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Lebanonis a sovereign nation in the Middle East with Syria to its north and east, Israel to its south, and the Mediterranean Sea to its west. The capital of Lebanon is Beirut, once called "the Paris of the Middle East."
Lebanon is the smallest recognized country on the entire mainland Asian continent. It has an area of only 10,452 sq. km, which is about 39 times smaller than the state of California. The population of Lebanese nationals in Lebanon is around 4 million. |
More than 2,000,000 Syrian Refugees are in Lebanon
In the last 6 years, Lebanon has received over 2 million refugees* from the neighboring war-torn country called Syria. As you can imagine, such a large number of refugees would bring a very serious humanitarian crisis to Lebanon.
According to a UN assessment in 2016, 93% of the Syrian refugee population was estimated to have some degree of food insecurity. Among the surveyed children of primary school age (6 to 14 years), 48% were found to be out of school, with the highest rate of out-of-school children found in the Beqaa (70% not attending). These rates are significantly higher among children of secondary school age (15 to 17 years): 84% of children of this age group are out of school.
Syrian refugees in Lebanon are in desperate need of food, medical care, education, jobs, winter kits, etc.
*this is a higher but more accurate estimate than the official government published number of 1.3 million because many refugees chose not to register with the government.
According to a UN assessment in 2016, 93% of the Syrian refugee population was estimated to have some degree of food insecurity. Among the surveyed children of primary school age (6 to 14 years), 48% were found to be out of school, with the highest rate of out-of-school children found in the Beqaa (70% not attending). These rates are significantly higher among children of secondary school age (15 to 17 years): 84% of children of this age group are out of school.
Syrian refugees in Lebanon are in desperate need of food, medical care, education, jobs, winter kits, etc.
*this is a higher but more accurate estimate than the official government published number of 1.3 million because many refugees chose not to register with the government.
"What is happening right now is something that we could only dream of in the past!"
- a Lebanese Christian friend & former national director of World Vision in Lebanon
Sadly, the war in Syria has caused much suffering to many people and the situation looks gloomy from a humanitarian standpoint. However, an amazing spiritual phenomenon is happening at the same time. Since almost all of the refugees were brought up in a conservative religious environment, if there has been no war most of them would never have the chance nor the interest to know the truth about Jesus Christ. However, the trauma of war and the ongoing difficult living condition have made their hands wide open to receive Christian help and their hearts to receive Jesus’ love.
More amazingly, by divine providence Lebanon has been the only country in the Middle East with a Christian president as required by its own constitution since 1943. At the same time, Lebanon has the most religiously diverse society of all states within the Middle East and is the most open country in the Middle East for sharing the good news.
"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36)
More amazingly, by divine providence Lebanon has been the only country in the Middle East with a Christian president as required by its own constitution since 1943. At the same time, Lebanon has the most religiously diverse society of all states within the Middle East and is the most open country in the Middle East for sharing the good news.
"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36)
Lebanon has become both a physical and spiritual refuge for millions of refugees to find a temporary and eternal home.
The Story of Laila
A Muslim Background lady who saw Jesus in her dream
I met Laila* in my first visit to Lebanon back in March 2017. In a sunny afternoon, I followed a local pastor for a routine pastoral visit to Laila’s makeshift home in a farm. When we arrived, Laila and her two teenage daughters were just taking a break from the hard labor in which they worked for 10 hours a day for a mere daily wage of $6.
On that day, there was something very special that Laila couldn’t wait to tell the pastor once she saw him. Even though I didn’t understand any Arabic word that she spoke, i could see the joy and excitement on her face as she recounted the spiritual experience she had just 10 days ago. She shared how Jesus visited her in a dream after she cried out to Him for protecting her son from an adversary who was planning to kill him. Laila said that when she saw Jesus, all her fear was gone, and peace and joy completely filled her heart.
This is just one example out of hundreds or even thousands of true stories of Muslims encountering Jesus in the midst of their struggles. From the mouth of our Arab Christian friend, what is happening right now is something that they could only dream of in the past. What we are currently seeing in the Middle East is a once-in-a-lifetime golden opportunity to share Jesus’ love with millions of Muslims with results that were never seen before.
*Laila is not her real name because we have to conceal her identity for her safety and the identity of those who minister to her.
On that day, there was something very special that Laila couldn’t wait to tell the pastor once she saw him. Even though I didn’t understand any Arabic word that she spoke, i could see the joy and excitement on her face as she recounted the spiritual experience she had just 10 days ago. She shared how Jesus visited her in a dream after she cried out to Him for protecting her son from an adversary who was planning to kill him. Laila said that when she saw Jesus, all her fear was gone, and peace and joy completely filled her heart.
This is just one example out of hundreds or even thousands of true stories of Muslims encountering Jesus in the midst of their struggles. From the mouth of our Arab Christian friend, what is happening right now is something that they could only dream of in the past. What we are currently seeing in the Middle East is a once-in-a-lifetime golden opportunity to share Jesus’ love with millions of Muslims with results that were never seen before.
*Laila is not her real name because we have to conceal her identity for her safety and the identity of those who minister to her.
We believe that we are now in a divine moment and place in the history of the Middle East where millions of lives are about to be transformed in ways never seen before.
Our Mission
to share the love of Jesus Christ to the Syrian refugees in words & in actions
Our mission focus:
Our ministries include:
- 500,000+ Syrian refugees living in the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon near the border of Syria.
- More than 50% of these refugees are children and 70-84% of them are without education at this moment.
- More than 85% of these refugees were born and raised in a conservative Muslim environment. Most of them have never heard the gospel presented to them.
- Their urgent needs are food, medical care, education, jobs, winter kids, etc.
Our ministries include:
- starting a House of Prayer with local brothers and sisters,
- providing practical helps to Syrian refugees,
- seeing a spiritual movement among the refugees
Your Partnership
The opportunities are here. The needs are great. The harvest is ripe. The workers are few. The time is now.
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We really appreciate and sincerely ask for your partnership to bring Jesus' love to so many who have never experienced it before.
In Ecclesiastes 4:12, the Scripture says that "though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." We know very well that the task in front of us is too big and too challenging for anyone to do it alone. Therefore, we sincerely ask you to consider becoming our partners in this once-in-a-lifetime endeavor.
There are two important ways you can partner with us:
There are two important ways you can partner with us:
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1. As our intercessors, you will
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2. As our sponsors, you can
*Please type "Lebanon Missions" in the "Note for Specific Donation Category" box .
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