Syria and Lebanon Partnership
Note: The Outreach Foundation’s partner in this region is the National Evangelical [Presbyterian] Synod of Syria and Lebanon. Julie Burgess, the author of this update, has made 17 journeys with TOF to the Middle East. This is the final installment [Read part I here and part II here] of her story that introduces us to 5 Syrian Presbyterians who are recent seminary graduates of the Near East School of Theology (NEST) in Beirut who have been doing their “fieldwork” amongst some of the 20 Presbyterian congregations in Syria and who will, eventually, be called to serve, permanently, in one of them. ---Marilyn Borst, Associate Director of Partnership Development.
I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. (Romans 1:9c-10)
In looking through a travel journal from 2015 I paused to see this Scripture there. That trip was centered around the annual women’s conference that is put on by the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL) at their retreat center in Dhour Choiuer in the mountains of Lebanon. It was filled with reunions: Americans with their Lebanese and Syrian sisters. Syrian women with each other in the midst of war. A Syrian mother from Homs with her two sons who worked at the center. Extraordinary, emotional, uplifting moments of reunion.
Those precious moments were the answers to the prayer that Paul enunciated in those verses: that the way may be opened for me to come to you. To hear and absorb scripture in the lands where it was born, and offered by such teachers of grace, is a gift beyond measure.
And so the final question I asked our five seminary graduates was this:
What verse or passage of scripture is on your heart right now, and why?
Adon: “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.
This is the verse that is on my mind now. I feel it give courage to the Syrians to have hope in the middle of this darkness.
Hassan: Nowadays, I feel myself touched by the parable of the Sower. (Matthew 13:1-23) Each time I read this passage, I see a parallel between these different soils and the different reactions to the war in my country. Syria is the land of different “soil” responses. Some people have misunderstood who God is and went into terrorism. Others were disappointed and may have lost their faith (publicly or privately) after the war. Many people are more and more concerned about their basic needs (in a war country under economic sanctions). Nonetheless, there are committed people and organizations who responded faithfully by trying their best, in word and act, to help and encourage those in need and in despair as much as possible.
Yousef: It is difficult for me to say that I have only one favorite verse or passage because they are really many. However, I can distinguish a favorite verse right now which is from the Gospel of John 1:14: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
I do love this verse and admire its clearness of the incarnation of the Son of God. This verse concludes the history of salvation and opens the door to the new beginning of our humanity through the salvific incarnation of the word of God. In addition, this verse challenges any philosophical and logical expected thoughts to say that God in person becomes a person. God made a tent among us, and God makes it possible for humans to be new temples for God's dwelling because God crossed any borders by being in our flesh. That leads me to the recognition of the indescribable love of God.
Kherallah: Finally, the verse that is on my heart now is “Fear not, little flock, for it is your father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom,” (Lk 12: 32) because I feel it encouraging the Syrian Church to carry its mission bravely and trustfully.
Sleiman: Psalm 23 is always in my mind because I feel that alone and without God, I cannot continue. My perseverance and attempts to find a meaning from everything around in this hard time is a testimony that God is working and does not leave us alone.
Since I began this writing project, much has changed and much has stayed the same in Syria. For those of us in America, the war has disappeared from news coverage, and yet its vestiges remain in places where the church remains. Water has been used as a weapon in the northeast. Political maneuverings cause problems. Explosions still occur and people still die. The coronavirus has waxed and waned and waxed again.
But these things are also true: The church gathers and worships. The bread and cup are shared. Young people attend school, pass tests, and graduate. Sunday school and the joyous singing of hundreds of children is evident in infectious Facebook posts. Families lose and gain through births and deaths and marriages (oh so many marriages, as you see here!).
I hope you take the time to sit with the scriptures that have sustained these young men through such days as they have lived in and continue to live in. I hope you see and feel the need to be planted and nurtured in good soil, to journey with the One who pitches his tent in your neighborhood and overcomes the troubles of this world, who tells you to “fear not!” and that you are not alone.
And so I circle back to where I began with Paul’s prayer: I pray that the way opens again to return to Lebanon, to Syria, and wherever God permits me to go. There are babies to hold, and new couples to celebrate. There are lessons to be learned and absorbed from the good soil where God’s messengers abide.
Grace and peace. Grace and peace.
Julie Burgess, West Hills Church, Omaha
The Outreach Foundation gives thanks to God that you continue on this journey with us alongside the faithful, witnessing Church in Syria, especially now that peace is being restored, even as the needs of families and the Church’s ministries continue. You may make a gift in one of two ways: send a check to our office or make an online gift at www.theoutreachfoundation.org.