As Lebanon once again becomes entangled in an unwanted war and faces a massive refugee crisis, Dr. Wissam Nasrallah, President of the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary, recently issued a letter to the international community calling for prayer and tangible support for the Middle East.

President Nasrallah shared, “The streets are filled with families leaving behind the things they love, carrying only what they can.” He lamented, “This crisis is no different from those of the past, yet each time it brings heavier and deeper pain.” He added that within just a few days, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced.

Lebanese authorities reported that approximately 600 people have been killed and around 700,000 residents displaced due to Israeli airstrikes. The Israeli military has stated that it carried out hundreds of strikes targeting Hezbollah positions across southern Lebanon, the southern suburbs of Beirut, and the Bekaa Valley.

He emphasized, “This is not merely a geopolitical event, but a story of uprooted lives, emptied villages, and destroyed livelihoods.” While acknowledging the possibility of a new Middle Eastern order and shifting regional security dynamics, he stressed that “the most important thing is human dignity.”

As Christians, he urged believers to face reality without yielding to fear, and to place their hope in the sovereignty and mercy of the living God. “Our hope stands firm in the living God. He remains sovereign and is close to the brokenhearted. Even when the future feels uncertain, His mercy never wavers,” he said.

He continued, “The Psalms do not teach us to deny reality, but to find refuge. They teach us to trust God even in fear, to grieve honestly, and to pray boldly.” He added, “In moments of upheaval, the instinct of the gospel is not to escape suffering, but to move toward it.” He expressed hope that this crisis would become an opportunity to clearly demonstrate love for neighbors and the true nature of God’s kingdom.

In a time when so much is being taken away, he emphasized that God’s people must offer refugees space, bread, prayer, and the simple yet powerful gift of saying, “You are not alone.”

President Nasrallah noted that welcoming refugees is not merely an act of publicity, but a testimony of Christians who remember the heart of Jesus, who “did not come to be served, but to serve.” He also highlighted the importance of both urgent humanitarian aid and the long-term mission of raising leaders for churches in the Arab world.

This aligns with the mission of SWM Mission, particularly its CP (Church Planter) ministry, which focuses on establishing local churches.

In closing, President Nasrallah asked for prayers for Lebanon, for refugees, and for communities—that true peace and mercy would come upon Lebanon, and that displaced people would find safety and shelter. He concluded his letter by expressing his hope that “at this critical moment, the gospel would be demonstrated not merely in words, but in life.”

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