Urgent Aid and Prayer for Lebanon
People fleeing from Lebanon arrive on the Syrian side of the border with Lebanon in Jdeidat Yabus in southwestern Syria on September 25. Louai Beshara/AFP/Getty Images
Dear friends of IBN,
Thank you for your practical and prayerful support for our brothers and sisters in Lebanon, the Middle East and Ukraine over recent years, but especially with the awful things happening in these days.
Our friends in the European Baptist Federation (EBF) have just launched an appeal to raise funds for Thimar (formerly LSESD) as they respond to the crisis in Lebanon. In the last week, the number of internally displaced people (IDP’s) has grown from 100,000 to 1 million. One in four families have had to leave their homes in Lebanon in recent days and weeks.
For the last 25 years, Thimar (LSESD) has been increasing its knowledge and expertise as they have responded to a variety of crises in the Middle East. Today they are putting that experience and wisdom to work as they begin caring for refugees in their own campus, their schools, churches and homes.
💒 They are providing ready-to-eat food, heaters, mattresses and in many cases a temporary place to call home.
WE ARE INVITING YOU TO RESPOND with PRAYERS and PRACTICAL support at this critical time and join with the other members and partners of EBF to support their humanitarian response in partnership with local Lebanese Baptist churches and missions.
Thimar (LSESD) has a range of projects underway to respond to the developing crises, in partnership with local Baptist churches. Your donations can be sent promptly to EBF and they will be allocated to the area in greatest need of relief.
TO DONATE: Please send your gift (Lebanon Relief) to IBN, who will forward it to EBF. If your gift is eligible for Gift Aid, please advise us by emailing IBN at info@ibnetworks.org
For Bank (BACS) transfers: please send your gift to Co-operative Bank, Irish Baptist Networks Account:
Sort Code 08-92-99 Account No: 65375615.
For cheques: please send to IBN, 6 Millturn View, DROMORE. BT25 1HG. All gifts will be acknowledged .
You will also find the links to two videos that you can use to share with others who may be interested in giving some financial aid and to encourage more prayer support for Lebanon.
See below for links…. to both videos.
PLEASE PRAY:
🙏 for a ceasefire, a halt in the destruction of fields, villages, towns and cities.
🙏 for sleep, the night has been filled with the relentless roar of jets and deafening explosions.
🙏 for a reduction in tensions between Lebanese people, internal pressure is mounting
🙏 for strength and wisdom for our Baptist family responding with compassion despite their own losses and pain.
A prayer from Lebanon:
“Amidst this darkness, one truth stands out: we are called to serve. We must rise in this moment of despair, turn toward our neighbours, extend our hands, and let the light of Christ shine through us. Lord, grant us the strength to do so. Give us enough compassion to cross the divides, to stand in the breach, and to be agents of hope where for many none seems to remain.”
IBN has quarterly prayer gatherings with our good friends in Lebanon: Our next one is scheduled for THURSDAY 5th DECEMBER at 12.30 on Zoom for 45 minutes. These provide a great opportunity to see and hear at first hand and get updates to inform our prayers. You would be welcome to join us.
To request the Zoom link please email: info@ibnetworks.org
We are very grateful for your commitment to our common work through which we can support each other within the Baptist family in Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Thank you for your participation, support, and prayers always - and especially in the darkest of times.
If you require further information about the humanitarian ministry in Lebanon go the LESED website www.lsesd.org. Updates are also posted on the IBN website www.ibnetworks.org
If you require support or guidance relating to the giving process, please contact info@ibnetworks.org
THANK YOU!
Hadden Wilson (Chairman IBN)
Stephen Adams (Hon. Secretary of IBN)
Here are the links to the two short videos you can use and share to raise financial and prayer support for Lebanon. (video 1, video 2)
P.S. IBN has already sent £2,500 to Thimar over the past 2 weeks as stop-gap support.