Grateful For Our Church Partners: National Presbyterian Church

National Presbyterian Church’s support for NESSL Refugee Schools in Lebanon

National Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC

National Presbyterian Church (NPC) in Washington, DC, as a key part of its recent capital campaign, generously supported schools for Syrian refugee children in Lebanon run by the churches of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL). This giving was part of a capital campaign, split between special mission partners, with the result that members’ giving deepened both local and global partnership relationships and addressed some of the world’s greatest needs while also building capacity for local outreach.

Syrian refugees are near and dear to NPC, which had sponsored a Syrian family for resettlement locally and sent three members on trips with The Outreach Foundation to visit NESSL and the refugee schools in Lebanon. These members sat in on classes and joined for “chapel” time with a Bible story and discussion, witnessing the fruitfulness of Lebanese church and school leaders and teachers, as well as hearing their vision and challenges. And there were challenges. The Syrian schools had closed during the war, and once the children were in Lebanon, they could not attend Lebanese schools. So many ten-year-olds had not yet learned to read. But it was not all work! The Outreach visitors joined the kids for lunch and the joy of dancing and singing together under the Lebanese sun.

The visitors returned to NPC to share videos and stories in worship and VBS, so the entire congregation also felt personally connected. During Covid time, the refugee schools were closed as so many around the world; even during this time, The Outreach Foundation helped keep the connection strong by providing regular updates and photos about the schools and the efforts of the churches in providing emergency help for the families.

Rev. Nancy Fox

Outreach Trustee