The purpose of the "Living Stones" conference is to support Christians in the Holy Land by increasing knowledge about them among congregations and ministries in Western Washington, resulting in stronger connections and new partnerships.

The timing is critical

The "Living Stones" conference evolved out of a sense of urgency to support the alarming decline in the number of Christians in the land of Christ's birth. In the cradle of our faith, there is a living, faithful community whose existence is threatened and who feel forgotten. By way of example, the number of Anglican Christians has plummeted from 4% of the population to 2% in recent years.

Although there are numerous church, church-affiliated, and not-for-profit efforts in the Holy Land, there is presently no concerted effort to bring Northwest Christians together to learn from and partner with our Christian brothers and sisters.

This conference will focus on encouraging a thriving Christian community and a just peace. We believe that by uniting to stand together, we can have a significant positive impact on the future of our sisters and brothers in the region and on the churches and individuals in the Northwest. Indeed, Christians from the Holy Land have encouraged us to do so.

Time is running out. The Christian presence and witness in the place of Christ's birth is at stake.