Hope for Lebanon: our part in God’s plan

There is something Edenic about Lebanon. The gorgeous coastline, beautiful mountains and stunning views make you think of paradise. The people are friendly, welcoming and hospitable. And the food is to die for. You can easily see how it might once have been called the jewel of the Middle East.  

There is such an astonishing variety of people that it is possible to see this small country as a symbol for the whole world, both in its abundance and diversity and, sadly, in its tragedy. It is all too easy to see signs of fallenness. The years of civil war, of foreign occupation, of waves of refugees, of ethnic conflict and political difficulties have taken their toll. Taking collective decisions proves difficult, the economy is currently stable but faltering, the tourist trade has dried up.  

In this land of such beauty and such tragedy, the small group I was part of was privileged to witness a team giving form to the redemptive and reconciling work of God. BMS partner organisation, Thimar, is showing how God longs to bring healing, restoration and peace to the land and to the region. 

There has been no human masterplan. Instead, the team and their partners have developed programmes as opportunities have presented themselves and committed, gifted people have emerged. Things have been allowed to happen in accordance with God’s timing. And he, as he’s inclined to do, has brought into being something original, contextual and attractive. 

Perhaps the first question we might ask about a Muslim-majority Middle East is ‘How will they hear?’ And at the heart of Thimar’s work is a seminary that trains pastors and other leaders who will serve churches and share the gospel all over the region. They come from the Arabic-speaking majority Muslim nations of North Africa and western Asia, and they return to those lands better equipped to fulfil their callings.

Men and women, from Muslim and non-Muslim backgrounds, all preparing themselves for service in places that may prove hostile and forbidding but where, if the stories we heard are true, the gospel is reaching ears that are increasingly willing to listen and to respond. Alongside these remarkable people, there is a publishing team that produces Christian materials appropriate to the regional context. Some are translations of books from elsewhere, but an increasing number are written within the Arabic-speaking world.  

Beyond the seminary and the publishing team, we encountered a range of practical Christian ministries. The Syrian army occupied Lebanon for years. In the eyes of many Syrians are the epitome of the enemy. Hundreds of thousands of them have crossed the border fleeing ethnic conflict. Some churches are attuned to the words of Jesus as he speaks of the Samaritan as neighbour and of love for the enemy.

These churches are supported by Thimar as they offer education to children and relief packages for needy families. Opposition comes from within parts of the Church and from local political authorities. Yet the churches involved persist because their first call is to be obedient to the One who has called them. 

Elsewhere we saw a profound commitment to serving others. The civil war meant that people moved to create Christian and Muslim areas in Beirut. The old Baptist School found that it was in a predominantly Muslim area. Many counselled that they should move but the bold decision was taken to offer a Christian education to the Muslim community. And Beirut Baptist School is still full and flourishing. 

We also saw a remarkable commitment to the inclusion of people with special educational needs. A Thimar project, the SKILD centre (standing for Smart Kids with Individual Learning Differences), is setting national standards in care for children with special needs. It has a stream in the Beirut Baptist School and a small project for young adults in one of Lebanon’s main universities, Notre Dame University. 

Finally, we saw economic projects involving dairy farms, a dairy making all kinds of products and a marketing strategy to sell these products locally and then nationally. Supporting the start-up and growth of local businesses, especially in food production, is vital amid Lebanon’s ongoing economic crisis, where currency devaluation, insecure banking, trade sanctions and unreliable public services make it difficult for businesses and households alike to get what they need.  

It’s all another world from the one I usually engage with. The faith and commitment of the Lebanese staff is inspiring. They show astonishing amounts of resilience as they go to work day-by-day. This is something I feel I could never do.

And yet, because of BMS, there is a sense that this is something I am doing. We are their partners in this astonishing work of reconciliation as, through Thimar, God offers hope: hope of restoration, hope of reconciliation, and hope that one day Lebanon might once again be so like Eden that it can be called the jewel of the region.  

That’s the remarkable thing about being part of BMS World Mission. It’s the part of our Christian family that enables us to be partners in the mission of other parts of the same family, in every part of the world.