July 25, 2006 Beirut, Lebanon …. [Alex Elmadjian/MEU/ANN Staff]
Despite the current crisis in Lebanon, Seventh-day Adventist Christians continue to meet for Sabbath worship at approximately five locations every week, church leaders say.
Although Adventist facilities in Beirut have not suffered any damage, and, as far as is known, church members have sustained no injuries, there is understandably a level of concern among the members. Thus, amidst the chaos, there is comfort to be found in the ability to maintain regular routines, including weekly worship.
“All our churches in Lebanon had their regular services last Sabbath,” reports Pastor Levon Maksoudian, president of the Adventist Church in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. “We are encouraged by being together.”
“We are feeling the blessing of being together and growing together in the Lord, even in such perilous times,” says Pastor Levon Maksoudian, president of the Adventist Church in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.
The leadership of the Lebanese church is in constant touch with the Seventh-day Adventist Middle East regional headquarters in Cyprus and is collaborating on a humanitarian project for refugees, under the auspices of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). “We are gearing up for this to be quite a major project and have already attracted some significant funding,” says Conrad Vine, secretary-treasurer of the Adventist Church in the Middle East region.
Meanwhile, the Adventists caught up in the war are receiving numerous messages of encouragement and support.
“I want to thank you all for your prayers and efforts to encourage us, because I believe we are together anyway even if we are geographically apart,” says Pastor Maksoudian.
The leader of the Adventist Church in the Middle East, and chair of the ADRA Middle East board, Dr. Kjell Aune, said that it was inspiring to feel the interest and support of the world field: “Thanks to all who have offered material support to the church and the citizens of Lebanon. As a church we will do our part in helping displaced persons.”
Aune added, “Let us also continue to carry them forward in our prayers, and not to forget our people in Iraq and other places, who are continuing to suffer enormously. We pray that God may use this crisis to further bind together the world church in general, and the Lebanese church in particular.”
Despite having suffered no physical harm, Dr. Aune says church members “are fearful with anxiety, experiencing the reality of shortages, have limited freedom of movement, and first and foremost, are coming to terms with the paralyzing realization that the hope which they had built up for their future has now gradually shattered.”
If you are concerned about the whereabouts or safety of your loved-ones in Lebanon, a help desk has been established at the Middle East Union headquarters in Nicosia, Cyprus. E-mails can be sent to lebinfo@adventistmeu.org, while telephone calls may be directed to +357 22871640 during office hours, or leave a voicemail message.
There are 300 Seventh-day Adventist Church members in Lebanon, officials have reported.
Copyright (c) 2006 by Adventist News Network.
