Lebanon was the “Switzerland of the East”. Now 70% live under the poverty line. A teacher’s salary is not enough to cover the petrol to get to work. 1-2 hours of electricity a day, savings are trapped in the banks and inflation is 178%. Most health care workers have left. The explosion in the Beirut port, a corrupt political class, Covid-19, war in Syria (1,5 million refugees) and now in the Ukraine (wheat and gas) have led to this. Rev. Joseph Kassab says: ” We are re-charged as a church to be a better church.” The small minority Protestant churches run schools, nursing homes, clinics, medical centers and social action centers. They are giving hope in a time of literal darkness.They embrace the people with God’s love, as a man embraces his wife to comfort her. Rev. Raffi Messerlian says: “Education is the only way for young people to have a future. We teach the values of patience, perseverance and hope so that they can face the situation.” Kassab adds: “There are two ways to fast change in the Middle East. One is a military coup. The other is democracy. That is the safer way for the future of the country.” HEKS partners with these churches.
