Camille Melki with Heart For Lebanon says that religious minorities like Kurds, Christians, Alawites, and Shia Muslims are still very reluctant to return to Syria.

Heart For Lebanon has worked to reach Syrian refugees in Lebanon. (Photo courtesy of Heart for Lebanon)

During the 13 years of civil war in Syria, about 60–65% of people population was displaced. About 6.8 million Syrians fled to other nations, especially neighboring ones like Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey.

Heart For Lebanon has served refugees and locals alike as they aim to emulate Christ-like love, which creates opportunities for sharing the gospel.

“Heart for Lebanon is a ministry that focuses on addressing the needs of the marginalized, the vulnerable, those who have been suffering tremendously and have either been residents of this nation or have moved into this country of Lebanon,” Melki says.

To Syrian refugees, aid from a Christian organization may first seem to have ulterior motivations. Many believe Christians to be the enemy, or they think that organizations like Heart for Lebanon seek to gain politically through their work. When they see Christians behave differently, it creates gospel opportunities.

“We serve unconditionally, but that doesn’t mean unconditional aid forces us not to share the Gospel. In fact, it’s the reverse,” Melki says. “People in the Middle East ask questions; Syrian refugees are the first to do so. ‘What motivates you? What drives you, what gets you out of bed every morning? Why do you care for a person from a different faith background, from a different religious group, or from a different ethnic background?’ When they hear that the aid we give is given unconditionally, it baffles them.”

Melki has seen a thirst for the gospel among Syrian refugees. As they return home, please pray that they will take the message of Jesus with them.

“What excites me the most is what will happen in Syria, six, seven, eight years from now, when individuals who have expressed their faith in Christ in Lebanon are ready to carry that gospel message among their own people in their own country.”

Please pray also for the emotional loss and healing needed in Syria as they work to rebuild.

Pray also for Lebanon as it recovers economically and politically from all the

factors involved in hosting Syrian refugees.

Header Photo courtesy of Shvan Hark via Unsplash