MANY more Christian children in the Holy Land could benefit from financial support thanks to an initiative by Dumbarton Presbytery.

A bursary scheme, pioneered by the Presbytery, is now being expanded to other churches throughout the world.

The Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem has produced a leaflet promoting child sponsorship following the decision of Presbytery last year to support the education of two children, in Jerusalem and Ramallah, for six years at a cost of £1400 per annum.

In May, the Rev Norma Moore and the Rev Tina Kemp returned to the Holy Land to visit the schools, meet the students and staff, and learn more about the educational system in the Israel and Palestine.

They visited St George’s School for Boys in Jerusalem, and the Episcopal Evangelical School in Ramallah, at which the bursary students are pupils.

And they were delighted to discover that the Anglican Church, which runs the schools, has established a formal sponsorship scheme attracting international Christian support.

Norma and Tina  proposed the bursary scheme following a 2008 pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where they heard about the educational pressures facing the minority Christian population..

Norma, of Jamestown Church, said: “I think we were the first to suggest such sponsorship. Before, any donations were used across the board and failed to target the most needy. Now, because of Dumbarton Presbytery’s action, the idea of targeted sponsorship is being promoted throughout the Christian world.

“It was wonderful to meet the staff and children, and to see the schools. They are so imaginative. In comparison to our schools, they are poorly equipped yet do so much with so little.”

Norma and Tina, an auxiliary minister at the West Kirk of Helensburgh, also visited Al Shurooq School for the Blind in Bethlehem and inter-faith projects promoting peace and reconciliation.

“Every day we learned something new,” said Tina. “The people we met were remarkable, and are working hard to promote peace and tolerance in very difficult and frustrating circumstances. Everyone was so friendly and hospitable. They were touched and encouraged that people from churches in Scotland are interested in their situation.”