A Palestinian Story of Hope and Resilience with Mercy Aiken - ATD Book Club

To join Across the Divide’s book club, become part of our Patreon community at https://www.patreon.com/c/AcrosstheDivide In this conversation, Jen Maidrand sits down with Mercy Aiken, a storyteller and advocate whose work serves as a vital bridge between the West and the Holy Land. Mercy shares the deeply moving journey of co-authoring Yet in the Dark Streets Shining : A Palestinian Story of Hope and Resilience in Bethlehem with Bishara Awad, the founder of Bethlehem Bible College. Through the lens of Bishara’s life—marked by displacement, faith, and an unwavering commitment to education—Mercy discusses the unique challenges faced by Palestinian Christians and the profound impact of the Bible College on the local community. We explore the weight of telling such a significant story, the shifts in perspective since October 7th, and Mercy’s enduring hope for a future rooted in empathy rather than fear. Mercy Aiken is a cross-cultural advocate, storyteller, and peacebuilder dedicated to fostering empathy and understanding in the Middle East. With years of experience living and working in Palestine and Israel, she serves as a bridge-builder between Eastern Christians, Muslims, and Jews. Mercy is the co-author of Yet in the Dark Streets Shining, the memoir of Bishara Awad, which chronicles the little-known history of Palestinian Christians through the resilience of one family. Beyond her writing, Mercy is a seasoned pilgrimage leader, organizing transformative journeys to the Holy Land designed to move participants toward a more embodied and curious faith. Her professional background includes serving as the Relationship Manager for the Network of Evangelicals for the Middle East (NEME) and her current work with Peace Catalyst International. Through these roles, she engages global communities to address the challenges of the Holy Land, encouraging a new generation of Jesus-following peacebuilders to lead with grace and truth. Follow Mercy’s substack for more: https://mercyaiken.substack.com/ Buy Yet in the Dark Streets Shining: https://www.amazon.com/Yet-Dark-Streets-Shining-Palestinian/dp/1737945908 Support our work at Across the Divide: https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide Follow Across the Divide for more on ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠ Across the Divide partners with Peace Catalyst International to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.

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