MEET ALI

He is a refugee who has been living in Lebanon for the last 12 years. He has a wife and two young children, ages 5 and 3. Their home was destroyed in bombing raids in Syria, and he was forced by threat of violence to flee. Before the war his life was good. Now he can’t find work, nor is he allowed to legally hold a job, because he is a refugee. Daily survival is a struggle for Ali and his family.

Regional wars, a refugee crisis, economic collapse, and the spread of radical ideologies have resulted in a deep despair in Lebanon and throughout the Middle East. The needs of today reach beyond the refugee communities we continue to serve to the poor and marginalized Lebanese families who find themselves in desperate need.

• Lebanon hosts the highest population of refugees per capita of any nation in the world. With over 2 million refugees of war residing in Lebanon, nearly 90% are struggling to survive living in extreme poverty.

• Lebanon is in the midst of an economic collapse that has devalued the local currency by over 90%, resulting in over 80% of the population living below the poverty line.

• Most refugee children and many Lebanese children have little or no access to formal education. The desperate situation has lead to huge increase in child labor, early marriage, and sex trafficking.

• Latest estimates are that over 60% of the citizens of Lebanon have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The percentage is even higher among the predominantly Muslim refugee communities scattered throughout the country.

Heart for Lebanon’s focus on holistic, relational and unconditional ministry is providing essentials for survival to families, which allows us to reach and engage them in a relationship. God is moving in a historic way in the midst of great desperation. Learn more about our unique strategy.

ACCESS MINISTRIES

It is Heart For Lebanon’s mission to make disciples.

We do this through targeted ministry programs that “lead people from despair to hope”.

The Heart for Lebanon staff met Ali and his family and were able to understand their unique story and needs. Providing supplemental food, hygiene, and survival essentials to his family meets a desperate need while allowing the Heart for Lebanon team to build trust and begin a relationship with Ali’s family.

• Almost 2 out of 4 families in Lebanon are refugees.

• Poverty Rate in Lebanon has nearly doubled from 42% in 2019 to 82% in 2021.

• Extreme Poverty rate among refugee families has increased from 55%in 2019 to 89% in 2021.

Ali’s children get to participate in the Hope on Wheels program which includes skits, songs, games and puppet shows. When they get older it will also include opportunities for them to participate in sports activities, Bible clubs, health awareness lessons and other educational opportunities.

HOPE ON WHEELS

Hope On Wheels is a mobile ministry truck that travels to different communities across Lebanon and shares life-changing, Biblically-based messages with children and their families. Our program uses skits, games, songs, clowns, and puppets to communicate the Gospel, while giving children an opportunity to play and learn in a safe and fun environment. It’s a chance for these kids to set aside the hardships of life for a few hours and simply enjoy being children again. Every week, hundreds of children across Lebanon are being led to hope through the message of the Gospel presented by our Hope On Wheels Team.

H.O.P.E. PROGRAM

The H.O.P.E. (Helping Overcome Poverty through Education) Program provides a non-formal education for refugee children who are unable to attend local schools. Children who have been out of school for several years become prime targets for extremist groups. Not only are subjects like Math, English, Arabic, and Art covered; children are also learning stories from the Bible and about their identity in Jesus during Chapel.

EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS

These programs range from literacy classes where uneducated adults and children not able to attend school are taught to read and write, to skills training in sewing and barbering. Students utilize this training and education to open up a variety of opportunities for them to grow personally, professionally, and spiritually. These environments provide our staff and instructors the perfect place to develop deep relationships and begin to have spiritual conversations with the students.

BIBLE STUDIES

Bible Studies provide a place where people can come to ask questions, learn from the biblical perspective, and experience true community. It’s in this environment that we study topics on peace building, reconciliation, forgiveness, dignity, community respect, life-style and health. This is where the transformed lives of those we serve become passionate about seeking to transform the lives of those in their communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have over 1,000 Muslim-background men and women involved in Bible Studies and discipleship communities.

CHURCHES

Over the last two years, many adults who have decided to follow Jesus have been coming to weekly Worship Gatherings where they can praise God and learn more about Jesus in a community of people on the same faith journey. As worship gatherings grow and leaders are developed, Churches are being planted. These Churches serve as a faith community for growing Jesus followers, and a place of hope and service to those in need.

HOME VISITS

Our field staff regularly visits the homes or tents of the families we are serving. These visits allow our staff to see first hand the conditions in the home, and more importantly provide an incredible opportunity for conversation, fellowship, and prayer. The families we serve love to host the Heart for Lebanon staff. They are honored that someone cares enough to visit them, hear their stories, and pray with them.

HOPE ON WHEELS CLUBS

Hope on Wheels Clubs is a place where children meet in small groups each week to build friendships and grow deeper in their understanding about the Bible. Children are bused to our Hope Centers where they engage in crafts, games, hear Biblical truths, and are able to discuss what they’ve learned. In smaller groups, our team is able to dedicate more time answering questions that otherwise wouldn’t be discussed in larger group settings. It is inspiring to witness the excitement these children have for our Hope on Wheels Clubs.

MISSIONAL LEADERSHIP

Ali is serving in Leadership in Hope Evangelical Church and is actively involved in discipling and leading others into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. “ I have found everything I need through Jesus Christ and He has called me and my family to return to Syria to serve others and tell them about Jesus.”

As we walk alongside those being discipled, Heart for Lebanon’s staff select those that show the desire, dedication, and calling to minister to their own people. These Believers are invited into a Leadership group where they are further equipped and trained on how to reach their own communities and people groups with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Driven by the compassionate heart of Jesus Christ, Heart for Lebanon exists to see lives changed and communities transformed. Our long term vision is to see thousands of people from a Muslim background become followers of Jesus Christ, equipped and mobilized throughout Syria, and the Middle-East, to raise up new communities of faith and demonstrate Godly leadership.