In memory of Labib Madanat …. who died on Monday 15 th November 2021 aged 57 years

This week we received an email from Labib’s wife, Carolyn to say … I’m not sure if you’ve heard the devastating news that our beloved Labib has left us to be with Jesus. He was on a ministry trip in Iraq when he suffered a heart attack on Monday. The children and I are en-route to Amman where we will wait for him to arrive from Baghdad so that we can lay him to rest.

We at the Olive Tree Reconciliation Fund counted Labib as a true friend and we will miss him greatly. The picture above was taken in November 2014 when Labib guided one of our OTRF tours in Israel for a day as we travelled through the heart of the West Bank from Tiberias up to Jerusalem – here overlooking the city of Nablus.

After first meeting Labib in Jerusalem in 1999 it was clear from the start what a unique person he was. Born into a Jordanian family, he grew up in Jerusalem, went on to study in Iraq then married an English wife; in other words, Labib crossed borders to become the man he was – a man whose identity was firmly rooted in what he believed. He would share his love for Jesus with anybody at every opportunity. He was a bridge builder, a reconciler, a man who cared deeply for individuals. He was humble, wise, warm and sociable. He spoke with authority and to listen to him share his experiences and insights was always challenging.

How grateful we are that some of our most recent Olive Tree programmes are with Labib.

We thank God for his life.

22nd Nov 2021