Lebanon: Hezbollah in Lebanon
29 Sep 2010
Human rights activist, and Media Chairman for the Canadian Lebanese Coordinating Council, Elias Bejjani, reports from the Beiruit Observer, ‘3,500 Hezbollah militiamen are secretly deployed in the Eastern Christian region of Lebanon, and Hezbollah has reached its final logistic preparations to execute an armed coup to take over all of Lebanon by force.’ The web site attributed its information to well-informed sources in the Saudi media.’ see Also Syria and Saudi Arabia have stepped in to ease tensions in Lebanon in light of an escalating crisis between rival political parties over a UN-backed tribunal probing the murder of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri. There are fears that should the court indict Hezbollah members, this could lead to a Sunni-Shiite conflict similar to the one that brought the country close to civil war in May 2008. Pray: that militant plans would come to nothing and God’s benchmark would be used in every negotiation. (Ps.29:11) More: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gfIikqY7gudl2YLeSKkgs-WTlN0Q
Lebanon: Heroes and villains
23 Oct 2010
Shouts of ‘welcome’ in Persian and showers of rice, sweets and petals greeted President Mahmud Ahmadinejad as he waved to crowds from an open-topped car in Beirut this week. It's his first visit to Lebanon where he addressed Hezbollah-organized rallies of up to 60,000 people. His visit took weeks of preparation and his reception contrasted with Israel's, the United States and Sunni politicians foreboding. Over 200 prominent Lebanese citizens signed an open letter in advance of the trip asking Ahmadinejad to avoid using Lebanon as a ‘spearhead’ for confronting Israel. There have been suggestions that Ahmadinejad will travel to the Lebanese-Israeli frontier and court yet more controversy by throwing highly symbolic stones into Israel demonstrating to the world that Iran is a regional power in a confrontation state with Israel. Israel’s security is challenged as Lebanon, Syria, and Hamas-ruled Gaza are seen to be serving Iranian interests and all of them have threatening capabilities for Israel's civilian population. Pray: that all strongholds of violence will be disarmed and that Jesus, the Prince of Peace, will rule in these lands. (Ps.29:6) More: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/LJ15Ak02.html
Lebanon: Church ministry to refugees
09 May 2013Zahle is full of refugees from Syria arriving daily. Every spare building, shed and patch of ground is being rented by families at crippling prices. Even those leaving Syria with money can afford almost nothing in Lebanon where prices have rocketed because more people are competing for the same lands. Many essentials are out of reach for desperate refugees. A small church with 50 members greets the refugees flooding into Zahle. They distribute what food, blankets and mattresses they can collect for the families. They arrange for a doctor to visit the sick; they pray with those who want prayer. Then they visit more families, find more clothes, more mattresses. Recently a crowd of desperate, newly arrived refugees gathered outside the church demanding food, mattresses and cooking materials. The church team were 'five minutes from calling the police' It is not easy. See also: http://danutm.wordpress.com/2013/05/06/world-watch-monitor-a-refugees-camp-just-for-syrian-christians-in-turkey-4/
Pray: that the input by local churches will make the refugees spiritually rich, despite having 'lost' everything. (Ps.22:26-28)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/life.among.syrias.christian.refugees/32284.htm
Lebanon: Car bomb inflames tensions
11 Jul 2013A car bomb injuring 53 people exploded Wednesday in Beirut, at a Lebanese stronghold for the Shia militant group Hezbollah. It’s feared several were killed. No group has claimed responsibility. Lebanon’s neighbouring Syrian rebels threatened to target Hezbollah because they sent troops to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The area of the blast is a commercial and residential site swelling with people. SAT-7 ARABIC is a Christian satellite television ministry to the Middle East and North Africa that attracts 8.5 million teens and adults with a Christian worldview. Their studios in Lebanon posted on their Facebook page, ‘Please join us in praying for those affected by today's car bombing near Beirut. SAT-7 staff members are safe and the studio is secure.’ The car bombing smoke had barely cleared before nearly 100 angry Hezbollah supporters flooded the area shouting, ‘The Shiite blood is boiling.’ Lebanon’s Sunni Muslims mostly support the Syrian rebels while Shia Muslims in Lebanon back Assad.
Pray: against escalating tensions between the Sunni and Shia and for Christian ministries as they seeks to communicate the peace and truth of Jesus Christ amid turmoil. (Ps.20:1)
More: http://www.mnnonline.org/article/18738
Lebanon: At a turning point
27 Oct 2012Christians must continue to pray for Lebanon, Syria and the entire Middle East region, said Naji Daoud, Executive Director of SAT-7 (a Christian radio broadcasting station in Lebanon). He made the appeal after a car bomb killed the head of the Lebanese intelligence agency, and several others in a largely Christian neighbourhood of Beirut. He asked for prayer in these difficult days for Lebanon. As al-Hassan was a known opponent of the Assad regime, there is some speculation that the bombing is connected to the ongoing violence in Syria, which continues to spill into Lebanon. His death triggered violent demonstrations in Beirut and there have been calls for the Lebanese Prime Minister to step down. Naji Daoud called upon Christians in the region to ‘live faithfully’. He said, ‘The Lebanese find themselves at a turning point. We must keep praying for Lebanon, Syria and the whole Middle East.’
Pray: for the peace of Lebanon, that it will not become the victim of a proxy war between the different political and religious rivals in the region - such as the Gulf Arabs, Iran, and the Sunni and Shia worlds. (Ps.4:8)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/lebanon.at.a.turning.point/30881.htm
Seven people have been killed and more than 70 wounded after fighting in northern Lebanon between two Muslim communities divided over Syria. Street battles between Sunnis and Alawites in the city of Tripoli continued for a second night running. Old rivalry between the two groups has been fuelled by conflicting loyalties in the conflict across the border. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, an Alawite, is battling largely Sunni opposition fighters. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, himself a Sunni, appealed to both sides to end the ‘absurd battle’ rocking Tripoli, a city of nearly 200,000 people and the country's second-largest. ‘We have repeatedly warned against being drawn into this blaze that has spread around Lebanon,’ he said, speaking of the violence in Syria. He urged Tripoli residents ‘not to allow anyone to transform you into ammunition for someone else's war’.
Pray: against further spread of this conflict. Seek God’s solution and peace for all people. (Pr.29:22)
Lebanon church reaches all across Arab world
26 Apr 2011
Amid political upheavals, protests, and the radical religiosity, the Gospel is moving forward in the Middle East, thanks in no small part to one devoted church. The Free Evangelical Church of Beirut has been shining brighter and brighter light into the Arab world since pastor Joseph took a job there in 1994. The church's first mission was to establish a home for girls whose parents were either killed or unable to care for them as a result of the 15-year civil war in Lebanon. Pastor Joseph felt that God was calling him to move forward with the Gospel not just in Beirut, Lebanon, but throughout the Middle East. An African man was the first to leave the FECB in order to minister to another nation. He ventured back to his home country with the support of the church. Another church member relocated to a nearby nation to teach theology and evangelize non-believers. Further members followed the trend in becoming Church planters.
Pray: that the influence of FECB would continue and lead to many more church plants. (Ex.15:17)
More: http://www.mnnonline.org/article/15612
Laos: Officials convert church into school
04 Oct 2011Authorities in Laos forcibly confiscated a church building in Savannakhet Province on Sept. 14th ‘because the church didn’t apply for a building permit'. The authorities generally ignore a lack of building permit if religious groups cause no problems. Officials posted soldiers on guard, moved in desks and chairs and converted the 212-member congregation’s building into a government school. Christians are no longer allowed onto the property. The confiscation of Dongpaiwan church came after officials in a neighbouring village evicted ten Christians from shelters they had built on their rice paddies. They could only return if they gave up their faith. Forced renunciations of faith along with detentions, surveillance, harassment and confiscation of property has kept Laos on the ‘watch list’ of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom and clearly identified ethnic minority Protestants in Laos as the primary target of such violations.
Pray: for the Lord to strengthen Laotian Christians, show them the way forward and miraculously provide for their needs. (Is.33:2)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/laos/article_120877.html