael W. Smith (“Carry On”), Martin Smith (“Holy Troublemakers”), Hillsong UNITED (“The View from Here”), Matt Maher with additional vocals by Audrey Assad (“Oh Mercy”), John Mark McMillan (“Heaven Is Around Us”) and Propaganda (“Make A Little Trouble”).   In addition to the artists aforementioned, featured on the Beatitudes album are All Sons & Daughters, Amanda Cook, The Brilliance, Anthony Skinner, Terrian Bass and Becky Harding. Collectively, these artists have sold more than 62 million records, won 11 Grammy, 90 Dove Awards and amassed dozens of hit songs and millions of followers on social media.   “The Beatitudes Project is meant to be a reset button in a world plagued with violence and division,” says Garrard. “These upside-down Jesus announcements on a hillside by the Sea of Galilee in Matthew 5 where Jews, Greeks, Romans and people of all ethnicities were gathered are a reminder that there is another way.”   About Stugiology Music: Stugiology Music is a record label formed by Stu Garrard, who is perhaps best-known as the guitarist / songwriter for the RIAA Certified Gold-selling, GRAMMY-nominated and Dove Award-winning British band Delirious?. He is also a founding member of One Sonic Society (although no longer with the band) and recorded and released his first solo project in 2013, Of Burdens, Birds, and Stars. When not touring with Michael W. Smith or adding his sonic paint to Casting Crowns, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Meredith Andrews, All Sons & Daughters, Amy Grant and many others’ recordings, Garrard is writing, recording, speaking, leading worship and working with JHS on a custom line of guitar pedals. He lives in Nashville with his wife Karen. For all the latest Stu Garrard news and tour information, go to www.stugworld.com.   About The Fuel Music: Established in 2008, The Fuel Music & Management Co., LLC, is a leading artist management and artist solutions company that independently distributes music internationally. Based in Tennessee, the Fuel team brings nearly 70 years of combined music industry experience in record label operations, major label distribution and marketing, and artist management for artists ranging from upstart bands to GRAMMY Award nominated, multi-platinum artists. More information on the company can be found at www.thefuelmusic.com.   About NavPress: The NavPress mission is to advance the calling of The Navigators by bringing biblically rooted, culturally relevant, and highly practical products to people who want to know and love Christ more deeply. Through The Message Bible and other insightful resources, NavPress seeks to bring positive spiritual movement to peoples’ lives. In January 2014, NavPress entered into an alliance with Tyndale House Publishers to strengthen and better position NavPress and its rich content for the future. NavPress provides books and other content that bring spiritual impact, life transformation, and help lead in the mission of making disciples. A NavPress resource published in alliance with Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., NAVPRESS and the NAVPRESS logo are registered trademarks of NavPress, The Navigators, Colorado Springs, CO.

In this inspiring, 18 minute program, Palestinian Christian, Sami Awad, delivers a powerful message about following Jesus' teaching:  "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God."  (Matt. 5:9) This is no small task, as Sami lives in Bethlehem in the Israeli, militarily occupied territory of Palestine.  Sami is the founder of the Holy Land Trust that works as peacemakers in the ongoing conflict there.  This message was delivered at the Mountain View Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale, AZ on 9/29/2015.  If you like this message, please listen to Sami's earlier message, "Love in the Midst of Animosity: A Message from Palestinian Christian Sami Awad."

Bobby Maddex interviews Dan Koski, the Public Relations Officer for Holy Land Trust, an organization that is working to promote nonviolence as the only solution for peaceful coexistence between Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and secular communities in the Holy Land.

Bobby Maddex interviews Dan Koski, the Public Relations Officer for Holy Land Trust, an organization that is working to promote nonviolence as the only solution for peaceful coexistence between Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and secular communities in the Holy Land.