An update from Lebanon

As Lebanon once again stands at the edge of war and widespread displacement, our hearts are heavy. The anxiety and grief are real. For many in this country, this is not unfamiliar terrain. We have walked through such crises before. Yet each time, the uncertainty is painful, and the toll on families, communities, and the nation is profound.

As Christians, we are people who take reality seriously without surrendering to it. We do not minimize the gravity of the moment, but neither do we yield to fear. Our hope is anchored in the living God: steadfast, sovereign, and near to the brokenhearted. When the future feels uncertain, his mercy does not.

In many ways, this is a kairos moment. There are moments in the life of the Church when we are called not merely to endure events, but to discern how to respond with faithfulness. We believe this may be such a moment. It presses us to ask not only, “How do we survive this?” but also, “How do we bear witness in this? How do we embody the presence of Christ in the midst of brokenness?”

In such a time, the calling of Christians becomes clearer, not less. We are called to be light in the darkness, not with slogans, but with presence; not with abstraction, but with costly love. We are called to steady the fearful, receive the vulnerable, strengthen the weary, and bear witness to a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

There is also a tension many of us are living in these days. On the one hand, there are immediate needs that cannot be postponed: safety concerns, displaced families, staff welfare, operational adjustments, emergency planning, and the day-by-day decisions required in a volatile environment. On the other hand, long-term priorities remain just as important: formation, theological education, leadership development, and the slow, faithful work of nurturing disciples for the Kingdom. In other words, we must care for the present emergency without losing sight of the long obedience required for the future.

At ABTS and Thimar, this means being prepared to serve in practical ways as needs arise, including opening our guesthouse and campus to receive those who are being displaced. We received our first families in the early hours of Monday, the 2nd, only a few hours after the start of hostilities. At the same time, we continue to serve our remarkable student body spread across the Arab world.

Pray for Lebanon: for restraint, for peace, for wisdom among leaders, for protection over civilians, and for the mercy of God upon this land.

Pray that, in this kairos moment, the people of God in Lebanon would be found faithful: calm in spirit, firm in hope, generous in love, and ready to serve.

Pray for our staff and community as they navigate uncertainty, make difficult decisions, and care for others while carrying their own burdens.

Sophie, Elise and Antoine are doing well. They are holding the fort while I am outside Lebanon at the time of writing this letter. By now, they know the drill.

We are deeply grateful for your partnership.

With gratitude,

Wissam Nasrallah