The Jerusalem Cross

Help support Christians who live in Bethlehem by purchasing one of these attractive hand-carved crosses.

Vacation in a War Zone

In February of 2005, John and Sarita Holzmann traveled to Israel for a two-week vacation. While they enjoyed the opportunity to see the Holy Land, what they experienced in Bethlehem stunned them.

On a tour of the Church of the Nativity, John and Sarita's tour group was the only group present — an exceedingly rare occurrence. When they boarded their tour bus, they noticed they were the only bus in a garage built for 80. And when they visited the site of Jesus' birth, they were uninterrupted in the cave for a full 20 minutes (normally there are so many groups that you're lucky if you get to stop to observe for even a single minute)!

Even more saddening, the buildings in Bethlehem were decimated. Nobody walked the streets. Tourists were passed in and out of Bethlehem through barricades of razor wire and land mines....

Christians in Bethlehem Need Your Help

Only a short time ago 90 percent of the people living in Bethlehem were Christian. Today, that number is only 30 percent. The reason? A sudden drop in tourism...

Seventy percent of Bethlehem's population is directly dependent on the health of tourism. Yet in the last two years tourism to Bethlehem has plummeted 80 percent. What John and Sarita experienced on their vacation was clear evidence of this.

No Jobs, No Money

Clearly the decline in tourism has caused many Christians to leave Bethlehem. Of those who have decided to stay, many are faced with sources of income that are quickly drying up.

Despite the exodus, Bethlehem remains the Palestinian city with the most Christians. And there are good reasons for us to help keep it that way. For instance, the Christians in Bethlehem bring hope and peace to people who are constantly threatened by the violence around them.

More basic still, God asks us to help our Christian brothers and sisters when they are in need. That's why we're offering you the opportunity to purchase a "Jerusalem Cross"...

The Jerusalem Cross

The Jerusalem Cross is a hand-carved piece of art crafted by local Bethlehem Christians. Its heritage dates back to the fourth century, and it is rich in symbolism.

The large cross in the center represents Jerusalem, the city where Christianity started. The four small crosses that surround the large cross represent the four gospels and the Four Corners of the World to which they've been carried.

The native olive wood that is used to make the Jerusalem Cross looks almost like marbled stone. Though all of the crosses follow the same design, the distinct patterns of the olive wood give each cross a unique appearance. A shiny glaze protects the cross and enhances the visibility of the intricate notches in the wood.

The cross is 3.75 inches tall by 3.75 inches wide. A hallway, alcove, or curio cabinet would make the perfect display for your Jerusalem Cross. Not only will it give your home a flavor of The Holy Land, it will also make a great conversation piece for guests who happen to visit. You'll be able to share with them what the Jerusalem Cross means.

How You Can Help

We hope you'll join us in our efforts to help the Christians in Bethlehem by adding a "Jerusalem Cross" to your order today.

We're purchasing 5000, Jerusalem Crosses and are selling them for $7 each. The entire proceeds of each cross will go directly to support our Christian brothers and sisters in Bethlehem.

Maybe you will want just one cross for yourself. Or maybe you will want additional crosses to give as gifts to your friends and family. Either way, your purchase could help us provide much-needed support to the Christians in Bethlehem.

Please Act Today

When you add a Jerusalem Cross to your order today, you'll receive your very own cross packaged with a card that explains what the cross symbolizes. But, more importantly, you'll support Christians in Bethlehem and enable them to continue to spread light among the Palestinian peoples who live there.

If you believe this cause a worthy one, please add a Jerusalem Cross to your order today.

Note: The Jerusalem Cross does not qualify for the 10% SonlightCares discount because we want the full proceeds to be donated to Christians in Bethlehem.