Serving Amid the Bombs

ACP report: What is the current situation in Lebanon?

Georges: Lebanon has gone through many crises and upheavals in recent years. And now, due to Hezbollah's terrorist activities, we have been drawn into this major war between Iran, Israel, and the U.S. This conflict began several years ago and, after a brief lull, has now flared up again. A great many people have lost loved ones and all their possessions. The situation is extremely distressing.

How is your church helping in this situation?

Israel plans to establish a buffer zone in the south of the country. This has resulted in more than 1.2 million displaced people. Around 400,000 people have fled from the southern suburbs of Beirut alone. The situation in the country is very chaotic. Many came to our area because it is comparatively safer here. As a church, we try to provide practical help to these vulnerable and suffering people, to encourage them, to pray with them, to show them care and love, and to tell them about Jesus.

How do you reach the displaced people?

Our teams actively seek out the people and approach them—for example, in a school building where 40 to 50 families are housed. We provide them with food and hot meals and bring them mattresses, blankets, medicine, and diapers. In some places, we have also set up centers where people can shower and wash their clothes.

How do people react to your help?

Here's an incident that's happening over and over again right now: Not too long ago, there was a man who had lost his home—his house was completely destroyed by a bomb. He worked not far from our church. So I got in touch with him and brought him, his wife, and his children mattresses, blankets, a table, and chairs for the empty room they had rented. He was deeply moved and said to me, “Not even my own people helped me. But you, who belong to a different religion, helped me. I would like to visit your church.” And indeed, he came. I asked him to speak briefly to the congregation. He did so and shared how deeply our help had touched him.

How is your congregation coping with the situation?

All day long we hear drones flying overhead. At night, planes circle, and bombs fall. Our church is not far from the areas being hit by airstrikes—less than a kilometer in a straight line. Sometimes, when we gather in the church, there are powerful and very loud explosions, and the building shakes. In Lebanon, there are forces pursuing an agenda that is directed against God. This is causing enormous chaos. We pray that God's enemy in Lebanon will be completely defeated. At the same time, we also see this as an opportunity to be a light in the midst of the turmoil. I believe that we are fighting against the spirit of darkness when we pray and proclaim the Word of God in the bombed-out area.

How can we help you?

We are deeply grateful for the financial support we receive from ACP to assist the displaced. This opens doors for sharing the Gospel. We are equally grateful for your prayers. Especially over the past seven years, the Lebanese people have endured much suffering—and it is becoming increasingly difficult. Please pray for peace in our country. And pray for protection for Christians, so that in this situation they can be a light to those who are in need and do not yet know Jesus. We need much grace to do what God is asking of us at this time.