Our Story
Our Mission and Vision
We are a Lebanese nonprofit that seeks to strengthen the witness of the Church in the Arab World through inclusive education, community development, and church discipleship.
Our vision is to see communities transformed and churches flourishing both in Lebanon and the MENA region for the glory of God.
Our Values
We are Christ-centered and aspire to reflect the example of Jesus’ life and teachings in the way we work, as well as to uphold the following values:
- Integrity is at the core of how we work. It is vital that we work with transparency and honesty. People trust us to adhere to our word and always speak the truth. We are stewards of the resources that are entrusted to us and we will be accountable to God and our partners for the way in which we deploy them.
- Partnerships are how we engage with different stakeholders whether they are beneficiaries, clients, donors or staff. We recognize their contribution, acknowledge their needs, and commit to working towards a common goal by nurturing inter-dependency.
- Respect for all involves treating everyone with dignity and compassion disregarding any differences they might have. As a faith-motivated Christian organization, we respect others’ expressions of faith and encourage respectful dialogue between different religions. This is also reflected in our unconditional approach to aid and services.
- Excellence is the way we do our work. We demand high organizational and operational standards of ourselves, which is achieved through personal and corporate responsibility and accountability.
A Bridge of Support
LSESD benefits from the support of MEBO, a 501c3 corporation based in Atlanta, GA, in raising awareness and support among our USA friends. MEBO’s work is led by a volunteer Board of Directors who are dedicated experts from varied professions that maintain fiscal support responsibilities, link with communication efforts and social media to USA churches and members, and serve as a mobilization hub for many to participate each year personally.
Together We Are Helping Transform the Arab World
A Letter from the CEO
Dear Friends,
The Lebanese and Middle Eastern context is a highly religious one where religion is closely knit with identity. The challenge, however, is when religious affiliation becomes the only form of identity and unites people of the same faith against others of a different faith. This is when religion, which is meant to bring out the best in people, becomes divisive and a source of much pain and suffering, which is the case in many countries and communities today. Yet, is it not amidst such darkness that our light should shine brighter?
As LSESD, our faith-inspired values exhort us to stand by our brothers and sisters in humanity, regardless of who they are, and to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” and to “defend the rights” of the vulnerable (Proverbs 31:8-9). We communicate our faith and values by addressing the basic needs of vulnerable families in a manner that preserves their dignity; by reducing the future vulnerability of students with learning difficulties; in our commitment to growing a culture of acceptance and respect for differences; and in raising socially responsible leaders who take an active role towards the common good.
Today, it is estimated that one in three people is a refugee – Syrian, Iraqi, Palestinian or other. While LSESD’s community development and relief arm, MERATH (Middle East Revive And Thrive), takes the lead on our humanitarian response to the Syria crisis, the complexity of the needs have led LSESD’s other ministries to get involved too, each within its own area of focus such as trauma support; assessments and personalized interventions for children at social, emotional, and/or academic risks; activities for children; producing accessible resources that carry a message of hope and encouragement… In parallel, we have new programs that further expand our impact in the community ranging from e-learning, online training, and working with public schools, to education for former street children.
We count on your prayers and support. You can partner with us on a variety of projects that are centered around three main areas of focus: equipping the local church and community-based organizations, education for all, and community development and relief as an expression of the practical love of Christ to the vulnerable and the marginalized in our midst. Contact us for more information. Thank you!
Nabil Costa 