August 8, 2006
The Sidon Clinic opens its doors to refugees
Lebanon is much in the news because of Hezbollah’s kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers and the resulting war that has developed. All sides accuse the other of atrocities and wrongdoing. But it is the people who suffer the most.
Recent reports say that more than 700,000 Lebanese have been displaced because of the war. Most come from the south. The Alliance Church of Lebanon is reaching out to refugees from all walks of life and religious beliefs.
In Beirut 100 church members are providing relief to thousands of refugees every day. And in the Sidon Clinic where medical worker Bonnie Witherall was murdered by a religious extremist in 2003, something interesting, maybe incredible, is happening.
In the clinic that was closed following Bonnie’s death, in the room where her blood covered the floor, 160 refugees are being sheltered, received bread, food, and other goods from church members. It was given to them freely. No strings attached.
They remember that a foreign worker was killed as she opened the clinic because she was a Christian. Now Christians are helping them. They don’t understand.
A high government official of Sidon called Rev. Sami Dagher, the church president, to say how much he appreciated the church’s help. He finished by saying, “I don’t understand. Where the lady was killed, you’re still helping. Why?” Sami explained that the love of Jesus is the most important thing in the world. Lebanese are in need, and the church, because of Jesus’ love, will help.
The needs are great. Already, the Alliance Church of Lebanon has given more than $150,000 in relief supplies, and the number of refugees continues to grow. Compassion and Mercy Associates (CAMA) has opened a Middle East Relief account to assist our Alliance brothers and sisters as they reach out to needy people in the midst of war.
Please pray for the safety of volunteers from the church and that God would use them as His light in a dark world, giving love and bread and refusing to focus on religious or political differences.