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 Bright Stars of Bethlehem (BSB) is a US 501(c)3 organization founded in 2003 to promote and spread the word about the many outreach ministries of Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem to build hope and a brighter future for Palestine.
BSB provides funding and support to local initiatives serving the educational, medical, professional and spiritual development needs of people living in Christ's birthplace. Click here to learn more about the organizations supported by Bright Stars of Bethlehem donors.
A Brief History Bright Stars of Bethlehem, NFP was incorporated on November 12, 2003 under the Illinois General Not for Profit Corporation Act “to support the health, education, cultural and spiritual development of the people of the Middle East in order to promote peace and harmony in the region.” The mission of the Bright Stars of Bethlehem was and is to assure that Christianity in the Holy Land survives and thrives by seeding and providing support to Christmas Lutheran Church ministries in Bethlehem that provide hope, healing and education to the Christian community that is quickly disappearing from the Holy Land. Up until that moment, Wheat Ridge Ministries was instrumental in telling the story, connecting the Bethlehem Lutheran ministries to churches in the USA and in raising funds on its behalf. However, in 2003 Gregg Smith and Rich Bimler of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) together with Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, Pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church and current CEO of Bright Stars of Bethlehem, NFP, started thinking that the time had come to slowly create an independent 501(c)3 organization to educate about and support the church’s remarkable work in Bethlehem. On February 23, 2005 the IRS determined Bright Stars of Bethlehem, NFP to be a tax-exempt under IRS Section 501(c)3. It was during that same year that the Lord opened a new door to start the Bright Stars of Bethlehem operations. Lutheran Church of the Reformation in DC donated space for the office, and a coordinator, who started as a volunteer, was hired starting June 1st on a full-time basis. An accountant for the organization was also appointed. The main task during the first 2 years was to set up the office, enter data, produce brochures and launch a website so that further information about the organization and its work could be provided. Several insurances were put in place as well. Finally, a few speaking tours were organized for the CEO to visit churches, foundations and major donors. The opening of the Bright Stars of Bethlehem’s DC office proved to be very important for creating awareness and raising more funds, and it has been growing slowly but surely. As such, with the work expanding, a new structure for the DC office was very much necessary. Instead of having one person to run the operations, it was decided at the end of 2007 to hire three part-time staff: a coordinator, an administrative assistant and a communications officer, the latter based in Bethlehem so as to be able to share the stories of the different ministries first hand. Forming such a team will enable Bright Stars of Bethlehem to strive to new heights. |
