This is a critical time for our Alliance sister churches in Syria. There is a very real threat that religious extremists may overtake Damascus, the country’s capital, and further destabilize an already fragmented nation. The fall of Damascus could set off a chain of events that would deepen the already unmanageable refugee crisis in bordering nations.
There has been a considerable increase in rocket fire into Syria’s capital. This past week a key Alliance church building in Damascus was struck by a rocket, igniting a fuel tank and causing significant damage. Although no one was hurt, there have been deaths among Alliance church members from rocket fire in other locations.
Please pray
- For the safety of the Alliance family in Syria and for wisdom in ministering to their communities during these increasingly difficult times.
- For the safety of many Alliance pastors who will be returning home Saturday from a conference. The terrorists are trying to isolate Damascus and have taken control of many key highways into and out of the city. These pastors will likely have to travel on some of these controlled routes.
- For many families—particularly in religious minorities—who may be targeted by “fortified” extremists and be forced to leave the country suddenly. As the media has clearly shown us in recent days, the plight of these fleeing refuges is grim and deadly.
- For the safety of Alliance workers and churches in surrounding countries that also face the escalating threat of the terrorists’ advance, even as they continue to share the love of Jesus with refugees and others in desperate need.
“At this point,” notes Jerry Kragt, Alliance regional director for Europe and the Middle East, “Alliance believers in Syria—and particularly the pastors—are encouraged by what the Lord is doing there in the midst of the horrors of war. We must continue to remind them of our support, especially in prayer, and be ready to respond to the continuing flood of refugees. The church has a great opportunity to shine brightly in this dark situation!”