Syria Lebanon Partnership - June 2022 Update

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Rev. Hadi Ghantous is helping his congregation in Minyara to implement an “agro basket” project to grow much-needed food for their families

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Rev. Firas Ferah is making long-needed repairs in the sanctuary of Qamishli Church

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Rev. Mathilde “Mattie” Sabbagh (seen here with her husband, Issa) was ordained in April and serves the congregation in Hasakeh, becoming the first woman in Syria to be ordained

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Seminary graduate Adon Naaman was just chosen as the pastor for Homs Church and will also begin a “distance” DMin program through Fuller Seminary

The situation “on the ground” is pretty grim — both Syria and Lebanon are in the midst of economic collapse. Our major partner in both countries is our Presbyterian family, the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon. It is hard to get a grasp on the “direness” of the context in which the Synod churches do ministry but these sobering assessments from the World Bank may help:

Before the conflict, extreme poverty in Syria … was virtually inexistent. It is now affecting more than 50 percent of the population.

Lebanon is almost three years into an economic and financial crisis that is among the worst the world has seen.

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Rev. Boutros Zaour, who pastors the Presbyterian church in Damascus (and is the Synod’s Moderator), represented Syria at the recent General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches

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Rev. Rabih Talib, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Aalm ech Schab, along with his wife, Nadia, oversees one of the Synod’s schools for Syrian refugee children in Tyre

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Rev. Rola Sleiman, pictured with Outreach Board Chair Rev. Jack Baca, was the first woman ordained for the Presbyterian Church in the Middle East

Having recently returned from meeting with pastors in Lebanon, and with some of the Syrian pastors, too, I marvel anew at the irrepressible grace and gladness of these servant leaders whose commitment to mission and ministry remains undaunted despite the challenges. This “gallery” highlights a few of their recent activities, and their faces, I trust, remind you to pray for them and to support them. The Synod is struggling to provide for their salaries — which was never a problem before — and The Outreach Foundation is committed to coming alongside this effort, but we need your help, and soon.

Confident that we serve a God “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,”

Marilyn Borst
Associate Director for Partnership Development

Read more about the Syria Lebanon Partnership HERE.

THE OPPORTUNITY
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts to support the mission and ministry of the Syria Lebanon Partnership. All gifts of any size are welcomed to support our Presbyterian family of faith in Syria and Lebanon during this difficult time. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.