Syria Retreat Center - September 2021 Update
Amar al-Husn, Syria
Najwah and Nahla are leaders in the Presbyterian Church in Homs, Syria. Like so many of our family-by-faith in Syria, they are eagerly anticipating the completion of their Retreat Center which will serve the Church to equip and encourage, provide rest and restoration, gather in for study and reflection, and send out for mission and ministry. Several years ago, The Outreach Foundation pledged to help the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon fulfill its vision to create, in Syria, what already existed in Lebanon at Dhour Schweir – a retreat and conference center that would not only serve their congregations but also the larger Christian community.
With 50 double rooms, each with a private bath, and a large conference hall, it will soon be filled with youth groups, families, women’s conferences, and much more. It will have stunning views of the peaceful, rolling hills which make up this “Christian Valley” not far from the border with Lebanon, and it will be part of the small town of Amar al-Husn with its own Presbyterian Church. It is easily reachable from most parts of the country, making it affordable for both congregational events as well as for personal respite. Of the 32 villages in the area, 27 of them are majority Christian which is how this part of Syria got its name. And Christianity has a long history here: not far from the Retreat Center is the Greek Orthodox Monastery of St. George which has been on this site since the late 5th century!
The “hard part” of the construction (concrete, foundations, etc.) has been completed, despite the challenges of the past year and a half (pandemic, international sanctions, and economic collapse) and the finishing and furnishing phases will soon commence, for which additional funds will be needed.
In late October, with a team from The Outreach Foundation, I hope to make my 21st trip to Syria. We will meet with many of the 20 Presbyterian congregations which make up about half of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon. We are excited to be able to see the progress being made on the Retreat Center since we last stood on that site on a cold, rainy morning in February of 2019 and saw a lot of rebar and not much else. The Synod anticipates that next summer will find it in full operation – a dream delayed but not denied – for the glory of God and the equipping of his saints!
Marilyn Borst
Associate Director for Partnership Development
Read more about the Syria Retreat Center HERE.
THE NEED
With the “structural work” and perimeter wall now complete, The Outreach Foundation is seeking $450,000 towards the cost of the “finishing phase” which includes drywall and utilities systems. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.
The Presbyterian Church in Latakia is one of the 20 congregations eager to come to the Retreat Center