Pray with Lebanon, August 21, 2022

Lectionary Selection: Luke 13:10-17

Prayers for Lebanon

Compassionate and merciful Creator, we gather here in your presence with grateful hearts, with the assurance of your love and mercy. We praise you for your loving kindness to all, in all circumstances all around the world.

Dear Lord, we come to you with a fervent plea for the country of Lebanon. We read that while teaching in the Temple, you saw the crippled woman who had suffered for 18 long years, and you called her to your side, touched her, and healed her. The rule-keepers criticized you for your mercy, but the woman’s response was to praise God.

Lebanon and its people have been bent over, afflicted, and stripped of their dignity for over 30 years, unable to straighten up, without hope that they ever will. Nevertheless, they continue to search earnestly to be saved and freed from their burdens.

Dear Jesus, we pray for your healing touch to free Lebanon and its people from their struggles. Help them regain their dignity, stand with hope, see your face, praise you for your love and grace, and continue to live as you want them to live.

We pray for your healing touch, dear Christ. Amen.

Mission Stewardship Moment from Lebanon

There were great hopes that the parliamentary elections of May 2022 would bring positive changes for the country and its people. But once again, despite hopes of renewal and change, the country has ended in an even worse condition than before.

Life here in Lebanon continues to endure a raft of unending challenges. It is difficult for some households to put food on the table, even in its most basic form of bread and cheese.

Amidst all these difficulties, we focus on evidence of hope.

Throughout this past academic year, Haigazian University was able to hold in-person classes. Through God’s grace, it held its Commencement Exercises for the first time since the onset of the pandemic, in which 107 undergraduates and graduate students received their degrees. The University is the recipient of gifts (including from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ) that are earmarked for tuition fees for many of its student body, who are increasingly unable to pay tuition due to the crashing economy.

More evidence of hope is happening this summer, in which all of Lebanon’s five Armenian Evangelical churches, along with the UAECNE’s Christian Social Center, are holding four- and five-week Vacation Bible Schools, giving children a much-needed opportunity to be loved and cared for by young leaders and to hear the gospel of the Lord Jesus.

Jesus wants us to look around, see those who are bound and oppressed, and touch them with faith, compassion, and hope. “Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to (this city); I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security” (Jeremiah 33.6). Trusting in these promises, we continue to follow Christ.

Prayer and Mission Moment by Maria Bakalian

Mission Partners in Lebanon

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Global Ministries Mission Co-workers in Lebanon
Nishan and Maria Bakalian serve with the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches in Lebanon. Their appointments are made possible by your gifts to Disciples Mission Fund, Our Church’s Wider Mission, and your special gifts.