Lebanon

Lebanese church leaders request prayers as they minister to refugees. More than 1 million Syrian refugees have entered the country since 2012, increasing Lebanon’s population by nearly one-fourth. Despite hardship, many evangelical churches in Lebanon not only welcomed but also cared for Christian and Muslim refugees with limited resources and few rights in the country.

In August 2020, a massive fertilizer explosion in Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, killed more than 200 people, rendered 300,000 homeless, and caused 15 billion dollars in damage. In 2019, the government defaulted on its debt and many banks collapsed; today, utilities are regularly cut off and rents are rising.

More than one million refugees have flooded into Lebanon because of the civil war raging in neighboring Syria. Pastor Bassam recently opened a new church near the Syrian border to minister to refugees and others in that region.

Betul is a young girl who attends a youth program hosted by front-line workers in Lebanon. She and her brother have lived with their grandmother since their father died and their mother left the children when she remarried.

Symona serves in a VOM-sponsored front-line ministry advancing the gospel in Lebanon. Because of the deteriorating social and economic conditions in the country, life for Symona and her family has grown increasingly challenging.

Two boys who participated in a VOM-supported sports and Bible study program in Lebanon have recently experienced emotional healing through the ministry. One of the boys came from a background of domestic violence and struggled with aggression; the other boy battled feelings of neglect and rejection because of his home life.

Front-line workers held a “sports day” evangelistic outreach event in November for youth of all backgrounds, including several Muslim children.

Brother Amir was traveling with his wife and a friend when he received a phone call from a member of an Islamist group. The man threatened Amir’s family, telling him that his family is under surveillance and that they spotted his only son attending a Christian church.

VOM workers recently reported how God is at work in families through the outreach efforts of a Christian ministry in Lebanon. Through visitation, food distribution, family counseling, Discovery Bible Study groups and educational and athletic programs for kids, Christian workers have had many opportunities to share the hope of Christ.