ORLANDO — Orlando, Fla., and Bethlehem, Palestine, seem to be as diverse politically and economically as they are geographically. But the home of Mickey Mouse and the Cradle of Christianity have many things in common, including a new relationship with each other to develop closer political, educational, economic and spiritual ties.

Glenda Hood, mayor of Orlando, and Hanna Nasser, mayor of Bethlehem, signed a twin-cities agreement May 7 here and agreed to be sister cities. Nasser said Bethlehem is a unique city, but both Bethlehem and Orlando depend on tourism for their economic stability. He said he looks forward to working with Orlando business and government leaders to share ideas about improving tourism.

Nasser and Dr. Bishara Awad, founder and president of Bethlehem Bible College and brother of United Methodist missionary Alex Awad, joined a group of more than 50 Orlando clergy May 8 for breakfast to discuss the spiritual aspects of the agreement.

The Rev. Jeremy Rebman, associate pastor at First United Methodist Church, Orlando, represented the Orlando District clergy at the meeting. "I think it’s a very exciting opportunity for the churches here to partner with the place of Christ’s birth," he said. "It’s an opportunity to bring about peace and spread the good news in that area. Working for justice and peace is what the Methodist Church has been about since the beginning."

Awad said the first step to bringing peace to Palestine is for the Christian church to stop ignoring and neglecting Palestinian Christians. "When will the church of Jesus Christ listen to the cries of Palestinians?" he said in his remarks to the clergy. "If the Christians are crying over there, I know the heart of God is crying about what’s going on over there. This agreement puts you to love Bethlehem and the people of Bethlehem. Are you aware for the first time that you are to love Palestinians? Can you do it?"

Awad said his hope is that the agreement will open an avenue for friendship between the Christian communities of the two cities. "We need friends," he said. "We need your prayers and your awareness of what’s going on over there, but we need friends."

Ralph Veerman, a member of Orlando’s First Presbyterian Church and one of the architects of the agreement, said the idea for the sister city agreement came during a trip to the Holy Land led by the Rev. Howard Edington, the church’s senior pastor.

"Howard was leading a tour for 80 downtown leaders, including Mayor Hood," Veerman said. "We were thinking, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to do something with Bethlehem…and sign an agreement in Manger Square.’ "

Veerman, who has close ties to Orlando’s Arab community and city government, worked with Awad, who served as liaison with Bethlehem’s government. The agreement was originally set to be signed in Bethlehem, but the outbreak of violence there last fall forced organizers to move the signing to Orlando.

Awad said he is grateful for the support United Methodists have given to his brother and the Bethlehem Bible College through the General Board of Global Ministries and is looking forward to more churches partnering with them in their ministry. "The Bible College is a light for the whole community…Christians, Jews and Muslims," he said. "We want to spread the love of Jesus Christ and teach young people how to reach out to others."