PRAY FOR THE MIDDLE EAST

Over the past few days, the war in Iran and the widening regional conflict have brought heightened uncertainty and fear to our staff, partners, and communities across the Middle East. We ask you to pray with us for God’s mercy, peace, and protection over the peoples of this region. Pray that violence would be restrained, innocent lives protected, and anxious hearts calmed. Pray especially for the local church - that believers would stand firm in faith and embody the peace of Christ. May Christians serve as instruments for reconciliation and hope amid rising tension.

At this time, our Global Staff in Lebanon are safe. Please continue to pray for:
Elie and Mireille Haddad • Rabih Wazir • Evangeline Hammond • Emad and Almess Botros

Please pray for our partners in the region:

  • Thimar-LSESD (Lebanon)
  • Arab Baptist Theological Seminary – ABTS (Lebanon) and its students and alumni across the MENA region
  • Middle East Revive & Thrive – MERATH (Lebanon)
  • Nazareth Evangelical College – NEC (Israel) and its students and alumni across the MENA region
  • Shepherd Society (Palestine)

Specific prayer requests:

  • Lift up the students, staff, and faculty of Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS) and Nazareth Evangelical College (NEC, Israel). Pray for their physical safety, emotional resilience, and spiritual steadfastness.
  • Pray for the staff and families of Thimar and MERATH, who continue to serve on the front lines, supporting the poor, the displaced, and those most affected by violence.
  • Remember the Christian leaders who were gathered in Dubai - many from our partner organizations across the MENA region - when strikes and missile interceptions began. Pray for those now stranded due to closed airspace and cancelled flights, uncertain when they will be able to return home.

Last week, during the Living Stones webinar, Yohanna Katanacho, Academic Dean of Nazareth Evangelical College, shared a poem he had written. May his words become our shared prayer in this demanding and painful season: 

This is a season of weeping and mourning, but it is not void of hope.
Our tears are the bridge between brutality and humanity.
Our tears are the salty gates for seeing a different reality.
Our tears are facing soulless nations and a parched mentality.
Our tears are the dam preventing rivers of animosity.

For the sake of the mourning men, cry with us to reflect your amity.
For the sake of the poor children, cry with us demanding sanity.
For the sake of lamenting mothers, refuse violence and stupidity.

Love your enemies and cry with them is the advice of divinity.
Blessing those who curse is the path to genuine spirituality.
Pouring tears of mercy and compassion is true piety.

Pray with tears, for the sake of spreading equity.
Followers of Jesus: crying is now our responsibility.
But don’t cry for your friends only - cry also for your enemy.