Displaying the Gospel in Times of War
Since the war on Lebanon started, IBN has been encouraging prayer for your dear brothers and sisters caught up in what must be the most terrible recent event facing Lebanon, and they have had many other recent serious challenges.
We have circulated an appeal, and we have sent £13,500 from 24 personal donations and one Church gift. Thank you to those who have supported it.
There are no signs of the situation easing and winter weather will compound the misery of the one third of the population who have had to leave their homes.
We will have a prayer time with Thimar friends (DV) on 5th December at 12.30pm . Here is the link to register: https://www.ibnetworks.org/events
There is a monthly EBF prayer gathering online on the last Wednesday of each month at 18.00 hrs (6.00pm) To register and be informed and pray go to https://www.ebf.org/give-and-pray
Thanks for your part in supporting our friends in Lebanon.
May God bless you as you bless them.
Stephen Adams
Hon. Secretary IBN
Op-Ed: The War in Lebanon
We find ourselves in arguably the most challenging period in Lebanon’s modern history. In late September, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah erupted into a full-scale war after months of low-intensity conflict that had been primarily concentrated in southern Lebanon. Weeks of fighting have left thousands of people dead and injured, more than a million people displaced, and towns and villages destroyed and in ruins.
Since the start of the escalation, we have been on the ground responding. God has enabled us to provide for both the physical and spiritual needs of thousands of people. The first article in this newsletter, “The Scenes of Gaza have come to” southern Lebanon, highlights our initial response and the harrowing plight of the tens of thousands of people forced to flee their homes.
As fighting raged with airstrikes pounding villages and towns across the country, the number of people affected and displaced quickly grew to a scale that surpassed the limited resources and ability of the bankrupt, caretaker government to handle. To respond to needs, our school, Beirut Baptist School (BBS), turned into a logistical hub, supplying displacement centers with meals, mattresses, blankets, medicine, and other essential aid. This newsletter features a video about how BBS was impacted by the war and how it continues its education mandate while supporting the local community.
Our seminary school, Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS), also rallied into action. While preparing hundreds of daily hot meals, it opened its doors to displaced families, providing free accommodation and food for 175 people. Our newsletter this month features the stories of some of those who sought shelter at ABTS.
The worst of the humanitarian crisis caused by this war is still to come. As winter draws near, displaced people will face frigid temperatures. In the panic and rush of fleeing their homes, some did not bring winter clothing. As is the case every year in Lebanon, winter rains have already started to damage roads and poor public infrastructure. The months ahead promise to be challenging, but Thimar, by God’s grace, will continue to adapt and respond as needed.
As the world last week watched Donald Trump secure a second term as president of the US, we listened carefully to his promise to end the war in our region. Time will tell if Trump will be able to, but ultimately it is not in him nor any other leader or government that we put our hope -- it is God our Father whom we trust. It is He who raises and removes leaders, who knows every hair on our head. It is He who has enabled us to be a helping hand in our country’s time of need, to share and demonstrate the gospel with our neighbors. It is that trust that helps us to endure the airstrikes that hit Beirut and the jets and drones that roar above us.
As we head further into uncertainty and challenges, we thank you for your prayers and support. Both have helped us and continue to help us as we further our mission to be a light and support to the church in Lebanon and across the Arab World.
Below are some videos highlighting the work that Thimar has been doing since the war escalated in September.
Lebanon War Testimonies: Through the Valley of Death
Ibrahim*, a Christian originally from a different faith background, was in his home in Beirut’s southern suburbs on September 27 when a massive air attack shook Lebanon’s capital city. As he attempted to escape Beirut on that harrowing night with his family, he kept repeating Psalm 23: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”
In the Fire: Beirut Baptist School responds to the war in Lebanon
Like other schools across the country, the war in Lebanon has heavily impacted Beirut Baptist School (BBS). Some 100 of its teachers are displaced or hosting displaced family members. Around 200 families of students are also displaced. Constant airstrikes on Beirut pose safety concerns for in person classes. Though the challenges are daunting, BBS has not given up on its education mandate. Nor is it turning its back on its community. To ensure that its students continue to receive the affordable, quality education that it has long provided, BBS has moved to online classes. All the while, staff, students, and alumni are helping with humanitarian aid efforts.
Sara: How SKILD is helping special needs children amid war in Lebanon
Sara's family fled from Syria to escape the country's brutal civil war, only to find themselves caught in the crossfire of another conflict in Lebanon. After escaping southern Lebanon, Sara's family came to Arab Baptist Theological Seminary, which has been hosting people displaced by the war in Lebanon. It was at ABTS that Sara's mother learned about SKILD, which provides intervention and education programs for children with special needs. Since enrolling in SKILD's Applied Behavior Analysis program, Sara's communication skills have steadily improved.
From one war to another
For the second time, Hala has been displaced from her home in Southern Lebanon. In both times, Arab Baptist Theological Seminary - ABTS has been there for her. The first time, she was just a child. Today, she is a mother, trusting God as she and her daughter face war and displacement.
Supporting Lebanon's Displaced
In a village southeast of Beirut, a relief center supported by Thimar has transformed its classrooms into a kitchen to help displaced people from across Lebanon. This initiative, born out of a love for serving others, demonstrates God's love, even with the little they have. Volunteers, some displaced themselves, come daily to offer hope and a listening ear to those in need.
To see a PDF overview of Thimar’s response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the war, click the button below.
