Newsletter:
Vol. 6. Iss. 1
15 January 2006
Plant a Tree...Plant Hope, cont'd.
The Rev. Peter J. Miano
You have been involved in our mission and its success has been due to your support. You are, of course, invited to continue your involvement by participating in a new travel program where we explore the backgrounds of the biblical faith, encourage personal spirituality and promote biblically based social action. The purpose of studying the Bible is to put it to work. Indeed, if our programs do not lead to renewed mission, i.e., biblically based social action, then we have not done our job.
There are a number of other ways for you to remain involved. I am particularly enthusiastic about the launch of a new mission initiative, called Plant a Tree in Palestine. It enables individuals and churches to continue to be involved in promoting awareness, understanding and action to promote equitable resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and redress social injustices that aggravate that conflict. The issues I introduced in this article should be deeply troubling. This is the beginning of the renewal of faith and commitment to action. Even without fully examining these issues, though and without expecting others to do so, you can participate and invite others to begin participation in this program. We hope, of course, that this involvement leads to deeper commitment.
Our Plant a Tree in Palestine program is designed to give you a chance to promote the Palestinian economy by investing in Palestinian agriculture. We promote investment, rater than divestment (although divestment should be discussed, debated and perhaps enacted, before we conveniently excuse ourselves from addressing controversial issues). It is a way to express support for people in desperate economic circumstances. It will generate revenue. It will also help reforest the West Bank, thus it is environmentally advantageous. Most importantly, though, to plant a tree in Palestine is to make an investment in the future. A young olive tree is easier to sustain and takes root better than an older one. However, it will take more time to produce a harvest. It will be at least five years before the trees we plant are harvested. Our program is not only economically and ecologically beneficial, it helps people develop confidence in the future. In a word, we invite you not only to plant a tree, but also to plant hope. In an environment such as the one I described above, hope is in short supply and without hope, further violence is inevitable.
I am eager to see the implementation of phase one of this program. In January 2006, two teams of volunteers, one from William and Mary College, the other from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, will plant the first 1,000 olive trees on Palestinian farmland. We hope to plant 10,000 trees over the next 18 months. We need your support. The first phase of the project will cost $10,000. As of this date, we have raised over 60% of this goal. We will have 1,000 olive trees and tools on site ready for planting by January. When I return in February, I will be able to provide a report on its success. The 34 S.B.S. volunteers who will actually be doing the planting will be joined by Israelis and Palestinians, along with our own staff, who will participate in and supervise the activity. They will add their testimonies as well.
You can help by pledging a donation and inviting others to do the same. If you respond with a pledge, we will advance the sum pledged and count on you to send us a check. This will enable us to forward funds right away without waiting for your actual donation. We need immediate support to purchase trees and supplies in preparation for the volunteers in January. A $50 gift purchases two trees. $100 purchases five. If you make a donation, we will send you a certificate. If you make a donation of $1,000 or more, the trees you purchase will be marked with a plaque, indicating your name and the person in whose memory or honor you are making the donation, or if you prefer to remain anonymous, that the trees were donated by an anonymous friend in the U.S.A. In the past, our appeals have been very successful. 100% of your gift is tax deductible. 100% is invested in the project. Thanks in advance for your support. It makes a difference. Not only to those who receive your support, but maybe in making this Advent season meaningful in a new way.
While it is true that there is less bad news in the Holy Land to sensationalize, there is certainly little good news to glamorize. Personally, I am not optimistic. But Pollyanna wishful thinking and chirping optimism should never be confused with hope. Hope is the determination to persevere precisely when there is little reason for optimism. In this season of hope, we invite you to help us plant trees in Palestine. We invite you to plant hope.
