Rev. Nihad Salman was born and raised in Bethlehem. He did his undergraduate studies at the European Bible Seminary in Germany and earned an M.Div. from the Church of God Theological Seminary in Cleveland, Tennessee.  In 1991, Rev. Salman began his ministry in Beit Jala and in 1999 founded Immanuel Evangelical Church in Bethlehem where he continues to serve as pastor.  In 1992, he began teaching at the Bethlehem Bible College and also served as Director of the Shepherd Society from 1996-2006.