Lebanon (MNN) – “It feels like a ceasefire with a large asterisk, from the beginning when it was negotiated.”
Pierre Houssney with Horizons International gives an update on the November 2024 deal between Israel and Hezbollah, one that continues to be violated as frustration mounds. Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun maintains that all non-state actors should be disarmed, though Houssney says Aoun’s administration has not made significant headway toward this end.
“The big asterisk that’s at the end of the ceasefire agreement is that really it’s contingent on complete disarmament of Hezbollah, which is not something Hezbollah wants to do or will ever accept,” he says.
Though a number of Hezbollah’s weapons caches were eliminated last fall, Israel continues to strike Lebanon with missiles.
“Sometimes it’s clear that those missile strikes are just wiping out weapons caches here and there,” Houssney says. “Sometimes it’s not as clear what the goal is or whether there were really weapons there.”
The situation remains unstable. But for ministry, it’s business as usual.
“We’re used to these kinds of crises. We’re used to war coming in and out. We’re used to all kinds of drama,” Houssney says.
Meanwhile, he points out, people tend to be more spiritually open during crises.
“And so we are continuing our work in spreading the message of the Gospel – the message of hope in Jesus – as much as we can to as many people that will listen. And so many people are listening right now. It’s very encouraging.”
Houssney reminds MNN listeners that while it can be tempting to villainize opposition, a Kingdom view transcends political and national bounds to see the situation for what it is: a spiritual battleground.
“There are good things and bad things done by all the different sides. The truth remains the same, which is that anybody who hasn’t given their life to Jesus is headed toward destruction. And so we need to be seeing these conflicts with spiritual eyes, and seeing what is the spiritual side of this,” he says.
In times of lack, in times of prosperity – in all times – how can we use what we have to advance God’s Kingdom?
“It’s not about moving a border. It’s not about winning a war. It’s about winning souls to eternity,” Houssney says.
Please pray for the ministry of Horizons International in Lebanon. Pray specifically for the approximately 150 Lebanese Evangelical congregations: that they would be strengthened in the Lord and equipped to share the Gospel with those around them.
Above photo courtesy of Sleiman Al-Khatib via Pexels; featured photo Courtesy of Mohamad Mekawi via Pexels
