“The LORD will keep Lebanon safe forever.”
You, LORD, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked,(Psalm 12:7,NIV)
》 Country Profile
Continent | Middle East
Population | 6.7 million
Area | 10,400㎢, Located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea between Israel and Syria.
Capital City | Beirut (2.14 million)
People Groups | Total 26 groups, Lebanese 64.5%, Palestinian 9.3%, Druze 4.4%, Kurdish 4.1%, Armenian 4.1%, Syrian 2.8%
Unreached People Groups | 8 (13.9% of the population)
Official Language(s) | Arabic, French, English
Total Languages | 21
Bible Translations | Completed 12, New Testament 4, Partial 4
Religion | Christian 32.9% (Protestant 1%, Catholic 22%), Muslim 59%, Druze 4.4%
Evangelicals | 0.7%(37,000 people)
》 About Lebanon
Lebanon, along with Syria, is one of the few Arab countries that has not officially adopted Islam as a state religion, making it a multi-religious nation where Islam and Christianity coexist. A distinctive feature of Lebanon is that freedom is legally guaranteed. It is the only country in the Middle East where religious conversion is legally permitted. Believers from other Arab countries can freely enter Lebanon to receive Christian training at evangelical Bible schools. Lebanon’s political system distributes power among four main sects: Maronite Christians (Catholic), Sunni Muslims, Shiite Muslims, and Greek Orthodox Christians. The Maronite community, which has a relatively high population ratio, holds the right to elect the president. This arrangement has led to dissatisfaction among Muslims, resulting in ongoing civil war and conflict. In the past, Christians were the largest religious group, but their population has steadily declined, and Muslims now form the majority. Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, approximately 1.5 million Syrian refugees have entered Lebanon, forming refugee settlements of various sizes. Diverse mission efforts such as evangelism, relief, and education are being carried out among them. Hezbollah, a Shiite armed group in Lebanon, persecutes Christians, and those who convert from Islam to Christianity face persecution from their local communities and families.
Lebanon’s economy began to collapse after years of internal conflict, made worse by the 2006 war with Israel. The influx of refugees, sharp inflation, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the devastating 2020 explosion at the Beirut port have all contributed to its deepening economic crisis. Among nations struggling to recover, Lebanon is often ranked as the one with the lowest prospects for economic recovery. Uniquely in the region, Lebanon has no domestic oil reserves and must import all of its fuel, further complicating its already fragile electricity supply.
Lebanon’s GDP per capita is approximately $2,800.
》 Scripture Focus
| Psalm 12:1-8(NIV) 1 Help, LORD, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race. 2 Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts. 3 May the LORD silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue— 4 those who say, “By our tongues we will prevail; our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?” 5 “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will protect them from those who malign them.” 6 And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. 7 You, LORD, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked, 8 who freely strut about when what is vile is honored by the human race. |
》 Prayer Points
1. Lebanon, often seen as an oasis among Middle Eastern Islamic nations, stands out with a Christian population exceeding 30% and a constitution that allows for limited religious freedom. At one point, Christians made up 62% of the population, but decades of civil war and political instability have driven many to emigrate. Most Christians in Lebanon today belong to the Catholic or Orthodox traditions and often hold to a nominal faith rooted in culture rather than conviction, leading to spiritual stagnation. In contrast, Protestantism in Lebanon has a relatively strong missionary foundation, built over more than 200 years. Early missionaries established seminaries, schools, and mission-based institutions with a focus on leadership development. Organizations such as the Lebanese Society for Education and Social Development (LSESD), led by American missionaries, have helped train new leaders through institutions like the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary. The Christian Alliance Theological Seminary (run by the Christian and Missionary Alliance) and the Presbyterian Near East School of Theology also continue to raise church leaders across Lebanon and the surrounding region. Let us pray that the Lebanese church, though small and shaken, will seek the Lord’s help in these turbulent times, hunger deeply for His Word, and stand firmly in His truth. May trials refine their faith, and may they become bold witnesses of the gospel, revealing Christ through perseverance and love.
2. There is an overwhelming need for foreign missionaries and organizations to work alongside local Lebanese churches. In the face of national crises—political instability, economic collapse, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the aftermath of the Beirut port explosion—churches have become the only reliable channels for acts of mercy and justice. Let us pray that missionaries and churches would unite to serve through relief and development efforts, including rebuilding infrastructure, supporting Christian schools and orphanages, ministering to youth, and running addiction recovery programs. The Lebanese Bible Society, in partnership with Christian and academic scholars, has also faithfully translated, printed, and distributed Scripture for over 50 years across the Levant—including Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and the Gulf states. In a nation where only the Lord can provide true hope, let us pray that Lebanese churches and global missionaries will be united in prayer and mission. May the Lord rise and bring restoration and spiritual revival to Lebanon and the surrounding region.
3. Lebanon plays a critical role as a refuge for displaced people in the Middle East. The country currently hosts over 630,000 Palestinian refugees, 920,000 Syrian refugees, and thousands of others, including religious refugees and converts. These refugees live in makeshift camps scattered across the country, especially in areas like the Bekaa Valley. Beyond poverty and poor living conditions, refugees face the threat of exploitation by extremist groups that may use camps as recruitment or operations bases. In response to the growing economic strain, the Lebanese government continues to advocate for refugee repatriation. Meanwhile, numerous NGOs and missionaries from around the world are offering humanitarian aid, education, and spiritual care. Lebanese churches have responded actively, with ministries to Syrian refugees in particular becoming a major channel for evangelism and outreach in recent years. Let us pray that those who have lost everything—home, nation, and stability—will find true refuge in the Lord. May they encounter Jesus Christ as their solid rock and learn to trust in the God who guards His people from generation to generation.
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