Aid to the Church in Need

• Aid to the Church in Need paid for the expanded St. George Church

Non-Melkite Catholic Abouna / Rev. Father in the United States of America:

• Abouna / Rev. Father John Fitzgerald, Pastor of St. All Saints Latin Catholic Parish, Twain Harte, California
• Abouna / Rev. Father R. Anthony Hernandez, Pastor of St. Basil the Great Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Church, Los Gatos, California

Non-Melkite Catholic Parishes in the United States of America:

• All Saints Latin Catholic, Twain Harte, California
• St. Basil the Great Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic, Los Gatos, California

Presbyterian Church (USA):

• Rev. Marthame and Elizabeth Sanders of "Salt of the Earth - Palestinian Christians in the Northern West Bank" From 2000 to 2003, they lived in Zababdeh, Holy Land and created a film and a Web site to record their experience.
• Import Peace
  In Oct. 2008, Import Peace donated money for many olive oil soap bars. The Import Peace representative's is Peter Mann at pgmann@brainerd.net. Import Peace partners with the Presbyterian Church (USA).
• Lake View Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian Church (USA)), Catherine Jack Rabenstine, Without a Map, Experience Life in the West Bank, http://www.withoutamap.org/, Catherine Jack Rabenstine cajara82@gmail.com or Catherine Jack Rabenstine, catrabenstine@gmail.com
• Presbyterian Church in Bound Brook, NJ
  In June 2008, the Presbyterian Church at Bound Brook (Presbyterian Church (USA)) donated money for many olive oil soap bars. The Presbyterian Church at Bound Brook's representative is Theodore Settle at tedsettle@mac.com.
• Oglethorpe Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA. Rev. Marthame Sanders (marthame@opcbrookhaven.org), the pastor, has led trips to St. George Church and has collected donations for St. George Church.
• Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wooster, OH.
  In late 2006, Abouna Firas Boutrous Khoury Diab signed an agreement with the Westminster Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian Church (USA)) via a program sponsored by The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation. These two churches were matched / became partners. The Westminster Presbyterian Church's representative is Linda Barbu at lbarbu@wooster.edu.
  David Gillespie and Nahida and Don Gordon are also involved.
  In 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011, Westminster Presbyterian Church donated money for many olive oil soap bars. Additionally, Westminster Presbyterian Church donated money for clothes for children.

United Methodist Church:

• First United Methodist Church in Madison, WI
  In Oct. 2008, in Jan. 2009, in Aug. 2009, in Oct. 2009, in April 2010, in Sept. 2010, and in Jan. 2011, the First United Methodist Church donated money for many olive oil soap bars. First United Methodist Church's representative is Rev. Joan Deming at jdeming7@gmail.com.
• Holy Land Artisans
  In June 2007, Holy Land Artisans donated money for many olive oil soap bars. The Holy Land Artisans' representative is Lissa Caldwell at holylandartisans@msn.com. Lissa Caldwell and her husband Raymond are members of First United Methodist Church in Waynesville, NC. Additionally, she is an Individual Volunteer in Mission (VIM) of the United Methodist Church.
• St. Marys United Methodist Church in St. Marys, WV
  In July 2009, in Oct. 2009, and in Sept. 2010, St. Marys United Methodist Church donated money for many olive oil soap bars. First United Methodist Church's representative is Judy Nutter at judynutter51@gmail.com.
• United Methodist Church Global Ministry
  Janet Lahr Lewis, jlahrlewis@yahoo.com, is the United Methodist Liaison in Israel and Palestine working for the Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. She is also the Individual Volunteer in Mission (VIM) coordinator in the region. "The Missionary Voice" .
  In Nov. 2008, she donated money for many olive oil soap bars.
  In Nov. 2008, she lead a group of volunteers to help in the construction of a wall near Saint Ann Kindergarten This volunteer listing is on the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church, Mission Volunteers, Project List for Teams: Middle East and United Methodist Individual Volunteer in Missions - Palestine The list is "Zababdeh, West Bank: St. George's Church (Melkite). Basic construction, general manual labor, bricklayer/mason helpful, gardening. Very small addition to church to be used as kindergarten and meeting room, construction of wall needed."
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• Wesley United Methodist Church in Kingwood, WV.
  In April 2009, the Wesley United Methodist Church donated money for many olive oil soap bars. Wesley United Methodist Church's representative is Rev. Jennifer C. Williams, Pastor at jcwilliams29@verizon.net.

Charity Foundations / Organizations in the United States of America:

• Andrew Ennabe Foundation with Christina Ennabe at CHRISE121@aol.com
  Beginning in Sept. 2007, the Andrew Ennabe Foundation donated money for:
  • Medical needs including surgeries, medicines, doctor visits, etc.
  • Sewing Project The Andrew Ennabe Foundation started / made possible the Sewing Project.
• The Holy Land Christian Ecumentical Foundation
  In late 2006, Abouna Firas Boutrous Khoury Diab signed a agreement with The Holy Land Christian Ecumentical Foundation.
• Hope Ventures International
  In Dec. 2010, Hope Ventures International donated money for many olive oil soap bars. Hope Ventures International representatives are Marianne Smith and Steve Smith.
• The Kolbe Center for the Study of Creation
  In Dec. 2010, The Kolbe Center for the Study of Creation donated money. The Kolbe Center for the Study of Creation's representative is Hugh Owen.
• Olive Trees Foundation For Peace, Inc. (OTFFP)
  During the Summer and Fall of 2005, the Olive Trees Foundation For Peace, Inc. donated plants for the Church Grounds.
• Pilgrims of Ibillin has given grants for the Olive Wood Project, Saint Ann (Al-Qiddissah Hannah) PreSchool / Kindergarten / Senior Citizen Center, Saint Prophet Elijah (Mar Elias) Community Park (MECP), and the Sewing Project. from 2008 to 2012.
  • Grants:
    • In Spring 2012, the Pilgrims of Ibillin's Board approved a payment grant to expand The Olive Wood Project, Saint Prophet Elijah (Mar Elias) Community Park (MECP), and Saint Ann (Al-Qiddissah Hannah) PreSchool / Kindergarten / Senior Citizen Center.
    • In March 2011, the Pilgrims of Ibillin's Board approved a payment grant to establish Saint Prophet Elijah (Mar Elias) Community Park (MECP) and to expand the Saint Ann (Al-Qiddissah Hannah) PreSchool / Kindergarten / Senior Citizen Center Building.
    • In Jan. 2010, the Pilgrims of Ibillin's Board approved a payment grant to complete inside of the Saint Ann (Al-Qiddissah Hannah) PreSchool / Kindergarten / Senior Citizen Center Building.
    • In Aug. 2009, the Pilgrims of Ibillin's Board approved a two payment grants, Aug. 2009 and Jan. 2010, to complete inside of the Saint Ann (Al-Qiddissah Hannah) PreSchool / Kindergarten / Senior Citizen Center Building.
    • In early 2009, the Pilgrims of Ibillin's Board approved a grant for 1 sewing machine for the Sewing Project.
    • In Oct. 2008, the Pilgrims of Ibillin's Board met with Abouna Firas at a checkpoint because the Board could not obtain Israeli permission to travel as planned to Zababdeh.
    • In Feb. 2008, the Pilgrims of Ibillin's Board approved a grant for 5 sewing machines for the Sewing Project.
    • In Jan. 2008, Abouna Firas Boutrous Khoury Diab signed a agreement with the Pilgrims of Ibillin when representatives of thus organization visited St. George Church.
  • Board Members - Pilgrims of Ibillin, 2011:
    • The Rev. Dr. V. Bruce Rigdon, President, Retired seminary president and pastor, Chicago, IL
    • The Rev. Dr. Duncan Ferguson, Secretary, Retired Presbyterian Pastor and past president, Assoc. of Presbyterian Universities and Colleges, Freeland, WA
    • Mr. Jeffrey Cowhey, Treasurer, Business Executive, Member of Roman Catholic Parish, Pennington, NJ
    • The Rev. Donald Brown, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of North Haledon, NJ
    • The Rev. David Dillon, O. Carm., Retired Catholic Priest, Darien, IL
    • Ms. Barbara Exley, Peace activist, Roswell, GA
    • The Rev. Dr. Donald Griggs, Retired Executive Director, Pilgrims of Ibillin, Retired Presbyterian Pastor and church educator, Livermore, CA
    • The Rev. Dr. Peter Henry, Senior Pastor, Grosse Pointe Memorial Presbyterian Church, Grosse Pointe, MI
    • Mr. Donald Liebich, Retired businessman, member Episcopal Church, Hailey, ID
    • The Rev. Dr. Kathleen Matsushima, Pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Williamsburg, VA & Inverness, IL
    • The Rev. Robert Pryor, Retired Presbyterian Pastor and former missionary to Iran, Caldwell, NJ
    • Dr. Elias Shakour
    • Ms. Michelle Shakour, University of Notre Dame, member St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church, South Bend, IN
    • Mr. George Shalabi, Retired Business person, Lifelong friend of Father Chacour, Madison, WI
    • Rev. Dr. L. Michael Spath, University professor, Fort Wayne, IN
    • The Rev. Dr. Donald Wagner, University teacher and consultant on Middle East, Evanston, IL
  • Staff:
    • The Rev. Dr. Robert E. Sawyer, Executive Director, pilgrims@triad.rr.com
    • The Rev. Joan Deming, Development Director, jdeming7@gmail.com
  • Board Members - Pilgrims of Ibillin, 2008:
    • The Rev. Dr. V. Bruce Rigdon, President, Retired seminary president and pastor, Chicago, IL
    • Mr. Robert Connolly, Vice President, Business person, member of Gesu Catholic Church, Milwaukee, WI
    • The Rev. Dr. Duncan Ferguson, Secretary, Retired Presbyterian Pastor and past president, Assoc. of Presbyterian Universities and Colleges, Freeland, WA
    • Mr. Jeffrey Cowhey, Treasurer, Business Executive, Member of Roman Catholic Parish, Pennington, NJ
    • The Rev. Donald Brown, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of North Haledon, NJ
    • The Rev. David Dillon, O. Carm., Retired Catholic Priest, Darien, IL
    • Ms. Barbara Exley, Peace activist, Roswell, GA
    • Mr. Thomas Francis, Business person, member of Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, Lafayette, CA
    • The Rev. Dr. Donald Griggs, Retired Executive Director, Pilgrims of Ibillin, Retired Presbyterian Pastor and church educator, Livermore, CA
    • The Rev. Dr. Peter Henry, Senior Pastor, Grosse Pointe Memorial Presbyterian Church, Grosse Pointe, MI
    • Mr. Donald Liebich, Retired businessman, member Episcopal Church, Hailey, ID
    • The Rev. Dr. Kathleen Matsushima, Pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Williamsburg, VA & Inverness, IL
    • The Rev. Nancy Mikoski, Senior Pastor, Pennington Presbyterian Church, Pennington, NJ
    • The Rev. Robert Pryor, Retired Presbyterian Pastor and former missionary to Iran, Caldwell, NJ
    • Ms. Michelle Shakour, University of Notre Dame, member St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church, South Bend, IN
    • Mr. George Shalabi, Retired Business person, Lifelong friend of Father Chacour, Madison, WI
    • Rev. Dr. L. Michael Spath, University professor, Fort Wayne, IN
    • The Rev. Dr. Donald Wagner, University teacher and consultant on Middle East, Evanston, IL
  • Staff:
    • The Rev. Dr. Robert E. Sawyer, Executive Director, pilgrims@triad.rr.com
    • The Rev. Joan Deming, Development Director, jdeming7@gmail.com