Lebanon #2: Anticipation
Anticipation
By Lois Andrews, for the team
First Presbyterian Church, San Diego
How appropriate that we began our second day in worship at the Beirut Presbyterian Church in Rabieh with the joyful singing of “I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord.” We are here to witness God’s kingdom with our sisters from Lebanon and Syria. Our worship with fellow believers, though offered in Arabic, seemed familiar and comfortable. Their sweet welcoming hospitality was shared with us through masks and smiling eyes. Assis (Rev.) George Mourad reminded us again of the power of prayer and the example that Jesus gave to his disciples in the Lord’s Prayer. We went out from there presenting ourselves to God singing “Just As I Am.”
We made our way to the Dhour Chouier Evangelical Conference Center in the mountains north of Beirut. We met with Rev. Najla Kassab, the Director of Christian Education for the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, and planning leader of the Women’s Conference at which we were to begin our week. Najla shared important context for this event by describing the many forces that have led to the national economic crises in Lebanon and Syria – the explosion of August 2020 leading to the destruction of half of Beirut, loss of homes and lives, the collapse of the banking system in Lebanon, the continuing hardship of the war recovery in Syria. All of these have challenged every woman in these times, and their coming to the retreat is a great source of hope for each of them. The opportunity to meet together and with their church leaders recognizes that these are difficult times, and that as believers they are not alone. We are here to stand with them. Najla expressed her appreciation to The Outreach Foundation women for just showing up to seek what God is preparing for all of us. We come to help these women feel alive again, to give a listening ear to their stories, to bring together women of churches at great distance from one another and share fellowship with them.
As Rev. Lisa Culpepper greeted the congregation this morning, she noted that this encounter with our fellow women believers would change our lives: our inspiration would come from their faith, their courage, their resiliency, and their hope. As we now make our home this week among these precious women of great faithfulness, we will be changed. It is our prayer that our hearts will be opened to God’s provision of a special conversation, one that perhaps leads us into a deep relationship, one that satisfies the longing of a lonesome soul, one that listens with empathy and grace to a desperate soul, one that God has specially ordained to be that which changes us.
We finished our day preparing for the ladies who will arrive tomorrow – some driving as many as 15-20 hours from the border of Iraq in the northeast of Syria to join the retreat. As we prepare gift bags to enhance their arrival, and paint crosses to prepare for their craft project, we are praying that their efforts and time will be rewarded by a significant contribution to their emotional and spiritual health. It will be our privilege to come alongside them in prayer, in worship, in Bible Study, in sessions of topics of emotional health, in entertainment, and lots of meals and coffee time.
We will plant hope and wait for God’s blessings to pour out. We Love Your Kingdom, Lord.
