Lebanon (MNN) — If you’ve been watching Lebanon lately, you know how bad it’s gotten. For example, it’s been nine months since the government quit following the Beirut blast. Caretaker officials still cannot agree on who should take over the country.
On Friday, a senior World Bank leader forecast further doom unless Lebanon can get its act together. Amid the seemingly endless tragedy, there’s at least one reason to celebrate. “A lot of people are finding hope in Jesus in a completely new way,” Pierre Houssney of Horizons International says.
Perceptions are changing, too.
“We’re seeing a lot of people that used to be hostile toward evangelical Christians, like some of the Catholics and Orthodox people, they are now very open and they’re very positive about the evangelical movement.”
Three years ago, Lebanese believers sought the Lord and asked Him to move mightily in their nation. God’s response was unexpected, but not unwelcomed.
“God is shaking Lebanon like never before, and the corrupt politicians are hanging on for dear life,” Houssney says.
(Photo courtesy Horizons International)
“It’s really sad to see the politicians hanging on without any compassion for the people. They’re multimillionaires and they’re still not satisfied, whereas the regular people are just stuck [in] a lot of despair.”
From despair springs hope
Things the Lebanese used to trust in – their bank account, the economy, the government – are fading away one-by-one. Tangible expressions of Christ’s love from Horizons and local church partners remain.
“We’re not even getting close to reaching all the needs of the people. But hand-in-hand with the churches, we’re seeing a huge spiritual impact happen in concert with that physical aid,” Hossney says.
Send help and hope to Lebanon through Horizons International. The Lebanon Crisis Fund — formerly the Coronavirus Emergency Relief Fund — provides vital community support through humanitarian aid and Gospel outreach.
“The churches need support because there’s a lot of pressure to flee. A lot of people are trying to find any opportunity to go to the West or just get out because there are no opportunities here,” Houssney says.
“This is a very, very critical time in Lebanon. We’re not sure which direction the country is going to go.”
Protests commonplace as Lebanon nears brink of disaster
Lebanon (MNN) — Nationwide protests erupted mid-March in Lebanon and have become relatively common. Hundreds of protestors marched through Beirut in recent weeks to demand political resolution.
See our full Lebanon coverage here.
“Everybody’s saying, ‘Oh, we’re in a deep crisis,’ but nobody is offering any solution,” Nuna from Triumphant Mercy Lebanon says of caretaker politicians.
Protestors in October 2019.
(Photo credit: Walid Houweyek)Two primary forces are driving Lebanese to the streets, she continues. “One is we have been without the government for almost two years. Even the caretaker government now says that they want to bail out and leave a vacuum,” Nuna explains.
“On the other side, the economic crisis. People can’t afford even basic needs anymore.”
While most of Lebanon’s protestors gather for these two reasons, others join demonstrations with a political agenda. “Some people are there just because the leaders told them to go and make problems,” Nuna says.
“Some are terrorists; some are from Hezbollah; some are from the Shiite party.”
In mid-February, Lebanese authorities charged dozens of protestors in Tripoli with terrorism-related offenses. If convicted, these protesters could face the death penalty.
Lebanon desperately needs your intercessory prayers.
“This is how we pray so you can join us. We’re praying [for] God’s intervention because we don’t know how things would change,” Nuna says.
“There is no other solution than God.”
Pray for believers as they meet physical and spiritual needs in Lebanon. You can help TM Lebanon purchase supplies here.
“The NGOs have been working day and night for the people, but the government is not doing anything. We need prayer,” Nuna states.
“God needs to intervene and shift everything from a desert to a fertile field.”
Header image depicts Beirut protestors in late 2019. (Photo courtesy of Shahen books/Wikimedia Commons)
Source: https://www.mnnonline.org/
