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ABTS
Housing the Homeless: ABTS Welcomes 70 Displaced Persons
With the Beirut explosion leaving approximately 300,000 people homeless, ABTS decided to open its arms and its residences to those in need. Upon hearing the shocking news, ABTS staff and partners jumped into action to repaint, remodel, and fix up their student dorms to house those whose homes were destroyed.
Learning from a Distance: the ABTS Online Program
In the current world of social distancing, we are more than ever called to be the salt and light to others around us. Starting April 8th, we at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS) will begin to provide online classes for our current residential students so they can complete their training from the safety of their homes.
Family to Gather
Having been encouraged by a friend to attend, on Saturday, January 11th Rana set off for the Family to Gather event that was taking place at the ABTS Moore Conference Center that day. Hoping to find support in the midst of the political and economic crisis happening in Lebanon and keep her family strong despite all of the uncertainty and anxiety it produced, she brought her husband, nursery-aged son, and 8-year-old daughter along with her. What happened for her family there, however, was beyond what she could have hoped for.
When Tempted to Flee, Stand
Wave after wave of violence has threatened to extinguish the light of Christ in Iraq as the country has been vacated of over two thirds of its Christian population since the early 2000s. And yet, at least one pastor and his congregation can be highlighted as having stood firm in the face of the temptation to flee and chosen to shine as bright lights in the impending darkness.
BBS
BBS Students at Risk of Not Being Able to Finish Studies
This BBS has stepped up its scholarship program to help students affected by the economic crisis Lebanon is passing through. Meet some of BBS’s students who have benefitted from BBS’s tuition assisstance made possible by donors like you!
BBS Prayer Request
Recognizing ExcellenceThis year, the Beirut Baptist School obtained 3rd prize in a regional reading competition for the number of books read between March 22nd to April 23rd. Let’s hear it for our outstanding BBS students! Bravo!Please Pray for BBSThe Beirut Baptist School was preparing to slowly...
School Beyond Walls
Not always do we get to tangibly experience the impact of the investments made in a program so quickly. Adopting a wide and robust digital infrastructure through Microsoft classrooms was the best thing that the Beirut Baptist School (BBS) did over the last 3 years.
This Too Shall Pass
“You have taught us to pray when we don’t know what to do and need God to help us,” said a group of students to Mrs. Alice (Co-principal of academics at BBS). It had been a painful week for these high school students after hearing of the death of their math teacher, and all they could do was pray.
BCYM
BCYM Camp in a Box
BCYM has launched the Camp in a Box in order to share the love of God with vulnerable children during these troubling times.
Leading by Example
We are taught from a young age not to be anxious about anything but to pray and thank God for everything we need. And we, in turn, instill this hope along with God’s promises in our children and youth so that they may live life with Christ.
An Unexpected Answer to Prayer
Disappointed by the cancellation of the Baptist Children and Youth Ministry (BCYM) Children’s Camp that they had flown all the way across the Atlantic Ocean to help out at, the Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM) team from Lorne Park Church was surprised to learn that their visit was nevertheless an unexpected answer to a struggling pastor’s prayer.
Family to Gather
Having been encouraged by a friend to attend, on Saturday, January 11th Rana set off for the Family to Gather event that was taking place at the ABTS Moore Conference Center that day. Hoping to find support in the midst of the political and economic crisis happening in Lebanon and keep her family strong despite all of the uncertainty and anxiety it produced, she brought her husband, nursery-aged son, and 8-year-old daughter along with her. What happened for her family there, however, was beyond what she could have hoped for.
DMAH
The Book of Revelation – a Comfort in Extraordinary Times!
The book of Revelation in the Bible is not, perhaps, the most obvious example of a comforting read during times of crisis. However, this was certainly the case for one reader, who was aided by our recent publication of the first two parts of Dr. Imad Shehadeh’s commentary series on Revelation.
Father, Forgive Us for We Have Sinned
When we wake up each morning, what’s the first item we lay our hands on: our Bibles or our smart phones?
DMAH: Pray for Multiplying Bread
Just as food is important to us, so is ‘feeding’ regularly on God’s Word. At Dar Manhal al Hayat (DMAH) we offer a range of daily devotionals to help people meet with God every day. We are especially excited about a devotional for girls that we plan to publish soon. Please pray that our...
A Heart for the City
The Gateway Bookshop is much ‘more than just amazing books’. From hosting internationally acclaimed authors, to providing a place of quiet contemplation, our retail bookstore now offers a host of options in addition to selling books and gifts.
MERATH
Love in the Time of Corona
The coronavirus is now officially spreading through Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria, as well as in other countries in the Middle East. This follows a harsh winter and unprecedented economic and financial crises that have already severely impacted the most vulnerable.
Drops in the Desert
The war in Syria is far from over. Since early December, over one million people from the Syrian province of Idlib have been displaced with nowhere to find refuge. In other places that are considered “safer”, humanitarian needs have never been greater.
Welcoming Displaced Children in His Name
The Syrian crisis has dragged hundreds of thousands of children away from their homes and communities, forcing them to live in places where they face harsh living conditions, are deprived of educational opportunities, and do not feel welcomed. In this challenging context, our partner churches are answering their calling to welcome vulnerable children and their families and care for them, giving them a chance at a more hopeful future.
MERATH: Winterization
Last winter, intense storms, heavy rain, snowfall leading to floods, and freezing temperatures severely affected numerous families in Lebanon and Syria. Please pray with us that the coming winter will be more lenient, and help us prepare for the cold season by supporting our winter programs. $100...
SKILD
SKILD: Comforting Distressed Kids
In response to the trauma many children experienced during the Beirut blast, SKILD is jumping into action to minister to their emotional and psychological needs in a fun way.
The Cause for Inclusion Goes Virtual
Nine years ago, an inclusive Lebanon was a dream of many parents with children whose special needs denied them access to educational opportunities, social experiences, and economic independence. Hiding your child with special needs was the norm. Whenever you took him or her out meant that you were going to be shamed and ridiculed. The SKILD Center is a dream come true for its founder, Dr. Nabil Costa, also a parent to a child with special needs, and for many educators, specialists, and visionaries.
Life on Lockdown
Household dynamics shifted as we entered new times where social distancing, online learning, and working remotely became the norm. With the new living conditions and constant negative news, anxiety and stress are bound to knock at our doors. Among the many challenges we are facing, the main psycho-emotional one is finding creative ways to cope with our stress.
Night to Shine 2020
Fifty stars, fifty dreams, fifty chances for a bright future, if we only give them the right spotlight. Just like diamonds in the rough, young men and women with special needs are buried under mountains of neglect, shame, and social segregation, waiting for their light to be revealed and illuminate the world.
Devotions
Blessed Are the Merciful, for They Will Be Shown Mercy
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Here we reach the fifth of the eight blessings Jesus offers in the Beatitudes.
Blessed Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness, for They Will Be Filled
After having mourned over our sins, we are, as a natural consequence, humbled into being meek, a term few people use these days especially since being humble and gentle towards others is perceived as more of a weakness than a virtue. However, perhaps ‘meek’ could be better translated as ‘disciplined’.
Blessed Are the Meek, for They Will Inherit the Earth
After having mourned over our sins, we are, as a natural consequence, humbled into being meek, a term few people use these days especially since being humble and gentle towards others is perceived as more of a weakness than a virtue. However, perhaps ‘meek’ could be better translated as ‘disciplined’.
Let Us Reflect the Hope of the Resurrection
The news these days seems like a doom report. At times I feel so overwhelmed by the weight of the devastation and grief that many must be experiencing around the world. According to the WHO, at the time of this writing, over 1.6M people have been infected with the virus and more than 96,000 have succumbed to it.
Updates
Timeline: The Road to Disaster
Follow Lebanon’s course to disaster over the past year.
Op-Ed: A Time for Truth, A Time for Hope
In a world where we are bombarded with contradictory information and conspiracy theories are mainstream, Pilate’s question to Jesus, “What is Truth?” is more important now than ever.
On A Journey Of Hope
Thank you for the generosity you have shown over the last two weeks in partnering with us to strengthen the witness of the Church in the midst of the crisis in Beirut. Here's an update on LSESD's response: 40+ families are being provided with temporary housing in the ABTS residences along with...
May God Protect Lebanon! Strengthening the Witness of the Church!
"May God protect Lebanon" were the last words of the Prime Minister of Lebanon's resignation speech just hours ago, repeating them three times. His resignation follows a weekend of violent anti-government protests and clashes with riot police in the wake of last week's massive explosion that left...
