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.
Our small team from New Zealand comprised two dentists, one general practitioner and two Tearfund NZ staff members. This visit to Lebanon was saturated with history, culture, hospitality, and stories of the redemptive power of God’s love in the marginalized of Lebanese society.
It has been nine years. Nine years of crisis in Syria. Nine years of displacements. We hear more and more people say, “It is safer now; why don’t they go back? Even if we give them food today, they will still need food tomorrow”. Precisely!
Two important aspects of our faith are the intimacy of our relationship with God and that we are part of a community of fellow believers. Both wonderfully highlighted in the opening two words of the Lord’s Prayer. God’s great love for all people is also a central theme of our latest book release When Righteous Fall by Rev. Dr. Nabil Haddad.
Jesus once told His disciples that the Kingdom of God is like a small seed, that grows into a mighty tree that brings life to its surroundings. Each year BCYM meets over 1000 children at their events at which they aim to plant and nurture the seeds of the Kingdom in their lives.
For many people in the world, Lent is all about fasting. But how can we make sure that our fasting pleases God? What is the core essence of fasting?
Local faith communities are an integral thread in the fabric of society with unique abilities for holistic impact. As MERATH (Middle East Revive and Thrive), the relief and development arm of LSESD, we believe that it is through caring for the whole person that we best incarnate the ministry of Christ who both fed the hungry and
offered His body as the bread of life; healed the sick and preached forgiveness of sins.
In 2018-2019, Lebanon and Syria went through one of the harshest winters in many years as they were hit by intense storms, heavy rain, and snowfall leading to floods and freezing temperatures that severely affected numerous families living in makeshift settlements and poorly insulated dwellings.