BETHLEHEM (ANS) -- A news release from Bethlehem Bible College paints a grim picture about living conditions for those in Gaza.

The situation is personal for Bethlehem Bible College (BBC). The college has five students from the Gaza Strip, as well as some Gaza refugees who are visiting BBC.

A news release from BBC said that college administrators have contacted friends and relatives in Gaza.

According to BBC, “What they tell us is all the same: they have no food, no water, no electricity and they are afraid for their lives. Once the war is over, we will find more about the amount of destruction and the loss of life. The news agencies do not have enough access to the Gaza Strip due to Israeli prohibitions. Therefore it is difficult to find out exactly what is going on. (We) suspect things are much worse in the Gaza Strip than what we are seeing on our TV screens.”

The news release from BBC said college staff have learned from their direct contacts that people there desperately need food, fresh water, electric power, fuel for cooking, clothing and blankets.

BBC said the latest news from Gaza shows that the death toll among Palestinians is over 900 and the number of those injured has surpassed 4,000.

The news release stated, “From all indications, it seems that this number will continue to rise. Many of the dead are women and children and non-combatant men. We are witnessing a great humanitarian crisis. The situation in Gaza is horrible. All the people need our help.”

The release continued, “The Christian community in Gaza is very small; some reports estimate its population to be less than 3,500 individuals. This community is suffering as much as the rest of the population. Three members of this community, all of whom are civilians, have lost their lives in this war.”

The BBC news release stated that last December, about 35 families from the Christian community in Gaza were allowed to come and visit Bethlehem for Christmas. While in Bethlehem the conflict started and now they are unable to return.

“They are stuck in Bethlehem with very little resources,” the release stated. “In addition there are seven families that came a year ago, and are afraid to go back to Gaza.”

BBC staff said they welcome the prayers of believers worldwide. “Please pray for the end of this terrible war, and pray for wisdom to be given to both sides of the conflict to do what is right in the eyes of God.”

In conjunction with local churches, BBC is raising funds to help those in Gaza.

For more information go to www.bethbc.org  or in the U.S. send donations to Bethlehem Bible College designated for “Help for Gaza” to 614-C South Bus. IH-35, New Braunfels, TX 78130.

Jeremy Reynalds is a freelance writer and the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "The Face of Homelessness." Additional details are available at http://www.HomelessBook.com. Reynalds' latest book is "We All Need a Little Help." It was released on October 3 2008. He lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@comcast.net. Tel: (505) 400-7145.