Dear friends and partners in the ministry of Christ,
Personally and on behalf of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon I greet you in the precious name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
Thank you for your faithfulness, praying with us, and supporting our ministry among the Syrian displaced and refugees.
I also hope you all had a very blessed Thanksgiving..
As today the NESSL crises committee had its regular meeting the following information was shared:
The committee received a letter from the pastor in Aleppo expressing a great need to help families be able to purchase heating oil as the weather is becoming cold and many are unable to
buy the needed heating oil. Then other members voiced concern that this is a great need for all, especially that people have rented places in areas considered summer areas where the cold is already severe and will get more severe by the day. In Homs, for example, the temperature currently is 8cg. After discussion, the committee made the following decision:
Indeed the winter cold is threatening all people who lack the warmth of their own homes in particular, but also even those who remain in villages and towns or cities where to buy heating oil, when available, has become unaffordable.
We need to respond to this need. Cold is surely threatening children and old people in particular, and heating oil is as needed as food. Thus we need to provide for at least (1000) families in different parts in Syria.
Those will be helped to buy ( 200) liters by mid December or as soon as funds are available. In Aleppo the price of one liter is between 100-150 Syrian pound. Other places vary from 65-80 Syrian pounds. Thus, NESSL will provide the amount of $100 for each of the one thousand as one payment. The local pastors with local relief committees will make the needed plans.
Concerns were voiced as this is a large amount, taking into consideration the fact that our budget for our relief program is $ 1,300.000. for one year. So we need to appeal to our partners to help in providing warmth in a cold winter to one thousand families.
However, we have to trust God who cares for the needy. To Him we turn in all our needs. God will provide!
In his report, the director of the relief program has also stressed the fact that so many families have been appealing for help with the rent. Thus, the committee requested more information before making any decisions, taking into consideration that already more than 488 families have been helped with rent for almost two years.
It is a fact that all the collections on Thanksgiving in the Presbyterian churches both in Syria and Lebanon have been assigned this year for the families that have lost homes and are unable to rebuild in the circumstances.
We in all our churches have launched a winter project which we call: " A sweater and a scarf !" In the hope that we can help those in refugee camps face the cold.
SO OUR GOOD FRIENDS! WE appeal to your compassionate spirit to help us in this very needed ministry. Be people who provide loving warmth in a hating cold! Indeed the project to help providing $100 for one thousand families is a big amount, and surely we are in great need of your help. Maybe we could assign one Sunday when each one coming to church would pay $1-5. This could make like a blanket coming from heaven and providing the needed warmth in this cruel winter. WOULD IT NOT BE A MIRACLE!
We appeal to all our friends and partners to stretch a helping hand to the NESSL as soon as possible to be able to provide the heating oil.
Our God who is a God of miracles may guide you all and move your hearts to do His will. To Him all the glory now and for ever.
**, On behalf of the NESSL
