it's a stressed life and we have to get out of this. >> reporter: bethlehem university was founded in 1973, and today about 30% of the students are christians, 70% muslim. university administrators are aware of the challenge they face. >> the difficulty with education is once you've educated someone they become mobile, and so they have opportunities elsewhere. our goal is to try and encourage people to stay in the holy land. that's why we're here to start with. >> reporter: leaders of the holy land's historic churches have been trying to encourage their flock to stay. for example, while the anglican church provides social services for all people, it's also been developing scholarship and employment programs specifically aimed at christians. >> we encourage them and we do whatever we can within our capacity to keep them here in the land. >> reporter: christians outside the region are also trying to help. the holy land christian ecumenical foundation is a u.s.-based group with the mission of "preserving the christian presence in the holy land." hcef runs several investment and social se