This yr has been extraordinarily heartbreaking for the peoples of the Center East. Nobody might have foreseen the bloodshed within the Holy Land, which has lasted for greater than a yr, nor the present dramatic occasions in Syria.
Syria's civil battle, which started greater than 13 years in the past and has claimed tons of of hundreds of lives and displaced hundreds of thousands, was largely dormant till an sudden re-eruption in late November. Then a regime that had remained in energy for over 5 many years collapsed in lower than two weeks. As hundreds of thousands of Syrians have a good time the autumn of the dictator, the world holds its breath to see what occurs subsequent. Will this actually be a brand new period of peace and freedom for Syria after years of oppression and battle?
Different powers within the area and certainly the entire world might be taught from these dramatic occasions in Syria. A regime that fails to supply for its folks's fundamental wants and provides them hope for a greater future, that relies upon for its safety on international powers and never on the consent of its personal folks, can collapse regardless of how merciless it’s and the way unassailable its energy is. it might appear.
Different nations within the Center East and North Africa, dealing with crushing monetary issues and shedding assist amongst their populations, severely concern a domino impact just like the one we witnessed through the Arab Spring of 2011-12, when leaders of highly effective In speedy in flip, Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen and Libya have been overthrown. Iran, an ally of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, might be notably alarmed by his shock elimination.
The Arab Spring was a equally dramatic and hopeful time within the area, but it surely wasn't lengthy earlier than excessive hopes for revolution have been dashed. The questions for Syria's new Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leaders now are: will they be taught from the previous? Will they perceive that with a view to enable them to rule and rebuild their nations, they have to present restraint and humility, particularly in direction of minorities? Will they attempt to depart behind their grievances and resist involvement in armed conflicts that lead their nation to additional fragmentation, as occurred in Iraq and Libya?
Christians and others within the area are very involved that we might witness one other violent try to eradicate non secular and ethnic minorities in Syria. Many believers have already fled the nation resulting from persecution by teams that occupied the territory within the early years of the civil battle. It is a matter of nice private struggling for us at SAT-7. In April 2013, two Syrian bishops, Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim, the Syrian Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo, and Metropolitan Paul Yazigi, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo, have been kidnapped. Mar Gregorios was a extremely valued and revered member of the SAT-7 Worldwide Council. There was no information of them since.
At present, we hope and pray that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham will hold its promise to guard minorities and permit Christians to follow their religion in peace and freedom. SAT-7 heard from church leaders in Syria this week who concern for the way forward for their nation and ask for prayers for unity, peace and safety. As believers, we actually wish to see the church in Syria empowered to develop, not simply survive, within the coming years. And we additionally hope and pray that the worldwide group will play its half in upholding the correct to freedom of faith and perception for everybody in Syria and the broader area.
For us at SAT-7, a multi-platform Christian media ministry working within the Center East and North Africa, now is an important time to be a voice for peace, reconciliation and freedom. Our reside packages give voice to the area's Christian minorities, promote understanding, promote range and tolerance, and bear witness to a religion that was actually born within the Center East. As Christmas approaches, our hearts are lifted by the arrival of the Prince of Peace. The theme of our Arabic packages this Christmas is “His identify is Immanuel… God with us” and we pray that Christ might be current in anxious hearts and His message will remodel these troubled lands.
Please pray:
- Pray for the Syrians who’ve suffered a lot violence and injustice for a few years. Pray for the therapeutic of hearts and minds and for a brand new period of peace and justice.
- Pray for freedom and respect for minorities in Syria and for the rights of all to be revered.
- Pray for the church in Syria, for knowledge to navigate the uncertainty of the present scenario, for cover and for freedom to develop. Pray that believers will know the presence and luxury of Immanuel within the midst of the concern of the unknown.
- Pray for Syria's neighbors and the broader area, for an finish to the conflicts which can be destroying hundreds of thousands of lives, for reconciliation and acceptance of variations.
George Makeen is the Ministry's Content material Advisor for SAT-7.
