It's sometimes the case that in the most terrible of times, good things emerge. We see that message threaded through the Bible: amid the most dire situations, God brings good. And it's still the testimony of God's people today...
Do you remember the terrible news reports of bombing, gas attacks and desperate refugees coming from Syria? We’ve had an update from George, the General Secretary of Bible Society in Syria (pictured right), which we’re delighted to share with you.
“The war has led people to Christ,” George said. “No one would have believed this when the conflict began! God has used events that people created for something good.”
Although half of Christians in Syria fled during the war, Bible sales went up. Many houses in Aleppo were destroyed by rockets but the Bible Society bookshop was spared. Its doors have stayed open every day of the war to serve the needs of all Syrians.
When asked who is reading all these Bibles when so many Christians have gone George said, “Isn’t it obvious? It’s everyone else. Those who have belonged to another religion are in search of the truth – and they find it in the Bible.”
The Bible Society's busy year in Syria
August was, as usual, very hot in Syria but this did not stop the Bible Society from holding a Sunday-School Teacher’s Training Seminar for 60 new teachers in a village called Mashta el-Helou on coast. Simultaneously, another 50 teachers attendeda training event in Homs. Nabil Saad, Programmes Coordinator was excited by the response. “You should have seen the enthusiasm among the teachers being students and the way that they responded to the lecturers from both Syria and Lebanon. We are blessed to work with the very best when it comes to teaching others,” he said. “It is not only a matter of imparting Biblical knowledge to the young children attending Sunday-School in churches across the country, but the true goal is to see how the children enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.”
Biggest book fair in Syria
Since May, the Bible Society staff have been preparing for the largest book fair in Syria, and the second largest in the Arab World. Happening right now, this will be the Bible Society’s 29th year of attending the fair. Up to one million visitors are expected, and Bible Society’s stand there will require more than 11 staff and volunteers to manage and ensure those that come to learn about the Bible have a great experience.
Distribution still key activity
Nabil reports that Bible distribution is still their key activity in Syria.
“In July we gathered colleagues and volunteers from many churches to receive intensive Bible training during a few days at a Syriac Orthodox Campsite in Kessab, northern Syria. Some of the best Bible teachers in Syria had volunteered to share what the Bible is all about and how to make it come alive for others,” Nabil shared.
This is an important event for the Bible Society who utilises a network of volunteers who work long hours every year during the big Scripture distribution times at Christmas and Easter. Nabil says they regularly report that people all over Syria keep asking for Bibles as people are hungry and thirsty for his Word.
Thank you to all of our supporters who continue to pray and give towards this vital mission in Syria. The team there are very grateful for you all.
No words can describe our true joy being involved with the work that God’s given us to do in our homeland Syria, but we keep on reminding ourselves what the Lord said in the Gospel of Saint Luke: The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few! Nabil Saad, Bible Society in Syria.
