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"Living Letters" in Lebanon
It’s been said that Beirut, Lebanon, is the largest construction site in the world. The scars from 17 long years of civil war are being bandaged and reconstructed at a feverish pace. Nearly a third of the city has already been rebuilt.
But not enough attention is being given to the scars on the hearts and souls of the war-wearied Lebanese people. They need to know a love that goes deeper than religious divisions. A love that can heal decades of bitter tensions. The rubble of their lives need to be rebuilt on the cornerstone of Jesus Christ.
This is why World Vision has been ministering in Lebanon for nearly two decades.
I had the privilege a few weeks ago of traveling to Lebanon with my wife, Margaret Ann. The purpose of our visit was to encourage the World Vision staff in Lebanon. As often happens when visiting our field workers, we were the ones encouraged.
We were amazed by the dedication and commitment of our staff in Lebanon. All are nationals and have lived through the long years of civil war. Each has a personal story of loss, of tragedy, of sadness. With each, faith has gone deeper and become richer through the experience.
As we visited staff at several World Vision projects, we saw these "living letters" in action--incarnational witnesses to God's love and Christ's sacrifice. I’ll tell you about three of these wonderful ministries.
Beit Chabeb Handicapped Center. Established during the war to treat persons rendered handicapped by bombings and crossfires, this facility has grown to include a variety of services: physiotherapy, polyclinics, occupation therapy, prosthetics, skills-training workshops, hydrotherapy, radiology, and surgery.
TeleLumiere TV Station. The same blue sky that carried missiles of destruction during the war now carries airwave messages of peace and unity. TeleLumiere transmits 12 hours of Christian television broadcasting to 60 percent of the geographical area of Lebanon every day. The broadcast's purpose is to promote love and human dignity to viewers of all ages.
Southern Lebanon Trauma Center. The psychological damage from the civil war, especially among children, has been intense and widespread. In partnership with two other organizations, World Vision assists the Trauma Center in providing counseling and referral services to trauma victims and in developing family and community support networks.
The constant rumble of bulldozers, cranes, and cement trucks left me no doubt that war-damaged areas of Lebanon will soon be restored. Likewise, the joyful spirit of dedication and selfless love I saw in the lives of the World Vision staff convinced me that lives in Lebanon will continue to be transformed and restored by the power of Jesus Christ.
The Church in Lebanon speaks in glowing terms about the World Vision staff’s impact on the Lebanese. Margaret Ann and I are honored and privileged to join the applause.
A Day of Prayer
For more than two decades, World Vision has devoted the first day of each World Vision fiscal year to prayer.
On October 1, staff in our offices worldwide paused from their busy tasks to seek God's guidance and direction for the 12 months ahead.
As the office closest to the international dateline, World Vision U.S. has the honor of bringing up the rear of this global prayer battalion.
As we prayed individually, in pairs, in small groups, and as an entire body at our office here in Federal Way, Washington, I was reminded that without prayer our work would be empty striving. We are a tool in God’s hands. We are part of His mission. And anything we try to do apart from Him would result in frustration and confusion.
I tremble at the thought of bringing assistance to complex international arenas such as North Korea, Rwanda, Bosnia, or Lebanon without God's leading. This is why we pray for the people we serve, the projects we manage, and the donors who help make the ministry possible.
Our theme for the day, taken from Mary's response to the angel's news that she would bear the Son of God, was "Let it be to me according to your word." Through our Day of Prayer and our daily devotions within departments at World Vision, we echo Mary's prayer: "Let it be to us according to your word."
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