Syria Appeal - May 2020 Update
A Joyful Return (Ebenezer)
In September, I wrote one of these updates about a visit I had made to Sweida, about 90 minutes south of Damascus, Syria Appeal September 2019. I had just met with a Presbyterian congregation there who had been displaced, in 2014, from their hometown of Kharaba, about 20 miles away. One of the many terrorist groups operating in Syria during the war had overrun the largely-Christian town and “set up camp” in the churches while breaking into private homes and taking up residence. This faithful flock was now being pastored “in exile” by the Rev. Saleem Ferah who had been given a place to worship in the local Alliance Church. Although much of Syria had already been liberated from terrorist organizations by that time, Kharaba was one of the last holdouts, and the Syrian government had been reluctant to mount a military operation there because of the number of citizens still present…
It was May 6, close to 5:00 p.m., and I was about ready to close down my computer for the day (a necessary discipline in this new work-at-home world) when an email popped up from the Rev. Joseph Kassab, the General Secretary of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon. The subject made me gasp, “We are back to Kharaba.” Clicking it open, I devoured his message:
A joyous piece of news. Suddenly, Kharaba village was liberated from all rebels under the intervention of the Russian legion. It was a peaceful one, and pressure led to an agreement. The village was evacuated from occupiers, and houses were handed back to the Christians in the presence of [their] clergies. I asked Rev. Saleem to document the event with pictures and reports about the damage of the congregants' houses. Eventually, we will try to secure some funds for them to go back…
It is a piece of great news to see the people hoping to go back to their village and to the church and to restore its natural presence and activities. Saleem is thrilled about it and feels that this addition to his plate is essential. I think it will energize him, even more, to get involved in the lives and needs of people in Christ’s way…
Within 30 minutes, the alert “dings” on my phone from What’s App began to sound in rapid succession – 153 photos had been sent by Saleem to Joseph, and from Joseph to me. Details of the damage to the church, the pastor’s apartment, and Sunday School rooms were highlighted: broken windows, junction boxes ripped from the wall, countertops smashed, piles of indeterminate debris, and vinyl flooring that was stained with years of water and grime. In the sanctuary, the pew cushions were soiled and askew, the pulpit was tipped over and the front of the podium showed signs of small fires having been set. Miraculously, the simple wooden cross on the front wall of the sanctuary was intact, as was the cross on the pulpit (perhaps these were symbols deemed too potent to desecrate?). I had visited this church in 2009 and so “walked” through these photos with a sense of familiarity mixed with sadness and disgust. But it was the last of those 153 frames that brought me to tears – of JOY – as a video recorded the ringing of the church bell, after those long years of waiting and wondering.
The following week, Rev. Saleem began to return with some of the members to clean and repair the sanctuary and documented it all. He began with a reference to I Samuel 7:12, “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up…He named it Ebenezer, saying, Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
With God's help, strength and encouragement, a group of beloved people, of all ages, ended yesterday the cleaning and re-arranging [fixing] of the church…All thanks and gratitude to all the loved ones who answered my call…to [remove] the dirt of pain and the ashes of sadness from the house of the Lord and prepare it to receive worship and the congregation…
A few days later, the sanctuary was packed for worship once again, with the Presbyterians being joined by other Christians and their pastors from Kharaba. Rev. Saleem can be seen preaching and the visiting clergy participating in the liturgy. The congregation filled the room with hymns of praise.
Rev. Saleem ends with this benediction:
Worship had stopped at this church since 2012 and returned today, Sunday, May 17, 2020. Thank God and all the attendees. God bless us with his grace and care.
Much remains to be done before our friends can return to their homes which are in various stages of damage and ruin. But for now, they can affirm – and be assured by – their “Ebenezer.” For, indeed, the Lord has helped us…
In Easter Hope,
Marilyn
Associate Director for Partnership Development
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 HERE or by sending a check to our office.