Two days. Two locations. More than 400 women.

It was a busy weekend in early May for some of the staff of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL) as they traveled to Syria for two, one-day women’s conferences. The events were something of a regional mini retreat, a glimpse of the larger gathering that occurs each year in Lebanon.

In total, these spring gatherings brought together more than 400 women; the first in Latakia and the second near Homs, both locations in Syria. Under the theme “standing firm with unwavering courage, God is forging a new path,” the conferences were time for women to connect, to share stories, to worship, and to pray.

Paul’s words to the church in Corinth echo true in this heavy and uncertain moment as war once again casts a long shadow over the Middle East. Violence, fear, and instability have a way of affecting everyone – families, churches, ministries, and the most vulnerable in communities. No one remains untouched.

In such circumstances, it would be easy to despair and to give up hope. And yet, our partners throughout the Middle East are responding differently. Below is a brief update on our partners who find themselves in the midst of uncertainty and upheaval.

The Outreach Foundation has a long-standing history of fueling the global mission of Christ in the Middle East. Our mission partners there live out God’s call for their ministries in a variety of ways including new church development in Egypt, reconciliation work by Musalaha in Israel and Palestine, theological training and education by the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo and Near East School of Theology in Lebanon, and humanitarian relief work among refugees by the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon. Each of these ministries has merit, however, given the current situation in the Middle East, relief work among refugees is strongly needed.