LOCAL PARTNERS
Emil and Reem Bourizk, Lebanon
Providing education for refugee children and offering pastoral care for non-church people and Iraqi Christian families.
Syrian refugees, who make up a quarter of Lebanon’s population, are some of the most marginalised people in the country. One of their greatest needs is primary level education, along with counselling, accommodation, food and clothing. Our vision is to bring hope and healing to thousands of refugees.
Depending on the changing refugee population, we typically teach around 60 to 80 children aged 3 to 15, offering basic education as well as introducing children to the gospel. As much as possible, we also connect with children’s families, offering them counselling and helping them to understand the gospel message.
Related prayer news and stories
Middle East: peace
Please pray for the Prince of Peace to reign in the Middle East this Christmas and turn people’s hearts to reconciliation and peace. Pray for wisdom for leaders in Israel, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and beyond, and for courageous leadership that embraces humility and vulnerability for the sake of peace with justice across the region.… Read more
Lebanon: longing for peace
Following the ceasefire agreement reached last week between Israel and Lebanon, mission partners Nabil and Sarah Shehadi, who live in Lebanon but are currently based in Cyprus, write: “Please pray for Lebanon to be preserved as a base for mission in the Middle East, for the many churches involved in relief for the displaced, for… Read more
Emil and Reem’s story
Originally from Lebanon, we lived in North Africa for several years, returning to Lebanon in 2014. Back home, we found our house was surrounded by at least 20 Syrian families living in tents, with nobody to care for them. These refugees had no furniture, almost no food and some of the children didn’t even have shoes. Most local people weren’t interested in helping them and we felt the call to show them God’s unconditional love – to care for them whether they are interested in the gospel or not.
We are part of CMS because they believed in our vision and mission, they listened to us, have seen what we do, prayed for us and then stood behind us. CMS wants to call people in action and wants to share the gospel with everyone, especially people on the margins and of course refugees.
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