The Beirut explosion on Tuesday, August 4, 2020 left 300,000 people homeless, 135 people dead, 5,000 wounded, and according to USA Today, up to 15 billion dollars in damages. While Lebanese neighbors scour the city for missing relatives, we pray. As the Red Cross warns that death toll numbers could rise, we pray. As our colleagues in Beirut lament, we pray.
Our colleague writes, “We sleep. We wake. Shocked and numb. It seems it was an accident, they say. A horrible accident. Only Hiroshima and Nagasaki more powerful. Can’t scream, can’t cry. Work. We can work. Grab my daughter and start to walk. We have to work. What else can we do? We wander the streets, stopping in at the school, stopping in at the church to help. Down to the blast site. How can we help?”
There are two ways you can help:
- Pray. Would you stop right now and pray? Another colleague writes, “Our team is safe and need prayer as this comes during a time of great social instability in Lebanon. Prayer is needed for the stress that they are under and also as they seek to minister to those around them.”
- Give. We have set up a giving link. WorldVenture personnel are partnering with multiple churches and organizations to provide relief including, but not limited to, providing housing for the displaced, medical care for the injured, food for the hungry and help repairing homes and churches that have been destroyed. Click here to help Beirut!
Meanwhile, a colleague in the area has sent pictures of the devastation. In the comments, would you write out a prayer for Beirut, the churches, and our colleagues?
From the Media:
- How I Explained Beirut’s Explosion to My Kids (Christianity Today)
- Jennifer Coon’s Interview on a Local News Station
Update 3/1/2021
Thank you for answering God’s call and helping Beirut! Here is what our colleague sent to us today.
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Update 8/24/2020:
Early in August, Beirut experienced tragedy as an explosion decimated buildings. Currently, at least 178 were killed and 6,000 people were injured in the blast. Your response to this tragedy to the rising needs in Beirut has been phenomenal!
Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” You are definitely helping to carry their burdens with your donation. Your donations will be used to support Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS) in providing shelter, food, and medical care to those who lost their homes in the blast. Also, the donations you have provided will go towards replacing windows in homes, shops, and churches. It will also help with food distribution. You are giving our colleagues and other ministry partners an opportunity to speak love and life to those who have lost so much.
Continue to pray for Beirut, specifically in wisdom in deciding how to use the gifts to meet physical needs. Pray for open doors to share why we love (because God first loved us). God always directs us to be other-focused. Thank you for acting in obedience to the Lord in showering His love on the people of Beirut.
New photos under this date on Facebook and Instagram.
Update 8/17/2020:
Let’s turn our prayer focus to the practical aspects of recovering from the Beirut explosion. There are many, many needs that could be addressed and our team needs wisdom to choose those that will be most helpful. One project being considered by our team in Beirut is buying windows for the neighbors whose apartments have been damaged. Another practical way that their church, Ras Beirut Baptist Church, is helping neighbors is by holding a clothing drive.
