Pray with Lebanon/Syria, April 21, 2024

Lectionary Selection: John 10:11-18

Prayers for Lebanon/Syria

We lift our voices to you, creator, savior, and sustainer of life. We praise you, recalling not only your act of creation but also your enduring love for us, which brought you to us even when we strayed from your path.

As your servants, we present ourselves, our ministries, and the nations where you have placed us, seeking your presence and blessings in all our endeavors.

Today, we bring before you the Middle East, specifically Lebanon and Syria, where people continue to endure immense suffering. We pray for them and all those who serve them, especially the churches facing tremendous challenges.

May your Holy Spirit empower us with divine life, and may we follow the example of our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, in alleviating pain, healing wounded souls, and guiding the lost back to the fold.

In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Mission Moment from Lebanon/Syria

As we take a moment to reflect on the blessings of today and the factors that made this day possible, our gratitude first turns to God for His providence and loving guidance. Looking back, we see how God brought His children from various corners of the world to join us in the mission He entrusted to us.

Now, after 27 years as a pastor (ordained in 2012), I am filled with gratitude for all those who supported me along the way. I thank God for Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ and their presence during my theological training and beyond, which shaped my knowledge, faith, and practice. Today, after more than 21 years, my wife Karineh and I are serving together in an Armenian Evangelical Church in Beirut, reaping the fruits of our past endeavors.

The Middle East, particularly Syria and Lebanon, continues to face unstable and challenging times marked by multiple crises. These circumstances present new obstacles/challenges for churches and ministries. In the midst of such crises, the temptation arises to focus solely on urgent needs, often overlooking deeper spiritual needs. However, the spiritual thirst for the Word of God remains evident. People of all ages gather in our church seeking solace, guidance, and spiritual nourishment tailored to their current experiences, fears, and uncertainties.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we persevere in serving the same Lord together here in the Middle East.

Written by Rev. Hrayr Cholakian, an ordained pastor in the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches (UAECNE) in the Near East in 2011. He currently serves the Armenian Evangelical Church in Ashrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon. He graduated from Haigazian University (BA) and the Near East School of Theology (MDiv). He is married with two children. His wife, Karineh, is also a graduate of NEST. The UAECNE includes 17 congregations in seven countries (Egypt, Greece, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, and Australia).

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