'Ministry in war-torn Lebanon is tough. But the good news of Jesus shines in the darkness'

It has been just over a year since we last saw clear skies; a year since we felt any sense of stability. The senseless war we have been dragged into has, so far, cost Lebanon 3,002 lives and injured 13,492 people (official figures as of 5 November 2024). The psychological toll has been even more devastating.

Sonic booms, constant threats and swirling rumors plague us. Schools are suspended and our lives feel as though they are, too. We are trapped in a limbo between living and merely surviving. The simple sound of a car engine can trigger panic attacks for some, while others have grown numb to the pain, the fear and the worry.

In the face of such overwhleming challenges, only prayer and faith can ground us

I live with my family on the outskirts of Beirut, in an area considered ‘safe’. We hear the bombings and airstrikes; we smell the smoke and see the fires, but so far, our building hasn’t been directly threatened. It feels surreal, to say the least.

Lebanon has been in constant upheaval for years, starting with the 2019 revolution, followed by the Covid-19 global pandemic, then the explosion in 2020 at the Port of Beirut that killed 218 people and left 7,000 injured.

Now, this war. It breaks my heart to see so many of our brightest young people giving up on Lebanon and emigrating, seeking dignity, if nothing else. The brain drain is taking a toll on Christian ministries, churches and the country as a whole.

A light in the darkness

Ministry here is not for the faint of heart. Walking with people through the darkest moments of their lives and sharing in their pain is not easy. As we continue our ministry, both through Youth for Christ Lebanon and Faith Family Church, the stories we encounter are like something out of a nightmarish movie. Families torn apart, homes and properties lost forever, and trauma that will cling to people for the rest of their lives.

Yet this is also the most critical time to share the hope we have - the hope that can carry people through this life and into the next. The darker it gets, the brighter the good news of Jesus shines. The darker it gets, the more people will cling to the word of God. The darker it gets, the deeper our roots must hold onto the rock. The darker it gets, the louder our calling becomes.

Now is the time for salvation.

Reconcilliation and reckoning

While relief efforts take many forms, the call for reconciliation is becoming even more pressing. We need to reconcile with the Syrian refugees - still considered enemies by many in Lebanon – who are being displaced yet again by war. We need to reconcile with the Lebanese fleeing the affected areas - people who come from unfamiliar backgrounds to ours, hold different political views and have controversial affiliations, to say the least.

Walking with people through the darkest moments of their lives and sharing in their pain is not easy

We must also confront and reconcile with the trauma of fear, loss and displacement that stirs within us. And, perhaps most challenging of all, we need to reconcile our view of a loving God amid such destruction and despair.

As I put my daughter to bed last night, after a long search for her favorite toy, I couldn’t help but think of the countless children sleeping in cold shelters or on the streets, without so much as a blanket. Holding her close, my heart ached for the mothers who have lost children, the wives who have lost husbands, and all those enduring unimaginable loss.

A prayer for peace

Politics has never been my strong suit, but caring for the innocent on both sides is something I know is close to God’s heart. Please pray for the ministers on the streets, caring for the least of these, for those organising events and sharing the gospel.

Pray for the people we meet, that the love we show reflects the love poured into us. Pray that we remain mindful of the impact our words and actions have on those who have suffered so much. May we remain bold yet peaceful, even as the very foundations of our lives are shaken daily.

In the face of such overwhleming challenges, only prayer and faith can ground us. May all this turmoil drive us to our knees in prayer, that his kingdom come, and his will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.