Vital Ministry in Syria and Lebanon
Blessed School, Home of Hope, Together for the Family, NESSL Women’s Conference
Outreach team of three on the left, with two of the women leaders in the Middle East: Dr. Mary Mikhael, previous President of Near East School of Theology (center), Rev. Najla Kassab, Director of Women’s Ministries for NESSL (to her right) and other guests
As we seek to engage followers of Christ in His mission in Syria and Lebanon, The Outreach Foundation continues in partnership with the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL). This July three Outreach board members, Nancy Fox, Lois Andrews, and Lisa Culpepper traveled to Beirut to visit partners and attend the annual Women’s Conference in Dhour Choueir, Lebanon.
The over-arching focus of this visit was the challenge of ministry — and simply of daily life. In Lebanon, an economic collapse and the 2020 catastrophic explosion of a chemical silo, followed by COVID, has plunged the middle class into poverty and the poor into hopeless destitution. Even people who are employed such as teachers are reluctant to work because transportation to their schools costs more than they are paid. Hunger and food deprivation are widespread, and the effects are visible everywhere!
Our visit began in Beirut at the BLESSED School, a training center focused on special needs populations of young adults who are blind, on the autism spectrum, or with other cognitive needs, including Down’s Syndrome. The focus is on loving and preparing them for either independent living or contributing to their self-support with skills in carpentry, mosaic artistry, weaving, and other handicrafts as well as cooking or simple mechanics.
We also visited Home of Hope, a residential program that serves court-assigned, trauma-exposed children with basic needs, academic support, vocational training, social activities, psychosocial support, and medical support. Home of Hope helps them discover and develop the individual talents and skills needed for a safe, productive, and independent future. We were privileged to meet the new director of Home of Hope, Caroline Zoorob, who has recently assumed leadership of the ministry.
Together for The Family (TFF), an ever-growing ministry to displaced Syrians who live as refugees in desperate camps in the Bekaa Valley, is always on our agenda. We marveled at the life-giving work under the watchful eye and boundless faith of founder and director Izdihar Kassis. As board members, when we visit the ministries with which we engage, we are able to discover first-hand the life-giving power of the generous gifts of Outreach donors. In this ministry, Syrian children, teens, and young adults have opportunities to continue their education (stymied by years of displacement) and build skills for independent living outside of the camp. Young girls learn cosmetology skills, nursing, sewing, and crafts. There is also training in computer programming, electrical engineering, and woodworking. Medical clinics are also available and a new center for dental care is being constructed. Izdihar, who works tirelessly, always has one more project in mind to complete. A high priority, currently unfunded, is a ministry with new mothers and their babies.
Our final destination was in the lovely mountains of Dhour Choueir where we greeted the 90 women arriving from Syria and Lebanon to enjoy a week of spiritual and physical refreshment. For most of the women, this was their only vacation and opportunity for a hot shower, fairly consistent electricity, and delicious and nutritious food they did not have to skimp and work to prepare. The Outreach Foundation, in partnership with NESSL, funds the conference for women whose families have faced tragic economic hardship. The Lebanese banking crisis, the Syrian war, and the recent earthquake have left Syria and Lebanon in a seemingly unredeemable economic state. With the high cost of fuel and food, the average income in Lebanon is now approximately $90/month, and in Syria only $8/month which is simply not enough to support a family. The Outreach Foundation’s partnership with the Synod contributes to the vitality and spiritual health of female leaders, families, and members of the 40 Presbyterian churches who faithfully meet the needs of their surrounding communities.
There are several ways to give to the needs of children in Lebanon through the support of the BLESSED School, Home of Hope, or Together for The Family. The baby ministry at TFF has been put on hold for lack of funds. In order to support new mothers and the potential of 90 babies and their families, TFF is seeking supporters to reignite this ministry. The average cost of the program per month per baby is $80.00, or about $1,000/year.
If you feel called to support the ministry of building strong female leadership in both Syria and Lebanon, then direct your gifts to the annual Women’s Conference in Dhour Choueir. These funds make it possible for faithful women who serve their churches and communities to participate in a week of spiritual and physical refreshment. See pictures from this year’s Women’s Conference below.
Click HERE to read more about this special journey to Lebanon!
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts to support the mission and ministry of BLESSED School; Home of Hope; Together for the Family. All gifts of any size are welcomed. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.
