Due to this grave situation, several Palestinian pastors and Christian leaders felt the urgent need to extend Christ’s love in a practical way to the needy among them. After prayer and discernment, they felt called to form the charitable aid organization, the Shepherd Society.
The Shepherd Society, founded in 1996, functions under the auspices of Bethlehem Bible College.
The name "The Shepherd Society" is a reference to Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who told his disciple Peter to care for his sheep (John 21:16).
This imagery was later used by the apostle Peter to instruct church leaders in caring for the needy when he said, "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you" (1 Peter 5:2-4). Here on the hillsides of Bethlehem, we still see shepherds caring for their flocks, reminding us to continue Peter's mission.
