Syria (MNN) —Another load is lifted from Syria’s shoulders. As of July 8, the US no longer designates Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a foreign terrorist organization. HTS was technically disbanded in January, shortly after its then-leader Ahmed al-Sharaa shed rebel attire and assumed the interim presidency in Syria.
The change in HTS designation comes a week after the US lifted other sanctions on Syria.
Pierre Houssney with Horizons International says reopened commerce and business travel with Syria will change what gospel ministry looks like.
“Before, when everything was economically sanctioned and closed, it was very conspicuous for somebody to come in and want to do missionary activity in the country,” he says. “Often people would get their visas revoked if they were doing something ministry-oriented.”
New opportunities may be ahead! But could financial hope have a harmful impact on Syrians?
(Photo courtesy of Horizons International)
“We’ve seen over history so many times when economic prosperity hardens the hearts and the spiritual eyes of people. But we really don’t know what could be in store,” says Houssney.
“Often when people are in a new situation, they’re open to new ideas, open to considering the claims of Christ. With time, they become more hardened.”
Christians in neighboring Lebanon have been reaching Syria for years. (More on that here.) Praise God, and pray for even more spiritual openness to the gospel.
“Only God knows, but He has a way of ripening people at certain times. Our job as Christians is to be there in the time when the Holy Spirit is moving among a people group,” says Houssney.
Learn more about Horizons International’s calling to serve the people of Lebanon and beyond.
“Pray for Middle Eastern Christians, that they can find ways to respond to the new opportunities and start really advancing the gospel into Syria,” says Houssney.
Header photo: Aleppo, Syria. Courtesy of DianneKet78 via Pixabay.
