ENCOUNTER: INTERACTION: IMPACT

Unlike in the UK, the very bringing of people together here in the Middle East is an achievement. It provides a thought-provoking encounter between people of different faiths and cultures which is otherwise unavailable. Although Israel is a mixed society where Jews, Christians and Muslims interact on a daily basis in institutions such as schools, hospitals, offices etc. They rarely experience the deep faith-based encounter that is so needed. 

This encounter, whatever shape or form it takes, encourages people to interact in a positive way with each other who might never before have looked each other in the eye. Whilst the impacts of such interactions are difficult to measure, the fruits of such meetings tell positive messages. Encounters increase; participants increase; need for more encounters grows; meeting content develops and expands etc. These outcomes are telling of successful encounters and generate an increase of work in the field.  

Our belief that talking about our sacred texts empassions participants is unique. We see time and time again how participant's deep personal connections to their faith is expressed in new ways when set against a broader theme with other faiths participating at the same time. The value of text and faith provides models for programmes based on breadth and depth of the lives of ordinary people of faith caught up in a terrible conflict.