Bethlehem pastor to preach in Polson
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Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb
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POLSON — The Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, a Palestinian Christian, will preach at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Polson on Sunday, Sept. 22. Services begin at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Raheb is a resident of Bethlehem and pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church, which established a sister church relationship with Good Shepherd 16 years ago. Since then, Good Shepherd’s Pastor Paul Rowold has led numerous pilgrimages and Youth Service trips to Bethlehem, where travelers could meet the people of their sister congregation and participate in the church’s work of creating opportunities for education and wellness.
This is Raheb’s first visit to Montana, although he frequently travels to the U.S. on speaking engagements.
Raheb is president of Diyar, a group of three Lutheran-based institutions in Bethlehem that he founded between 1995 and 2006. They are the International Center of Bethlehem, which focuses on preserving culture; the Dar al-Kalima Health and Wellness Center; and Dar al-Kalima College. Though Lutheran, these programs serve the whole Palestinian community in the West Bank, which includes Christians of various denominations, Muslims and Jews.
He is also president of the Bright Stars of Bethlehem, a non-profit organization supporting the work of Diyar and building partnerships with U.S. individuals, congregations and organizations.
Raheb’s work in Bethlehem has drawn international recognition, perhaps most notably the 2011 “Deutscher Medienpreis,” a prestigious award made in Germany that is primarily granted to heads of state. Past honorees have included Nelson Mandela, the Dali Lama and Queen Rania of Jordan. Raheb was chosen for the award based on his “tireless work in creating room for hope for his people, who live under Israeli Occupation in Bethlehem and the West Bank.”
Raheb is the author of eight books, including the award-winning “Bethlehem Besieged,” which received a “Spirituality and Health Award” as one of the 50 best spiritual books published in 2004.
Raheb holds a doctorate in Theology from the Philipps University at Marburg, Germany. He is married and has two daughters. More about Rev. Raheb can be found at his website: www.mitriraheb.org
