Urgent Appeal from NESSL for Families in Southern Lebanon

Our mission network received an urgent appeal on Saturday, November 4, from the Rev. Joseph Kassab, General Secretary of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL). NESSL is seeking $47,850 in contributions from its mission partners in the US and Europe to fund a project to support 145 Protestant families who have been displaced from their villages on the Lebanon/Israel border. 

There are six Synod churches along the southern border in Marjayoun, Ibel al-Saqi, Khiam, Deir Mimas, Rashaya al Fukhar, and Alma al Shaab. Even the exclusively Christian villages are being shelled and bombed repeatedly by Israel despite claims that Israel is only targeting Hezbollah. The office of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in South Lebanon has also been attacked.

Over 29,000 residents of South Lebanon have been displaced by the war. They are now facing the loss of their livelihood. It is the olive harvest season when farmers take their olives to the presses so they can sell the olive oil. Unfortunately, they were not able to reach their gardens so they have produced no olive oil this season. Others who have fruit orchards were unable to water them, so their trees died while they were far away from home. Others who work locally in their villages have lost their daily income and can no longer support their families. Schools, which had begun a new academic year, are now closed until further notice. The church clinic in Deir Mimas that used to serve the whole area is now in a critical situation since the majority of the village population has left, due to the fighting that has reached the outskirts of the village.

Assis Joseph writes: “We continue to beseech Almighty God, imploring that the war does not escalate further and that Lebanon may be spared from additional suffering and violence. Despite the ugly outlook in the region, we remain people of hope, firmly believing that Peace and Justice are at the core of God's divine plan. The Church of Christ must serve as a beacon of light in these dark times.”

Your contributions to this project for 145 displaced Protestant families will help provide one family with $100 a month for 3 months. The SLPN Steering Committee has set a goal of raising $10,000 from our mission network.

Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution.  All donations will be combined and sent directly to NESSL.

There are two ways to donate:

1)  Send a check made out to Highlands United Presbyterian Church to SLPN Treasurer Ed Sutter, 4811 Saddle Creek Court, Acworth GA 30101.  Write "NESSL Appeal-Lebanon" in the memo line. 

2) You may donate online through the Vanco Presbyterian Foundation giving application, accessed on a special SLPN page on the Highlands United Presbyterian Church website.  If you already have a Vanco account, click on " Log in."  If you do not have a Vanco account, click on "Create Profile." Choose  "NESSL Relief Program" for your donation.  After you submit your donation, you'll receive an email from "ereceipt" acknowledging your donation.