This is especially the case with evangelical churches, Sharaiha says, which are in the minority in the Middle East. They know about each other and they are concerned for one another. The impact of the ongoing conflicts on Christian leaders has been heavy.

“I’m sure that anyone, [in] any region, [will] have known someone who has been killed, injured, or someone [who] is really suffering,” Sharaiha says.

Churches are feeling the weight of responding as the hands and feet of Christ to massive needs in Gaza and now in Lebanon. 

“We have 1.5 million displaced out of the 2 million people living in Gaza,” Sharaiha says. “We have, so far, 1.2 million displaced in Lebanon. This is really heavy on different churches because they don’t have the capacity to host, to help.”

At the same time, Sharaiha says it’s also a chance to reach people with the Gospel and show them Christ’s love.

However, in areas like the West Bank, there is incredible pressure. A pastor there told Sharaiha, “We cannot even plan for the future. We cannot even ask people to come to church, because we are overwhelmed.” 

In all this, the MENA Leadership Center seeks to help Christians remember truths of our faith in God. 

“What we are trying to do is remind ourselves and the Christian leaders in the MENA that God is then sitting on His throne. We believe in the sovereignty of God, and we know that God is good in the midst of the whole thing,” Sharaiha says.

MENA Leadership Center partners with more than 132 ministries throughout the Middle East and North Africa. (Photo courtesy of MENA Leadership Center)

Today, the best response you can have is prayer. 

“Please pray for the people of the Middle East. Pray for peace, and definitely pray for ceasefire. Pray for all hostages to go back to their homes,” Sharaiha says. 

“Pray for the Christian leaders to know that they are not forgotten by the global Church, that we are still seeing them, that we are still praying for them, and we are still supporting them. Support is needed in so many different ways. One is prayer. Two is practical help, like blankets, clothing, food, medical supplies and financial resources.” 

Learn more about the MENA Leadership Center here. 

Header photo courtesy of MENA Leadership Center.