Easter feels different this year. For what seemed to last an eternity, the situation in Lebanon only went from bad to worse, plummeting with the war between Hezbollah and Israel. But the ceasefire and the nomination of a new President, Prime Minister, and government brought people some hope at last. As for the sudden change of regime in Syria, it was initially perceived as an end to the civil war and a resolution to the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon.
In both countries, unfortunately, people’s newfound hope was quickly thwarted by violence against minorities and new displacement crises, crossfire and airstrikes breaking the fragile ceasefire, and massive cuts to critical humanitarian assistance.
As we celebrate Easter, although we still hope and pray for the best for our country and region, we know that our only steadfast hope is in Jesus, who surely raised from the dead and conquered evil and death itself.
A fragile thread of hope
Hope had been elusive in Lebanon after years of simultaneous economic and humanitarian crises – each ranked some of the world’s worst in modern history. But in 2025, people in Lebanon embraced hope. A new president and prime minister each took office in early January, just weeks after the announced ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. For displaced families who were finally able to return home, many only returned to destruction and further desperation. For the following months and to this day, occasional crossfire and targeted strikes daily remind us how fragile the ceasefire is.
In parallel, the fall of the Assad regime in Syria brought a resounding hope that the civil war was finally over, and that a new, inclusive government could finally lead Syria towards better days ahead, hence accelerating the return of Syrian refugees. But various incidents, culminating in the massacre of hundreds of Alawite civilians in March 2025, caused another refugee wave in northern Lebanon and new displacement within Syria and increased the fear of Syrian Christians that they might be the next minority targeted.
Concurrently, recent global political changes have caused significant reductions in humanitarian aid and assistance, leading to skyrocketing needs and increased human suffering. These abrupt funding cuts come on top of previous UN cuts that affected 5.5 million food insecure families in Syria and many more in Lebanon in the previous years. With the new cuts, UNICEF estimates that an additional 500,000 children and their families in Lebanon lost critical cash support from UN agencies.
In such contexts, it would be easy for our local partners to lose hope and wonder where God is. Yet all through these troubled times, they remained faithful in their service to their neighbors. They not only kept helping the families they already served but also supported thousands of additional families displaced by the war in Lebanon – sometimes taking very real risks to do so. Back when airstrikes were still a daily occurrence across Lebanon, Mazen, a partner in the Beqaa valley, told us:
“Despite the danger in our region, many people were not able to leave, like refugees living in tents. Where would they go? Now that they need help more than ever, I cannot possibly abandon them. Who will help them if I don’t? In the end, I committed my life to the Lord and I only have one rule in life: if I live, I live to serve the Lord. If I die, I will go to be with the Lord.”
For the past few weeks, some of our partners in Lebanon have actively been reaching out to newly arrived Syrian refugees from Alawite background, helping them with food, mattresses, blankets, and hygiene kits. In Syria, despite the uncertainties Christians are facing, our partners courageously stayed in their communities and kept on serving the people in need, including newly internally displaced Alawites. Pastor Bassem, who is based in the Tartus governorate, shared:
“Many people started coming to the village after the fall of the Assad regime. We’ve been welcoming people for 13 years, but what’s different now is their religious background and the regions they’re coming from. The message of our church was and still is to show the love of Christ and that everyone is welcome and in need of Him.”
As they walk on a tightrope, their love and courage stand out even more. And while UN agencies and other NGOs increasingly suffer from cuts in foreign aid, our local Christian partners often remain the last assistance providers in their communities, bringing even more glory to God. Reverend Fouad, whom we work with in Syria, explains it this way:
“We need your prayers. Last year, the UN stopped all their food assistance in Syria, and many NGOs had to close. Not one day passes without people coming to us to beg for help, because we are the only ones still helping. Despite the many challenges, we feel blessed to be able to continue serving. When they receive the food boxes, the people feel it is a gift from God Himself. It is encouraging to see that our help results in thanksgiving to God. People really see the hand of God and the love of Jesus through this.”
Our region seems to be rapidly reshaping, and only time will tell if it is for better or worse. Despite all uncertainties, we still hope and pray for the best. But we also remember that our only steadfast hope is in Jesus.
Right after Jesus defeats evil and rises from the dead, he seeks out his followers and sits with them or walks alongside them in their grief (Luke 24). While we and people around us go through these dark circumstances, we can be confident that Jesus still seeks us out and walks with us, too, even in our grief, and responds with compassion.
This Easter, we are reminded once more of our living, lasting, resurrected hope in Jesus Christ. While regional crises continue to cause displacement within and across borders, and while global funding crises increase human suffering in our midst, we continue to serve displaced families unconditionally through local church partners, thanks to the generosity of faithful worldwide supporters.
And while current circumstances threaten to thwart all hope, we continue to embrace opportunities to share our resurrected hope with people who desperately need it.
“Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.” Hebrews 6:18-19
