Here we are again. Another war engulfs Lebanon. Once more, we see bombs falling on Beirut and the dark grey columns of smoking rising above the skyline. Once more, our country’s south is the frontline between two foes. Once more, people go to sleep at night, not knowing if they will wake up to see another day. 

In some ways, it’s like a terrible Deja Vue. We faced the same challenges and threats less than two years ago.  

But the war now seems different. Areas once thought of as safe have found themselves under fire. Social tensions are growing. And the rhetoric coming from officials on both sides suggests a long and brutal road ahead. 

The feeling of fear, anger, and despair are widespread in Lebanon. Crisis after crisis has afflicted our country for the past several years. The weight of so much hardship is suffocating. People are exhausted.  

What is one to do in the face of so much darkness? What is the role of the church in a time like this? 

These are questions that Thimar Communications Coordinator Simona El Haddad explores in this month’s lead essay: How Thimar Church Partners Are Supporting People In Need.  

One key focus of her article is the way that churches are showing unconditional support to those in need. Since the start of the war on March 2, our church partners in Lebanon have been actively responding to the needs of people displaced by fighting. This month’s newsletter features the stories of several partners, including a church in the northern village of Rahbeh and a MERATH-partner in Beirut.  

Alongside our partners, our six ministries are also at work. Thimar: When Help Can’t Wait provides an overview of the way Thimar ministries are responding. With more than 1 million people displaced in the country, our primary objective thus far has been to provide displaced families with shelter, aid, and support. 

In times of crisis, tension, and fear, this is how the church is called to respond. Our position is not a political one. It is one based on the love, teachings, and perfect example of Jesus.  

As Easter approaches, there are apt lessons from the story of His death and resurrection. Though abused, ridiculed, and disgraced by His own community, Jesus went willingly to the cross and suffered an excruciating death. He faced suffering, not for Himself, but for the very ones who killed Him. Though He could have avoided it, He chose not to. He gave Himself up to His Father’s will, to His redemptive plan. 

In the difficulty of what we face, there is hope in the Easter story. Jesus’ death on the cross was not the end. His suffering was not in vain. After three days, the One mightier than death and above all things rose from the grave. And so, the story continued. A new chapter started. A new covenant began between God and the Body of Christ. 

Some two thousand years later, God’s plan continues to unfold. We are blessed to be part of it. In the face of suffering and challenges, in ways we may not entirely understand, we know God is using us and our partners to carry out His will. 

As we walk the road ahead, we thank you for your support, and we continue to ask for your prayers. May the Lord give us the courage and strength to face the path before us. 

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For more than 25 years, Thimar has walked alongside local churches across the Middle East as they share the gospel and support their communities. If you would like to join us in empowering the local church in the region, consider donating.