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Syria

• Christian Refuses to Turn Over Christian School

  

  Radwan Muhammad is a Kurdish teacher and headmaster for a Christian school in the city of Afrin in northern Syria. He was ordered by the Sham Legion (Faylaq al-Sham) -- a coalition of Sunni Muslim groups -- to turn over the school building for an Islamic school. According to local sources, Radwan told them, "I will hand you the building in one case only: if Jesus Christ comes to earth again."

• Christians Blocked from Refugee Camps

  

  Christians who have fled war-ravaged areas of Syria are facing continued persecution while trying to seek refuge in camps set up in Jordan, Lebanon and elsewhere. A substantial number of them are being blocked by United Nations officials when attempting to enter the camps because the majority of UN officials working in these countries are Muslims. Subsequently, many of the rejected refugees are being forced to live in hiding elsewhere, risking the danger of deportation and/or possible death if found.

• Christians At Risk

  

  When American troops pulled out of Syria, and Turkish troops moved in to establish a "safe zone" in northeast Syria, there were understandable concerns about the safety of the people living in this area. Turkish authorities gave assurances that their forces would not persecute religious minorities, including a significant number of Christians. However, recent reports have indicated otherwise.

• Turkish Offensive Raises Concerns for Christians

  

  As the Turkish military, along with allied Syrian rebels, continue their operation against Kurdish forces in northern Syria, Christian communities are concerned about the repercussions that may follow. While the campaign is not religiously motivated, believers in the region face particular vulnerabilities.

• Car Bomb Attack on Church

  

  On July 11th, the Syrian-Orthodox church in Qamishli was the target of a car bomb attack. Although there were no known fatalities, at least eleven people were injured. Cars and buildings in the area, including the church facility, sustained serious damages. According to one source, the injuries would have been far worse had the attack happened 30 minutes earlier when the vespers (evening prayers) had ended.

• Christians Facing State of Emergency

  

  Hundreds of thousands of Kurdish people of northern Syria are being forced to flee for their lives as they face attacks from Islamist militias supported by the Turkish military. Many from rural areas surrounding Afrin (a city located in what was considered the Kurdish region) had initially fled into the city. However, on March 18th, Kurdish soldiers in Afrin were also forced to flee, leaving the city under the control of the Islamists. Turkish president Recep Erdogan has promised to repopulate the city with non-Kurdish Arab Syrians who are presently dwelling in Turkey as refugees.

• Jihadists Threaten Damascus

  A new al-Qaeda-led jihadist coalition, Hay'at Tahrir al Sham, recently perpetrated several devastating attacks deep inside the ancient city of Damascus. On March 19th, the jihadist group launched a massive military assault just two kilometres from the walls of the Old City, having entered the area through tunnels. While they were eventually driven back, it is the closest the militants have come to the city centre.

  In recent years, the population of Damascus has swelled from less than two million to well over four million as Syrians, including hundreds of thousands of Christians, have sought sanctuary inside the city's security cordon. The Maronite Archbishop of Damascus, Samir Nassar, writes of "a very bitter Lent," while proclaiming the Resurrected Christ and encouraging the faithful to not give up.

  Ask the Lord to intervene in the Middle East, bringing protection and provision to His suffering people in Syria -- including those who have been forced to leave their homes while fleeing danger. Pray that these steadfast followers will be strengthened and encouraged to continue living wholeheartedly for Him. In spite of the political unrest, may they become even stronger spiritually, so that through their Christian witness many others will seek and find the one true God. Ask Him to grant wisdom to the church leaders, equipping them to minister effectively during these perilous times. Additionally, intercede for all who are opposing God and His people so that they, too, will personally come to know Jesus as Risen Saviour and Lord.

• Couple Reaching Fellow Assyrians

  
  Saif and Naama were forced to
  leave everything behind in Syria.

  An Assyrian couple, along with their family, were forced to leave their home, business and community in northern Syria because of the war. As refugees, they began attending prayer meetings and a Bible study, resulting in the entire family placing their faith in Jesus.

  "Saif" invited 20 more Assyrian families to join the meetings, and many of these families also became new converts. In one meeting, someone asked, "Why would God allow for misery, persecution and destruction to take over the Assyrian people, who first accepted Jesus thousands of years ago and speak His language to date?" To this, "Saif's" wife "Naama" responded: "We, as Assyrians, have known the truth thousands of years ago, yet we have never glorified God or walked in His steps!"

  Although "Saif" and "Naama" recently moved to another country, they hope to plant a church so they can continue their ministry to fellow Assyrian refugees. May the Lord's work continue spreading -- further extending His Kingdom throughout the Middle East!

• Churches Serve as Enemies Threaten

  
  Saint Elias Cathedral in Aleppo
  Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Fede Ranghino

  President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer, has said about the Battle for Aleppo: "This is beyond doubt one of the most devastating urban conflicts in modern times." Around 250,000 people remain trapped in Aleppo's rebel-held east. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu describes them as "hostages," unable to flee because the rebels have mined the humanitarian corridors and manned them with snipers. Meanwhile, more than a million citizens -- including some 40,000 mostly Assyrian and Armenian Christians -- remain in Aleppo's government-held west.

  Despite the dire situation, western Aleppo's churches continue to serve and minister. The deputy director of the public assistance department at Aleppo's Orthodox Sunday schools, Samir Samaan, reports that Aleppo's Saint Elias Cathedral is caring for about 4,000 newly displaced families -- half of them Muslim, half of them Christian. Similarly, Jesuit priest Father Ziad Hilal said the churches are working to feed those left in Aleppo, regardless of their religion. "We give about 7,500 meals every day."

  "On one side things are dark, things are sad," the church leader continues. "On the other hand, we see the activities of the church and how the people, especially the Christian associations, are helping. They are providing a sign of hope. Our mission is important there." Father Ibrahim describes it as "a miracle," noting that all the while, Christians in Aleppo are fasting and praying that "the will for peace" shall prevail "over the will for war." In essence, may the light of Christ overcome the darkness so that many more Syrians will discover the way of God's salvation.

  Pray that the Lord of hosts will intervene in Aleppo to "preserve all who love Him" and "frustrate the way of the wicked" (Psalm 145:20; Psalm 146:9). Intercede that the Spirit of God will subvert the rebellion so the "will for peace" shall indeed prevail over "the will for war." May the Lord provide for Aleppo's churches, ensuring that they are equipped with the necessary funds, resources and workers to continue serving and ministering as lights in the darkness (Matthew 5:14-16).

• Christian Girl Released from ISIS Captivity

  Miriam David Talya
  Photo: AINA

  Members of ISIS have recently released an Assyrian Christian girl, the last remaining hostage of a group that was abducted in northern Syria during February 2015. Miriam David Talya was originally supposed to be released on February 22nd of this year, along with 42 other hostages. (VOMC's previously posted report on the release of these hostages can be reviewed here.)

  However, the militants ended up removing Miriam from the list of those freed, without notifying the leaders of the Assyrian Church of the East with whom they had been negotiating. Further negotiations then began which thankfully have resulted in her release on Easter Sunday. She arrived safely in her town of Tel Tamar later that day.

  Miriam was among a large group (consisting of more than 200 Assyrians) that was abducted from villages along the Khabur River on February 23rd, 2015. At the time, ISIS militants undertook raids on a number of Assyrian villages near Tel Hmar, burning churches and forcing hundreds of families to flee.