Christmas greetings and every blessing for the New Year!
I am writing to all of you after speaking to my colleagues at NESSL.
First we wish you and your families, colleagues, and churches, the most joyful New Year.
We want to express our deep gratitude to all of the US churches that are concerned about the Syrian tragedy and have helped in various ways. What those churches have done as part of our ministry has indeed helped ease the pain and suffering of many for which we praise God. Again we would like to underline our concerns as a church regarding the Syrian situation at the end of the third year. By all means Syria has been facing a tragic situation on every level.
1- A human tragedy of severe violence caused loss of life for at least 125,000. Surely many lost lives have not even been counted.
2- The number of refugees in neighboring countries is close to three million. They live in misery and humiliation. Of those, nearly one million are children.
3- The number of internally displaced is over six million, most have lost homes and their livelihood. Many live without privacy with people they do not know and wait for distribution of food, blankets, medicine, and other daily needs. Many have rented humble homes and beg for help with the cost of the rent. It is now said that half of the Syrian population needs help just to be able to survive. The high cost of available goods, the devaluation of the Syrian pound, the destruction of medical and pharmaceutical factories, and other working places is beyond comprehension.
4- Syria is facing destruction of its history, culture, way of life, and much of what is considered its human heritage. The ancient historical sites, the Christian villages, ancient churches and mosques have all been targeted. Museums are being looted and archeological sites used randomly to sell and buy arms. Syria is a mosaic of cultures, religions, ethnic groups, all who lived side by side as neighbors practicing their own traditions, accepted and respected equally. Now, with the presence of so many non-Syrian fighters, the threats against minorities (Christians in particular) have no limits.
Unfortunately, many western countries as well as regional ones have been training, arming, and supporting those groups and sending them to Syria, a fact that has prevented any attempt to end the tragedy, and has continued to perpetuate fear.
Our church like all other churches has been very concerned. We have all been heavily involved in relief work on a large scale as we do not want to see Syria emptied of its Christian community. Indeed the Christian community works to remain hopeful for a future where their presence is effective and where they can keep a Christian witness, spread cooperation, reconciliation, and advocate justice for all.
We solicit prayers from our Christian partners so that God will bring this tragedy to an end. We cry for help so that God's peace will come soon. We know God works miracles through people who are able to affect events, so we need all our partners to communicate with their governments to help bring the Syrians together to discuss and plan a future for all the Syrian people. We also request that foreign fighters leave Syria and their support be stopped by those arming them.
Our church has been involved in relief work for thousands of families. Because of you, our good partners, we were able to provide food, clothes, blankets, medicine, and other materials. We have been helping with housing costs for hundreds of families. We have purchased heating oil, hosted families, provided fans in the summer heat, as well as many other daily necessities. So we praise God for all of you. May God give you grace upon grace and guide all your service.
We ask for your continued prayers and support in this crucial ministry. May 2014, the year of our Lord, bring the world peace. MAY PEACE PREVAIL IN SYRIA!
In Christ,
National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon
