Urgent Relief for the Suffering

The headlines I've come across about the tragic state of Lebanon these days are gut-wrenching ... perhaps you've seen them too:

• Lebanese Face Threat of Widespread Hunger After Beirut Explosion
• Lebanese priest: 'We need your prayers' after Beirut explosions
• Lebanon's economic collapse spells doom for Mideast Christians
• A mass Christian exodus from the Middle East would be a catastrophe
• Lebanon's Christians threatened, need US help
• Beirut explosion: 'We don't have dreams anymore'

On and on they go.

In the aftermath of a catastrophic detonation of some 2,000 tons of explosive material in a warehouse in Beirut's port -- killing more than 170 people and injuring 4,000 — widespread despair is gripping the country's population, Christians included.

According to a New York Post piece:

The United Nations' top official in Lebanon warns that thousands of Lebanese could be driven out by economic despair. Many Christians are not waiting for the state to fail, according to Lebanese sources. The exodus has already begun...

Hunger is now reported in all parts of Lebanon, as some are no longer able to provide the basic needs for their families. In some places, schoolchildren tell teachers, they haven't eaten in days. Nationwide, there are critical shortages of medicine, and hospitals are curtailing treatments and have ended nonessential surgeries.

And Christian Persecution News says:

"Lebanon's ... Christians face dire threats as their country hurtles toward economic collapse and political anarchy. Catholics, Orthodox Christians and Protestants are now at risk of disappearing in Lebanon — following the desperate flight of most Iraqi and Syrian Christians this century."

Please join me in prayer for this country — and for the millions of Christians across the Middle East who are struggling to survive in dire circumstances.

I also urge you to give generously to Liberty Relief International today.

Your compassionate gift will provide urgently needed relief to brothers and sisters facing disaster, persecution, violence and more. For believers living in the Middle East, northern Africa, central and southern Asia and elsewhere, you’ll empower our Christ-centered partners on the ground to minister with emergency aid:

1. Food, water, shelter and safety for refugees
2. Trauma counseling
3. Literacy and job training
4. Help in rebuilding and restoring churches and homes
5. Bibles, Bible study materials, discipleship training for new believers
6. And much more

I echo the words of one priest in the wake of the disaster in Beirut: "We ask your nation to carry Lebanon in its hearts at this difficult stage ... we place great trust in you and in your prayers."

Please pray. And please take your compassion one step further, for the suffering's sake — send physical and spiritual aid to those who need it most.

Thank you, in advance, for your support.

The impact you are making, as a partner with LRI, goes far beyond dollars and cents.

Yours in Christ,

Mat

Liberty Relief International is a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

*Representative names and photos used for security reasons.