The city of Beirut suffered a tragic explosion just over six months ago. Your gifts were one of the channels that enabled Pastor Charbel and a local Alliance church to repair over 200 homes.
Through this work, Jesus stepped into Mary’s story.
Mary* is a nurse at a Beirut hospital. Working alongside her at the time was Pastor Charbel’s daughter—the reason Mary learned about the church’s repair work.
The nurse reached out to Pastor Charbel to see if he could help repair her elderly parents’ shattered windows. The pastor and his team arrived at her parent’s home, made the repairs, listened to their needs, and prayed for them in Jesus’s name.
A few weeks later, Mary’s mother called Pastor Charbel to tell of a change in her diabetic husband’s health. He was maintaining healthy blood sugar levels ever since the pastor prayed. Both she and her husband acknowledged the work of God.
“Praise the Lord!” Pastor Charbel said on the phone.
Soon after Mary began to see a difference in her parents. She became curious and started listening to Pastor Charbel’s sermons online. While listening one day, she broke down in tears and gave her life to Jesus.
She experienced His transforming work in her life when months later she contracted coronavirus—instead of fear, she felt peace.
“I was able to go through this illness without any panic,” Mary told Pastor Charbel. “The Lord sent you. When I had pain, my husband would play one of your sermons, and I would calm down.”
“It’s not me,” said the pastor. “This is Jesus who came into your life! And because you now love the Word of God, it gives you peace.”
Mary used to hate August 4. Now she explains she loves that day because it gave her the opportunity to meet Jesus.
“Now that I have Jesus, I want everyone to have Jesus!” she says.
Pastor Charbel and the Alliance church will continue to disciple her as she moves forward in her walk with Christ.
Relief given in the name of Jesus through the local church makes a lasting impact. As you read Mary’s story, we hope you are encouraged by your impact too. Thank you for your generosity!
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