LEBANON - Abundant Life Evangelical Church
Dear Friends,
2020 is a new chapter in Lebanon’s history. A chapter we all wish it will end soon. However the reality says it will maybe take us years before recovery, even if we start implementing reforms today! Everything seems worse and social indicators reflect catastrophe in Lebanon. More than half of the Lebanese population is living in poverty and the rest suffers a sharp drop in purchasing power, unemployment is at an unbearable level, and the feel of security doesn’t exist amid the absence of a powerful government and especially after the devastating port explosion that happened the last 4th of August and caused at least 200 deaths and missing individuals, 7,000 injuries, US$15 billion in property and businesses damage, and left an estimated of 300,000 people homeless.
It is considered to be one of the most powerful non-nuclear explosions in history. The Abundant Life Church building and sanctuary is (2 minutes driving distance, around 1.5 miles away) and our Church families’ homes and properties suffered horrific destruction.
On top of that we are facing the worst pandemic across history with no sharp official measures to contain it.
The situation is dramatic and many are sleeping hungry.
Nevertheless, and regardless of the entire situation around us and thanks to friends like you at Imagine Nations Church that helped us and supported us financially to be able to move and be the voice of Jesus in our country and the region. We decided that our first priority was to reach out and respond to the needs of our city, regardless of the destruction of our church Sanctuary and offices.
-We mobilised Spiritual Care Teams to go to the most devastated areas, with food, water and the New Testament, to comfort those families, give them food and water, pray with and for them and to see what other practical help we can provide them. So far we gave more than 25000 hot meals and around 5000 New Testament books to around 5000 families.
-Another team began visiting our church families to help them repair their homes, properties, businesses and cars. Also, to pray with them and counsel them, especially as many are emotionally and mentally affected by the disaster. So far we have helped to restore and repair more than 60 homes. We also helped to fix few damaged cars.
-We prepared parcels (Food and hygiene) that can sustain the poor and unemployed for at least one month. So far we have distributed parcels to over 1,500 families.
So far we are seeing tremendous results from the thousands of meals and bottles of water that we have distributed and the so many hundreds of boxes of parcels that our teams have been given away including thousands of New Testament books.
We are seeing so many coming to Jesus with tears, praying with us and asking for counselling. Many others even received healing once we prayed for them, and the amazing positive reports we are getting from our teams when they share the message of love and forgiveness with the most affected communities is so encouraging.
We want really to thank you for the tremendous generosity and support you have shown us during this crisis. And for that we are extremely grateful and thankful. I believe as we partner together for the cause of the millions of lost souls around the Middle East we will see great results.
God is on the move and I really believe that Jesus is going to turn the aches into glory, the mourning into dancing, and the devastation into salvation. I am believing God for a spiritual awakening and a revival to be the result of this massive trauma and disaster. Jesus is still on the throne and I know He will make everything turn around for his glory, amen and amen. Lebanon and the Middle East Shall be saved!”
Ps Chady El Aouad
