The Nazareth Trust

Healing in the name of Jesus since 1861
+44 (0)131 225 9957

Pray with us

February 2024 Prayer Update

“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus
the founder and perfecter of our faith.”
(Hebrews 12: 1b-2)

Thanksgiving points

We give thanks to the Lord for the following blessings in the life and witness of the Nazareth Trust over the past few months:

• God’s mercy and grace towards the Nazareth Trust, which enabled us to end the last financial year with a surplus after the severe financial crisis we passed through over the past year and a half.
• The new phase of financial stability we have entered and for the various areas of expansion and development of our premises and services that this has facilitated.
• Richard’s tenure as CEO of the Nazareth Trust over the past 8 years and for the many positive developments within the different entities of the organisation under his leadership.
• God’s protection of the staff and their families and the premises of the different entities of the Nazareth Trust, since the outbreak of the war in Gaza following the events on October 7 last year.
• The commencement of the construction project to expand the space and capacity of the ER and Outpatients Departments of the Nazareth Hospital and granting of a licence to operate an MRI unit at the hospital.
• The enhancement of the quality and range of services offered by the Nazareth Hospital as a result of distinguished doctors and specialists joining the hospital and its growing reputation as a centre of excellence.
• The provision of funding from local and international donors to cover the above development projects.
• The excellent services provided by the Maana Psychological Service Centre to the general public, the Trust’s staff, and residents displaced from their homes as a result of the war and the licencing of additional beds in our Mental Health Department to cope with the psychological pain and trauma caused by the war.
• The academic accreditation the Nazareth Academic School of Nursing has obtained from the Higher Education Council, allowing it to enter into an academic partnership with Ono Academic College to offer the BA Nursing Degree to students.
• The successful comprehensive license inspection of the Nazareth Hospital by the Ministry of Health on 20-21 February and its positive outcomes.
• The additional capacity and completion of the additional two floors of the School of Nursing have provided for the anticipated increase in the number of students for the Ba program.
• The progress made by the Nazareth Village towards obtaining the final permit for the commencement of construction of the new Visitors Centre and for the record number of visitors to the Village before October, when it was forced to close because of the war.
• The very positive response to the World Day of the Sick activities, which took place this past weekend by the Pastoral Care teams of the three Nazareth Hospitals, who together visited each hospital to pray for the sick and offer Communion to those who requested this. This weekend of activities culminated in a healing service for sick people in the Basilica of the Annunciation on Sunday, at which representatives of all three hospitals were present!

Prayer points

As we give thanks to God for these gracious answers to prayer, please continue to pray for the following urgent issues:

• A speedy end to the war and for a just and peaceful framework to be established to provide a more hopeful and sustainable future for peaceful co-existence between Jewish and Palestinian people in this region.
• Healing of hearts and minds caused by the enormous trauma which the events of October 7 and subsequent war in Gaza have created for Jewish and Arab people and for the turning of hearts to Christ who came to heal the broken-hearted.
• The comfort and grace of the Holy Spirit for all those mourning the loss of loved ones during this conflict and for the historic cycles of killing and revenge to be broken over this region.
• The Ecumenical Prayer Service that the Nazareth Trust is facilitating for all the Christian traditions to pray for peace on the evening of Monday 18th March.
• God’s wisdom and understanding for the Board of Trustees and Executive Team of the Nazareth Trust as they provide leadership to the staff and different entities of the organisation during this time of transition and growth for the organisation.
• Wisdom, strength and grace for Waseem Dibbini in his dual roles as Acting CEO and CFO of the Nazareth during this transitional period amid the many challenges that change and the war situation are posing.
• God’s blessings of grace, peace and provision for Richard and Margareta as they enter the new season of their lives.
• The procurement process for the Nazareth Academic School of Nursing as they acquire the equipment for the new lecture and simulation rooms and for the reporting that is required in terms of the ASHA grant to be concluded in good time.
• The enrolment of students for the BA Nursing Program and the BA Conversion Program to proceed well, and the partnership with Ono Academic College to develop into a fruitful and mutually beneficial academic endeavour.
• The construction of the expansion to the ER and Outpatients Departments to be accomplished safely to specified standards and with minimum disruption to the staff and service users of the various departments affected by this construction.
• Maha and the staff of the Nazareth Village to remain hopeful and expectant as they await the end of the war and the reopening of the Nazareth Village. Also, for Majdoleen as she awaits the reopening of the SERVE Nazareth Program.
• Spiritual resilience and refreshment for the Pastoral Care team as they continue to offer spiritual support and counsel to the staff and patients of the Nazareth Hospital and other entities of the Trust.
• The abiding presence of God’s Spirit to sustain and lead us all into his grace and truth in the coming year and for the Seasons of Lent and Easter to be a special time of drawing closer to God for all of our staff in this time of anxiety and uncertainty.

With gratitude for your prayer and practical support for the Nazareth Trust in this challenging time of transition!