Partnering with Schools in the Holy Land

Eastbrook has been connected to this ministry since 1982 when Greg Livingston, the leader of the North African Mission and that year’s MissionsFest speaker, suggested Pastor Emeritus Marc and Nancy Erickson meet Gregg and Rawda Doolittle. They were planning to go Egypt—one of Eastbrook’s target areas at the time—so our church decided to support them as field workers.

While the Doolittles did spend time in Egypt along with their two young daughters, Jessica and Pricilla, in 1990 they found their way to the West Bank, Palestine—specifi- cally, the Hebron School. This was a Christian elementary school for Muslim students, originally established in 1952 by Mennonites as an orphanage. Holy Land Ministries had become the governing board for the school in 1982, recognizing the amazing opportunity to reach Muslim children and their families.

Gregg and Rawda became the directors of the school and lived through many perilous situations. During the Second Intifada, Hebron was a closed military zone for at least a year; they had to find ways in and out—typically, dirt pathways through fields made by Palestinian bulldozers, which were closed by the Israeli army within a couple of hours. There were frequent gun battles between the Palestinians and the Israeli army on the borders of Hebron, as well as missile attacks by Israeli helicopters on suspected terrorists. At one point, an angry mob of Islamic militants came to the school to deliver an ultimatum: “Leave or suffer the consequences.” Ten days later, the mob returned to make good on their threats, attacking them. The Lord delivered the Doolittles though the mediation of a tribal leader.

During the First Gulf War, the Doolittles were instructed by their mission to evacuate, so they got the last tickets on the last boat out of Israel to Cyprus. After waiting a month in Cyprus, they felt compelled to return and found a small charter plane to take them back to Israel while missiles were still falling.

They returned because they had a vision: in faith, they hoped and planned to provide both a middle and high school option in Bethlehem for students who graduated from the elementary school in Hebron. In 2010, God began working in a way to realize this vision. Through miraculous circumstances, Holy Land Ministries was able to purchase eight acres of land in Beit Sahour, Palestine, draw up plans, obtain commitment for funding, and break ground on the perimeter wall—all within 18 months! Holy Land Ministries recognized that Bethlehem had a different demographic profile with different needs, so it was decided Bethlehem Evangelical Academy (BEA) would be an English-language school with an American curriculum for K-3 through grade 12.

While the school was being built, Jeff and Ghada Pribble were on a mission trip to Jordan in 2013 when God called them to the Middle East. In the midst of fasting and praying, Ghada found a post online about BEA needing teachers; both she and Jeff had previously taught in Florida. They sent in their applications and were soon hired. Along with their two young sons, Steven and Sebastian, the Pribbles left for Palestine in the summer of 2014 during active conflict between Israel and Gaza.

BEA opened in 2014 with a state-of-the-art building and 40 students in Pre-K through first grade. The very next year, the school expanded through grade 5, adding one grade level each year thereafter.

Today, BEA educates more than 500 students. More than 100 students sit on a waiting list, hoping to get into the K-3 class.

Through the years, Eastbrook has continued partnership with BEA, the Doolittles and Pribbles, and those working within the school. Eastbrook members have prayed for them. Eastbrook members and pastors would often visit the Doolittles and encourage them—once, even in the midst of a gun battle. Early on in the school’s existence, finding English-speaking Palestinian teachers was a challenge; candidates were either English majors with no teaching skills or Education majors with poor English skills. So, during year two, a team of five teachers and friends from Eastbrook traveled to help staff the school. A few of them took on full classes of students, while others helped with administrative duties. Eastbrookers John and Leslie Osborne have visited the school several times, from the construction stage to the first graduation this past May; because of this commitment, they were asked to be board members for Holy Land Ministries and continue to serve in that capacity.

Amidst the current conflict in Israel, the importance of these schools is even more evident. They continue on as a place of hope.

The struggles the Doolittles faced early on in ministry prepared them for a time such as this. As Jeff Pribble puts it, “Some of the most important work BEA has ever done is happening right at this moment.” He reports regularly to Eastbrook about ways the school is carrying on and teachers are growing stronger in their faith. God has not only strengthened these families for this season, but has also brought strong Palestinian Christians to be principals of the schools.

“We would like to underline how faithful Eastbrook has been to us over the past forty years of our ministry, comforting us in our times of struggle and supporting us in our times of need, and that we now consider them like family,” says Gregg Doolittle. “The current struggles are very real, as each day is uncertain. Schools are closed regularly by the Ministry of Education, and teachers and staff scramble to do Zoom lessons. Students hearing the rockets and sirens and protests become fearful. Having family or friends in Gaza is heartbreaking.”

“People are weary. And yet the schools are a place full of believers who know the peace of Jesus. Worship and Scripture is a comfort, as well as a weapon against fear.”

We are blessed to pray for and call these faithful, strong leaders friends. ■