MEET PASTOR ABDALLAH

When the earthquake happened all the people in the city experienced the biggest fear, especially as several strong aftershocks kept on hitting the city. The people went as far as possible from the buildings and it was a very cold and difficult time. Fear spread to all the inhabitants of the city and things were so difficult that if you approached someone to check on them tears would immediately roll down their face.

For many years and all through the war and the economic crisis in Syria, our church has been helping people in our community and decided to help as well in these difficult times. The church opened its doors and people came in, feeling a sense of safety by being with one another. And so the church started to shelter and take care of these people. People were traumatized and unable to go back to their homes, especially the homes which were destroyed or damaged. People stayed in the church all day and although it was not comfortable, they slept inside the church. We tried to bring things to help them, such as mattresses and blankets, and we provided them with three daily meals.

Then we realized there were a lot of people in places all around us who also needed help. So we started to go outside the church walls and work to help these people too. We started building relationships with the displaced people by visiting them in schools or collective shelters and camps. They are in need of everything, because the economic situation was already terrible before the earthquakes.

This has been the role of the church, and it has been possible thanks to all who quickly helped us and stood by our side, who partners with us, prayed with us, and allowed us to help a lot of people. In the current situation, things started to calm down a bit and the fear is starting to decrease among the people. Some people are starting to go back to their homes, but a lot are in need of new shelters.

The church is aware that these are extremely difficult times and the Bible warns us that we will always face challenges, but our role is to lift things up to God in prayer and try to help as much as possible. We pray that God would strengthen our hearts and bless the people through the work and love of the church.  

This is what keeps me going these days, and we keep on visiting people displaced in many places within Aleppo. We try to bring with us anything to help them, including the children who are in these places. We have programs especially for them, we bring them gifts, as well as food and drinks, and hygiene items. We pray to be a blessing to the people and to show them the love and genuine care of Christ in these difficult times.