Lebanon’s economic crisis —considered by the World
Bank as one of the worst in the world in the past 150
years — left no aspect of society untouched. Below is a
quick snapshot of how different crises combined to reach
the current state of instability.
Planning a kids’ camp in restricted health conditions was no small challenge. However, with the heartfelt calling of our partner, First Baptist Church Alexandria, a new hope arose.
Within the first ten minutes, excitement bubbled in my soul as I recalled my mission work in Beirut, my study-abroad experience during college at the American University in Cairo, and my love for the people in the Arab world.
Instead of being overcome by despair, we realized that, in the same way Christ entered the darkness of our fallen world as “the light of men”, we need to be the light within the tunnel for those around us for “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).
But there is light – light in the tunnel! Followers of Jesus Christ are in the tunnel: Keeping the Beirut Baptist School and SKILD going and growing!
The start of school is like New Year’s Day for educators: there
is something invigorating, and hopeful ushered in by the beginning of a new academic year.
Lebanon has been living at the mercy of power cuts by the state provider and rationing of private generators due to fuel shortages. Public electricity is only available between 0 and 2 hours a day, while diesel has been in short supply and at a very high cost.
This song was recorded on August 4, 2020 – the morning before the Beirut blast. Like the song says, we “don’t know about what will come tomorrow”,but our God does. There are many things we don’t understand, but we can trust in the One who holds our hand.
Driven by increasingly desperate living circumstances and no visible resolution in the near future, a significant number of Lebanese have been forced to seek a sense of normalcy abroad.