Pray with Syria, January 11, 2026

Lectionary Selection: John 1: 29-42

Prayers for Syria

The role of Holy spirit in our daily life,

Dear brothers and sisters,

Today we heard the reading from the Gospel of Saint John (1:29–42), where the Holy Spirit inspires John the Baptist to recognize Jesus as the Lamb of God, the long-awaited Messiah. John reminds his disciples that One is coming who will baptize not with water alone, but with the Holy Spirit. This passage teaches us two profound virtues: humility and a life guided by the Spirit. We cannot truly recognize our Lord with earthly eyes, but only through the eyes of the Spirit, as we strive to live according to His commandments and His teachings at every moment of our lives.

As we approach the Feast of the Nativity, when the Lord of Peace and our Savior is born among us, let us lift up our hearts and minds to be filled with the true Spirit who guides our actions, shapes our mission, and opens our eyes to the suffering of others. May we learn to serve in love and humility—not through the noise and confusion of our world, but in the quiet faith of the shepherds who welcomed the newborn Christ in the stillness of night. For it is in such holy quietness that we can perceive what is often hidden from us when we are overwhelmed by the many distractions that pull our hearts away from “the one thing needful” (Luke 10:41–42).

As we continue to live amidst prolonged crises especially in Middle East region, let us bend our knees before the One who chose to dwell with the poor and the suffering. May He guide Global Ministry missions in many parts of this world through various type of solidarity and support and protect all GM stewards, who are serving tirelessly to make this world a better place. And may the Holy Spirit grant them the grace to recognize the face of Christ in every person they are called to serve.

Amen.

Mission Moment from Syria

Jihan Duhair & Maram Jundieh — Strength, Motherhood, and Hope in Jordan

Jihan Duhair and Maram Jundieh are two resilient mothers whose lives were uprooted when they were evacuated from Gaza to Jordan, each carrying the weight of fear, uncertainty, and a mother’s unbreakable will to protect her children. Today, despite the hardship and trauma they endured, their journey stands as a powerful testament to courage, solidarity, and the impact of timely support.

Both mothers arrived in Jordan seeking urgent medical care for their daughters at the King Hussein Cancer Center.

Jihan’s 15-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor in Gaza, allowed to leave to Jordan for her daughter’s treatment she was forced to leave her remaining children and husband. By the time they reached Jordan, her condition required immediate and specialized treatment. The months that followed were filled with medical appointments, procedures, and long nights at the hospital. Through it all, Jihan remained steadfast—her strength fueled by the hope that her daughter would receive the care she desperately needed.

Maram’s journey was equally heart-wrenching. Also forced to leave her husband and family to help her daughter who had been shot in the head, and initial evaluations after treatment led doctors to suspect a brain tumor. When she arrived in Jordan, further medical examinations brought unexpected relief—her daughter received a negative cancer diagnosis. Although the trauma of the injury and the long recovery remained, the absence of cancer gave Maram a renewed sense of hope. Yet returning to Gaza was no longer possible, leaving her to navigate life in Jordan with uncertainty about the future.

For both families, Jordan became a place of safety—but also a place where they had to rebuild from nothing. With no stable source of income and daily expenses quickly piling up, sustaining even the most basic needs became a challenge.

The Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance of USD 100 per person played a crucial role in helping them regain stability. This support allowed them to cover essential living costs such as food, clothes transportation to medical appointments, and other urgent needs. It eased the pressure of daily survival and allowed both mothers to direct their energy and attention toward their daughters’ treatment and recovery.

Today, Jihan and Maram describe the assistance as a lifeline—one that gave them dignity, relief, and the ability to focus on what mattered most: their children’s health and emotional well-being. Through hardship, they created a support system for each other, sharing strength, encouragement, and the common experience of motherhood under crisis.

Their story is not only one of survival, but of perseverance and hope. With continued treatment, community solidarity, and essential support, Suha and Maram are slowly rebuilding a sense of stability for their families. Their journey stands as a reminder of the powerful impact of compassion—and how even modest, timely assistance can transform the lives of families facing unimaginable challenges.

Written by Samer Laham, Regional Director of Diaconia Department The Middle East Council of Churces

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