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Advent Prayer - Christmasin Syria

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Published: Sunday 11 December 2011

Advent Prayer - Christmasin Syria

Project(s): 49-1022, 20-383

Country: Syria, Middle East and North Africa

For God was pleased to have all his fulness dwell in him. Colossians 1:19

Barnabas Fund provides support for Iraqi Christian refugees in at Christmas

In September 2011 a Syrian sheikh issued a chilling threat that all those who are opposing the current uprising in the country will be “torn apart, chopped up and fed to the dogs”. His words may well have been aimed partly at Syrian Christians, who have been well treated and enjoyed a good measure of religious freedom under President Assad.

In recent years it has perhaps been easier to be a Christian in Syria than anywhere else in the Arab world, and the country has also thrown open its borders to hundreds of thousands of Christian refugees from neighbouring Iraq. The churches have been able to worship and practise their faith largely without interference, and they have received various benefits from the government.

Syrian Christians have not been immune from restrictions under the current regime, but they are concerned that a post-Assad Syria could be a much more menacing place. Rule by the Sunni Muslim majority could lead to suppression of the country’s minorities, including Christians, and the growing influence of militant Islamists could generate hostility and violence against the churches.

In Syria Christians meet at home on Christmas Eve, inviting their close family and sometimes extended family too. They cook their best dishes and try to make the food as delicious as possible, using whatever fruit is in season. After their church services and events the Christians gather again for lunch on Christmas Day and share family and church news. Christians give gifts at Christmas, and in some Christian communities celebrations happen in the streets, with Christmas trees and coloured lights.

Pray for Syria’s Christians as they seek the Lord’s wisdom in these challenging and difficult days, that they may know how best to respond to the developing crisis in their country. Pray that He will protect them from harm during the present unrest. Pray too that any political change will be for the better, leading to a relaxing of restrictions on their activities. Pray that the benefits that the churches enjoy will not be withdrawn and that Islamists will not wreak havoc on the Christian community. Ask for the Lord’s blessing on Barnabas projects in Syria, especially our support for impoverished Christian refugees from Iraq.

Barnabas Fund projects in Syria include:

Emergency aid for Christians in Syria affected by 2011 crisis (Ref. 49-1022) Donate
Iraqi Christian refugees in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon (Ref. 20-383) Donate