Believers shrinking in numbers in Syria

(Photos courtesy Flickr/FreedomHouse)

Syria (ODM) ― "The situation is very grim. There is deep sadness and much stress and anxiety." That is the summary Pastor Edward from Damascus gave to Open Doors on the situation in the Syrian capital.
According to the pastor, about 40% of the members of his church have left the country since the conflict in Syria started over two years ago. Imagine: four of every ten members of your church leaving in such a short period. That means a major loss for every congregation. And that is the reality churches in Syria now face as this example from Damascus shows.

People who have the financial means, and especially those who have contacts abroad, are leaving the country. Pastor Edward knows that in his church, some members still are waiting for the opportunity to leave Syria, too. "They are still trying to find a place to go." However, all the people that left didn't leave the church services empty. "No, we see new people coming to church. Many of the families that we visit and help with a monthly food supply, for example, come to our services now."

Although there is no fighting going on in the central area of Damascus, in several suburbs fighting is a daily reality. No one can escape from the distant sound of explosions and shooting. "It seems that there is no end in sight. Christians are like all other people: concerned for their safety and the future of their children."

In a way, life goes on for many people in the capital. People who work in the public sector still go to work. "But their income is worth less and less as the Syrian pound lost 75% of its value, which caused huge inflation. After over two years of civil war, most people are suffering economically and are traumatized emotionally."

The pastor also mentions "a brighter side" in the gloom. "Church people are closer to the Lord and to each other."

Islamic onslaught, Christian village takeover

(Photos courtesy Flickr/FreedomHouse)

Syria (MNN/ODM) ― Another village, another hostile takeover by Muslim extremists.

Last week, MNN reported the hostile takeover of the Christian village of Dalga, Egypt. The village was overrun by hardline Islamists.

This week, it's the Christian village of Maaloula, about 55 km northeast of Damascus. The area has become the battleground of fighting between rebel groups and the government army since Wednesday, September 4. The village had been under the firm grip of the regime until a suicide bomber attacked one of the government checkpoints in the village last week.

Could such actions be coincidental in two different countries? Open Doors USA CEO Dr. David Curry says, "There seems to be a very systematic and intentional move into Christian areas: areas that are historically places of faith for Christian believers and where there are larger populations of Christians." The developments of the last 14 days makes one thing is clear: "In some of these countries, it's a very dangerous thing to call yourself a ‘follower of Jesus.' So, they tend to group themselves together in some of these historic areas."
In Syria, news reports say that 5 armed groups fought the government troops and occupied parts of the village. Government forces regained control on Thursday. But they lost it again on Saturday, when a second coordinated assault was initiated by the opposition.

Maaloula is a historic Christian village and known for several Christian residents still speaking Aramaic, the biblical language also spoken by Jesus. Before the war, it was a tourist attraction with its churches and convents, and also because of the narrow gorge, of which is believed that the mountain opened up miraculously to protect Thecla, a pupil of the Apostle Paul, from her persecutors.

In the attack of last week, opposition groups have given assurances that church buildings would not be damaged, but reports describe that at least three of the churches are seriously damaged during to the fighting.

Next to casualties among fighters in the combat, civilians have also been killed, including Christians. "What you see across Syria right now is a huge part of the Syrian population leaving their homes, becoming homeless; and certainly a very large portion of the Christian population in Syria is now refugees or homeless", explains Curry. Over the past week, practically all of the approximately 3,000 villagers have fled to safer regions in Syria, both Muslims as well as Christians.

In the propaganda aired by various stakeholders, it is difficult to distinguish what is truth, or really what an outcome would look like at the end of the war. Curry agrees. "One of the concerns that we have here at Open Doors is that there may not be a ‘best case scenario' for Christian believers between the two scenarios that people have laid out, because it's not clear that any of the political solutions have any concern over Christian believers in Syria."

On Monday September 9, the Syrian troops launched a new offensive against the rebel fighters who are still holding strategic positions in the hills overlooking the village. The attacks fuel the fear among Syrian Christians being driven out of their homes and the wider community of Christians in the country. Depending on who is left after the dust settles, the future could be bleak for believers coming back home. "There are some very radical forces in these countries that want to set up governmental theocracies or Muslim extremists who believe that they want to set up their version of Sharia law."

Please pray that those who have been traumatized will be touched by Jesus' healing power and will be cared for by other Syrian Christians in the country. There are reports of people coming to Christ, however, it's a dangerous time to do so. Gospel partners need wisdom and boldness. "It obviously has a ‘dampening effect' when people who are even identifying themselves as Christians are targeted for violence. We believe that the faith that people have in Jesus Christ to be salt and light in the community is critically important, so we need to support these folks."

Weekend violence ups refugee flight

(Photo courtesy of Christian Aid Mission)

Syria (MNN) ― This past week marked the bloodiest set of conflicts since the start of the Syrian civil war with a death toll of around 1,200.

The violence reached a climax over the weekend as President Bashar al-Assad’s military struck back against rebel forces occupying various districts of Damascus, the capital of Syria.

Government tanks and helicopters blasted the capital as pockets of rebels roamed the streets. According to The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 140 Syrians, including 43 troops, were slain in the clash on Saturday.

The retaliation of Assad forces on the rebel-held districts of Damascus came after a six-day series of rebel attacks resulting in the assassination of four Assad top security officials last week. The rebels marked their six-day operation as “Damascus Volcano.”

Bill Bray with Christian Aid Mission says the increased Syrian violence is affecting refugee numbers. “What we saw over the weekend especially was just everywhere.... All of the missions and outreaches that we’re supporting in the front-line states are seeing a massive increase in refugees from Syria coming across the border: all kinds of refugees, but especially Christians.”

EU officials report that the number of Syrian refugees fleeing the country has reached 115,000.

Bray says one of their workers witnessed the waves of Syrian refugees fleeing by night. “He said it looked like army ants were coming across the border all night. Everywhere he could look, under fences, everywhere there’s a hole, they’re coming across.”

Yet the hope of the Gospel casts a beam of light on a seemingly devastating situation. Christian Aid Mission is providing funds for Syrian refugees to provide humanitarian aid such as food packs and housing, along with God’s Word.

“Over the weekend, 20 new believers were baptized, so evangelism is still going on. Church planting and small group Bible studies also continue…devotional fervor is high,” says Bray.

And in Lebanon, Christians aren’t just reaching out to refugees in their country. According to Bray, “While the Turks are allowing Syrian refugees to cross the border to some extent, they’re not allowing any mobilization of the Turkish Christians to reach out to them. But the Lebanese Christians are crossing the border. They are asking us for New Testaments and 15,000 New Testament CDs to distribute, so they are viewing the Turkish refugee camps as an evangelistic opportunity.”

Such an evangelistic opportunity for such a great need, however, requires funding. Bray states, “Just as fast as the money comes in, we’re sending it over. The need is tremendous: the need for housing, rent, [and] food packs. We can feed a refugee family for $90 a week.... And of course, there’s a great hunger for the Word of God. So giving out Bibles; that’s really an important part of the witness.”

Pray for the safety and salvation of Syrian refugees and for the safety of evangelizing Christians.