Lebanon (MNN) — The World Bank extends one more year of financial aid to Lebanon despite political bickering. Directors warn Lebanon’s leaders must take urgent action to save the country.
Inflation reached 206-percent in April and Lebanon’s currency dropped yet again last week, plunging the bedraggled nation further into despair. Heart for Lebanon’s Tom Atema says there are shortages on everything from electricity to fuel to bread. “That affects our ministry in two ways,” he says.
“Number one, everything costs more so it makes life more expensive. At the same time, about 78-percent of the total population in Lebanon needs some kind of food assistance to survive, and that number is becoming more desperate every day.”
Divisions are deepening among Lebanon’s newly-elected Parliament members. Fighting between parties that are for and against Hezbollah is taking priority over much-needed reform.
The “bad news” seems never-ending, but hope remains.
(Photo courtesy of Heart for Lebanon)
The “bad news” seems never-ending, but hope remains. “Over [the past] 15 years, we have found that when we show the love of Christ in an unconditional way, they will draw us into a conversation about our Heavenly Father,” Atema says.
“People are looking for answers. They’re turning to God in record numbers.”
Heart for Lebanon teams up with local churches to offer practical aid and encouragement. More about that here. “We provide food assistance to people; we help them with what we call ‘family care’ items,” Atema says.
“We want to show them the love of Christ before we tell them about the love of Christ.”
Ask the Lord to strengthen and encourage Lebanese believers. They’re staying put to care for people in need, instead of leaving the country to benefit themselves.
“God has blessed us in a tremendous way. Everybody on our team views their ministry with Heart for Lebanon as a calling; it’s not a job,” Atema says.
Header image depicts political commentary on the streets of Gemmayze, East Beirut, Lebanon. (Photo, caption courtesy of Brian Wertheim/Unsplash)
