“We did not choose this war, nor do we want it. But we choose to stay.”
These were the words of a community leader in one of southern Lebanon’s Christian villages.
War has once again come to Lebanon. Your brothers and sisters are caught in a conflict not of their making. The conflagration in Iran has spilled over into Lebanon as neighbouring Israel battles against Hezbollah.
More than a million Lebanese have been displaced, including many from the Christian areas of the south – but many Christians have chosen to stay to protect their homes, churches and historic lands.
Death and destruction have once again come to Lebanon. Can you help your brothers and sisters caught in the conflict?
“We know the danger around us, but this is our home and our land,” one believer in the Kawkaba region told Barnabas Aid’s project partner just a few days ago.
He continued, “Leaving is not an option for us. If we leave we might never return.”
“For many Christian families in the south,” added our partner, “remaining is a commitment to protect their faith, homes, land, agricultural assets and the continuity of community life. It is a responsibility towards their church.
“Their steadfastness reflects their attachment to their country and land, and loyalty to the memory of those who came before them.”
A church building destroyed by the conflict that still rages across the Middle East. Please act now to meet the needs of suffering Christians
Yet staying behind is costly. Not only are the believers at risk from airstrikes, but also suffer desperate shortages of fuel, medicine and other essentials.
Today, you can help.
Our project partner has plans to reach around 15,000 people in 14 Christian villages and meet their urgent needs.
“What helps most is knowing we are not forgotten,” added our brother in Kawkaba.
Please show your brothers and sisters that they are not forgotten.
How you can pray
Lord God and Heavenly Father, thank You that our brothers and sisters in Lebanon do not walk through hardship and suffering alone. Please continue to draw near to them, to comfort and strengthen them. We pray that these efforts to meet their urgent needs will be successful, reminding them that they are not forgotten – we ask it in the Name of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
How you can give
£10 ($12; €11) could provide a hygiene kit containing soap, detergent, disinfectant and other essential hygiene items for one household
£23 ($28; €26) could provide urgently needed medication for a Christian with a long-term health condition
£375 ($450; €412) could supply enough diesel to meet a tenth of what each village needs to power generators, water pumping, medicine refrigeration, and other vital needs when energy supplies are disrupted
