Serving people and sharing the gospel as one based on faith in Christ
Syria is located in the center of the Levant, which has the meaning of a“place where the sun rises.
” It is also known as Damascus, the place where the Apostle Paul was converted, and Antioch (now Antakya), which is said to have used the term “Christian” for the first time in history. Before the war began
in 2011, the Christian population of Syria was 1.8 million, accounting for 10-12% of the total population.
Now, only about 700,000 Christians remain, less than 5% of the total population. Also, more than 120 churches and cathedrals were destroyed.
The Syrian Church, which looked forward to the Arab Spring, is now going through a long winter, but it is taking this crisis as a new challenge to tackle with patience and faith that have persisted for 2,000 years. At the Global Christian Forum held in 2018, Archbishop Ignatius Aphrem II, the head of the Syrian Orthodox Church, said, “Christianity is on the verge of disappearing in Syria, but Syrian Christians still have a firm belief in Christ.”
Young people have been lost due to mass migration, and the church and many heritage sites that have been preserved until now have been destroyed, but as an anonymous Syrian pastor said, the church’s struggle is over “influence, not survival.” Although the number has declined, unlike Muslims, Christians showed the power of the gospel by spreading reconciliation and forgiveness without carrying arms, and as a result, the number of Muslim background believers (MBB) is increasing. Pastor Simon (pseudonym), who stayed in his country to preach the gospel to the end, says he has baptized countless MBBs and Druze, a branch of Islam, over the past few years, and that number could reach hundreds of thousands in Syria and the Middle East.
Also, the Syrian Church will experience unity in the midst of the current crisis. It is true that until now, the Syrian Church has had unnecessary tension and conflict between various Christian sects. However, Archbishop Afrim II says, “The history of persecution and martyrdom reveals the communism of unity and holiness.” In the future, I look forward to the Syrian Church becoming more united and accomplishing God’s great and amazing work by serving the needy, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and spreading hope.
Churches where Christians have left are filled with converted Muslims.
Christian Today UK reported that the Syrian church, where more than 1 million Christians left due to the civil war, is being filled with converted Muslims. Pastor George Moushi of the Alliance Church in Qamishli, northeastern Syria, stated that starting this year, individuals who previously followed Islam have begun filling the empty seats left by those who departed the congregation. He said that when Türkiye bombed Qamishli in September last year, 60% of Chrisitans wanted to stay in the city. Also, since this year, Muslims have visited, and currently 25-30% of the church members are Muslims.
At the time, he said, “People died, got injured, and homes and stores were destroyed,” and “when the Turks came to Syria, Syrian Christians were very afraid. The Turkish military was able to do horrible things, hurt women, rob homes, and cause a lot of damage,” he recalled. He said, “The war made people think about their own lives,” and in particular, “It made Muslims question their faith, and they said, ‘Where will I go after death? ‘” he explained.
Since the church began relief activities in 2012, it has helped hundreds of Syrian refugees flee violence and has continued prayers and relief projects to help war bereaved families. In addition, the united church, with the support of the Open Doors UK & Ireland, is providing assistance to local residents facing difficulties due to COVID-19. Pastor George said, “Our church sees this challenging time as an opportunity to protect and support the people while demonstrating the love of Jesus. What people need is not just material things. We are praying together for those who are weary and fearful.”
Although the Syrian Church has faced a major crisis since the civil war, Christians still remain there, building a collapsing church, saving dying people, and steadfastly protecting their faith. Pastor Abdallah , who runs the Hope Center at a church in Aleppo, says, “We will stand next to those who are suffering and help them, and encourage Christians to continue to stay.” Also, in 2017, the Syrian Bible Association began a trauma healing program based on the Bible to help Christian families struggling in the midst of painful memories of the civil war. In December 2020, although organized by the Syrian National Committee, the Damascus Gospel Grace Church also conducted a counselor training course to support psychological treatment and trauma recovery for its citizens.
》Prayer Points
1. The Syrian Church, which holds a rich Christian heritage and includes historic places like Damascus and Antioch mentioned in Acts, is now on the brink of extinction due to over 11 years of war and persecution. Christians, like many others, have perished in the conflict, faced mass killings by the armed ISIS, and more than one million have fled to neighboring countries. Let us thank the Lord for preserving churches amidst the devastation of Syria, where no hope can be found in its dictator president, Islamic militant groups, or surrounding powers. Pray that even the few remaining believers will shine as a light in a land of chaos and death, and that the church, despite persecution and martyrdom, will become a more united and holy body, fulfilling its mission.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11,NIV)
2. The war has led many Muslims to question their faith, asking, “Where will I go after death?” Let us thank the Lord for using this spiritual impoverishment to open the way for salvation and for guiding them to seek the church. Pray that the Syrian Church, despite the sorrow and suffering they have endured, will forgive as Jesus Christ did, love their neighbors as themselves, give selflessly, and stand firm as witnesses to the gospel of the cross.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. (Romans 12:14-15,17,NIV)
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