Nazareth

EMMS Nazareth, like EMMS International, derives from the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society. It owns the Nazareth Hospital and the Nazareth School of Nursing, and as part of its Christian witness leases land to the Nazareth Village, a project inspired by a vision "to create a living presentation of the life, times and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth for all peoples of the world in the context of a 1st Century setting."

Support for the Nazareth Hospital and the School of Nursing comes from the annual bike ride run in the Holy Land every November. Since the first bike ride in 1992, the hospital has benefited financially each year, with much-needed equipment being supplied, funds dedicated for education and Christian Witness.

Funds have also been supplied to upgrade the qualifications of nursing staff and tutors at the School of Nursing.

Joint Statement from Nazareth Trust/EMMS International on bike rides:

The Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society began running Bike Rides to support the work of Nazareth Hospital in 1992. In 2001, the Society became two separate charities, EMMS International and EMMS Nazareth.

EMMS International continued to develop bike rides and treks, which included an annual bike ride in support of its sister organisation. This wonderful sign of ongoing close relations has been invaluable to Nazareth, as until 2007, EMMS Nazareth had no presence of its own in the United Kingdom.

The Israel and Jordan bike rides have raised substantial sums in support of the Nazareth Hospital and School of Nursing which have made a significant difference to the work in Nazareth. In the past 5 years alone, this has totalled almost £130,000.

Times have moved on, and Nazareth now has its own Head Office in the UK – and indeed a new operating name of ‘The Nazareth Trust’. The trustees of the Nazareth Trust have decided that they now wish to run their own bike ride in the Galilee in 2010, which will be part fundraising challenge, part wheeled pilgrimage. EMMS International will therefore focus their bike rides and treks on supporting their partners in Malawi, India and Nepal.

Both charities will continue to seek to work in partnership going forward.  The Nazareth Trust would like to offer its very warmest thanks and appreciation to EMMS International for its support since 2001, and both charities wish each other every success with their respective events in the future.