NESSL General Assembly Update

Dear friends and partners,

I greet you all in the Name of Him who is the reason for the season, JESUS OUR LORD! Who has come to give joy and hope to the world.

Friends, we praise God for your being our partners in the ministry of healing among many Syrian displaced and refugees.

As the world celebrates the memory of the first Christmas, there are so many people scattered around the world desperately looking for an inn for warmth and comfort. So many children on the streets, all the have is swaddling clothes, and a glimpse of hope for better life.

Thank God for all those who have compassion and love who have stretched their hands to help bringing some hope into hopeless situations. You, our friends, have been the helping hands for many displaced Syrian people for several years now, and allowed us continue responding to the cries for help. THANK YOU!

Many of you have received my last week’s report of the news of our GA when I announced that as of the beginning of the year 2016 the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL) will have a new leadership.

Ever since 2008, the Rev. Fadi Dagher has been carrying on the responsibilities as General Secretary. And for the last five years of those, he and all our pastors and other committees’ members had to struggle with the increasing concerns for our destroyed churches and displaced members due to the tragic and unexpected events in Syria.

Indeed NESSL leadership has shown heroic ministries in the hardest times inflicted on the Syrian people, now for almost five years. We, all the Presbyterian congregations, both in Syria and Lebanon are grateful to Rev. Dagher and all our faithful servants who have given time, talents, and resources in serving a multitude of suffering people. To God be the Glory who raises up servants for His Church.

As Rev. Dagher, leaves the office of the General Secretary, he continue to serve as a moderator of the NESSL, we accompany him with our prayers.

You will receive soon a formal letter introducing our new General Secretary Rev. Joseph Kassab.

As the tragic events in Syria seem to continue, and many people, including our church members try to run away for immigration, our fear is of drastically decreasing the Christian Community in Syria. This is making the task of the leadership a huge one. A task of helping people to stay and giving them some hope for a better future, upholding their spirituality, and responding to their needs will need the support, advocacy and prayers of all our Partners.

With Every Blessing and Joy for Christmas and the New Year of our Lord.

In Christ,
Mary Mikhael

*Dr. Mikhael is a staffperson for the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, the immediate past president of the Near East School of Theology, and a former member of the Common Global Ministries Board of Directors.