Country Briefing: Syria
Syria is a country rich in culture and history, but after enduring a long and brutal civil war that raged for over a decade and displaced millions of Syrians, communities are just beginning to rebuild their lives. After the Assad regime collapsed, new leaders spoke of inclusion and freedom, but for Syria’s religious minorities the future remains uncertain.
Syria – Stories of Faith and Resilience
Yet despite this, hope persists, and Syrian Church leaders continue to call for forgiveness and unity, stressing how the Church must stand together in prayer and solidarity at this time. In this month’s Country Briefing, we’ll not only explore the vibrant heritage of Syria, but also hear the stories of SAT-7 viewers that remind us that while the future may seem unsure, God is undoubtedly at work.
Bordered on the west by Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea, a large portion of Syria is covered by the Syrian Desert. The desert, also known as the North Arabian Desert, stretches into neighbouring Jordan and Iraq and is the home of the popular Syrian hamster which, although exceedingly rare, can still be found in small areas around Aleppo.
As a Roman province, ancient Syria held a strategic position on an important trade route and was instrumental in spreading Christianity throughout Persia and the Arabian Peninsula. The Apostle Paul was famously converted on the road to Damascus, and Syria became an important hub for Christian philosophers for learning and debate. The ancient Syrian city of Antioch (which now lies just north of the modern Syrian border in Türkiye) was one of the major hubs of Christian leadership, often called the ‘cradle of Christianity’ and Acts 11 tells us that this was where believers were first called ‘Christians’.
Syria is home to a diverse group of people including Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians, Druze and Alawites, with Christians coming from a wide variety of those backgrounds. Since gaining independence from France in 1946, Syria has struggled with considerable political instability, seeing multiple military coups and coup attempts. In 1970 Hafez al-Assad came to power following a coup and his family ruled Syria until his son Bashar al-Assad was ousted in 2024. Following the Arab Spring in 2011, a multi-sided civil war erupted, which led to 14 million people being forcibly displaced and over six million Syrians fleeing the Country.
After the defeat of so-called Islamic State (IS), areas of fighting stabilised and the country was effectively divided into districts. In December 2024, the Assad regime collapsed after a major offensive led by the group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) swiftly captured several major cities, including the capital Damascus, bringing an end to a civil war lasting over a decade. Large numbers of Syrians took to the streets cheering and crying, as they expressed their hopes for the future. But many are concerned about what the change in leadership will mean for minority groups in the country.
ChRISTIANS IN SYRIA
While Syria has a strong Christian heritage, the Christian community has faced numerous challenges in recent years including displacement, emigration and persecution. George Makeen, SAT-7’s Ministry Content Advisor shared how many believers have already fled the country because of persecution by groups that took territory in the early years of the civil war. He reflected: “many in the region are greatly concerned that we may witness another violent attempt to eliminate religious and ethnic minorities in Syria.” Before the civil war Christians numbered around 1.5 million, or around 10 per cent of the population, however the number has now fallen to approximately 300,000, or just 2 per cent. While the Assad regime afforded a certain amount of protection and freedom to Syrian Christians, since the start of the civil war over 120 churches have been destroyed, and Christians have suffered persecution and violence in areas controlled by IS.
While Syria’s new leaders HTS were originally part of IS, they became an independent group in 2017 and have since been governing the northwestern province of Idlib. Although the de-facto head of state, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has expressed his desire that his new leadership should respect minorities, many remain cautious. He stressed in an interview that “minorities have coexisted in this region for hundreds of years, and no one has the right to eliminate them. There must be a legal framework that protects and ensures the rights of all, not a system that serves only one sect”.
SYRIAN CHURCH LEADERS SHARE THEIR HOPES WITH SAT-7
SAT-7 ARABIC has been hearing from church leaders in Syria on live programmes Different Angle and You Are Not Alone about their hopes and fears for the country’s future. Pastor Harout Youssef of the Evangelical Nazarene Church in Latakia, spoke to Different Angle about the impact of prayer: “Prayer can change events” he said. “We pray for safety and for those in authority, so the hand of God is over everything that happens in this country. We pray for peace… for hope and stability… for justice, freedom, tolerance, and equality.”
Speaking on You Are Not Alone Pastor Yacoub Sabbagh stressed the importance of forgiveness: “We want to live as witnesses to the works of God in our lives and give a hand to the other in love and peace. Revenge has never been rewarding. Forgiving is the answer. This is our Christian faith.” He shared how young people especially have been coming into his church to pray and invited others in Syria to join them, stressing the importance of “solidarity in prayer”, saying “We must have fellowship to encourage one another.”
Meanwhile, Archbishop Joseph Tobji, the Maronite leader in Aleppo, met with HTS representatives at a Franciscan convent, expressing his hope for a Syria that values the contribution of Christians. He said: “Christians have a role to play, contributing to a society that respects everyone and offers hope to future generations. Our task is to stand close to the people, to strengthen their faith. God is with us, even in our suffering.”
ANSWERED PRAYER
But even though there is great uncertainty, many are optimistic about the future. Among them is Jad, a Syrian Christian who has recently been able to realise a dream that he thought might never be possible: getting baptised. Jad began watching SAT-7 when he was 10 years old and grew to know and love God through our programmes, but he had to watch in secret as his family didn’t know that he was a believer. Our children’s shows had even helped him through some of the darkest moments of his life, when he was kidnapped aged 15 by militants during the civil war. “When I was kidnapped, I used to remember the songs [I learnt on SAT-7 KIDS]. I used to sing them again and again,” he told us. In 2021 he called into a show and asked for prayer that his dream to be baptised might be realised and for peace to reign in Syria.
Jad got in touch again last month with wonderful news of hope and answered prayer: “I am coming today with all joy, faith, gratitude, and praise, to tell you that…today is my big day, because I have been baptised!” Jad enthused. “All of this was thanks to you. You were like a lighthouse for me, lighting the way and guiding me to Jesus. I really want to share my joy with you and say thank you. Finally, I’ve been baptised! Thank you from the bottom of [my] heart.”
Jad wants other young SAT-7 viewers to know that “[God] is present in your prayers, and you can call out to God with joy.” He added a prayer for SAT-7: “I pray that you always stay strong for the sake of every believer who can’t live out their faith or receive the Good News due to their circumstances.” Give thanks that Jad was able to get baptised and for the emotional and spiritual support that SAT-7 KIDS programmes provide to Syrian children like Jad.
SOCIAL MEDIA HELPING TO BRING COMFORT TO PEOPLE IN SYRIA
Meanwhile, SAT-7 ARABIC’s Fear of Death campaign has been providing support to viewers via social media. The campaign was run by SAT-7’s Daily Bread page which offers spiritual guidance and support for viewers seeking help or wanting to know more about Jesus. People often write to the team with questions about the Christian faith, requests for support with sensitive issues, or even queries about parenting. The Fear of Death campaign focussed on providing spiritual encouragement for people in Arab countries where churches are few and far between, aiming to address some of their questions and fears surrounding the topic of death.
Recently the team received a message from Abdo, a Syrian man who had many questions and worries about what would happen to him after he died. “They overwhelm my mind” he confided in the Viewer Support team. As the team answered Abdo’s questions, he became open to reading the Bible for the first time, and they were able to share the Gospel with him. Soon, he was eager to learn more about Jesus, saying, “I want to read the New Testament to learn more… I receive His love and redemption.” Abdo’s faith deepened as he came to know Jesus, declaring, “He is the Lord!… How can I not love Him?” After praying with the team, Abdo accepted Christ as his Lord and Saviour and began his discipleship journey. Reflecting on his journey, Abdo shared that he had discovered a profound relationship with God, “I realised that when we know the Word of the Lord, feel it, and speak it from our hearts, then we trust that it will accompany us through life …it is the truth!” he exclaimed. Abdo’s journey to faith is a powerful testament to how God is at work in the region through SAT-7. Give thanks for the Viewer Support team and pray that they will continue to be able to support people as they seek a deeper connection with God .
As Syria enters this new era, we pray that Syria’s new leaders will be true to their promise to protect minorities and allow Christians to practise their faith freely. We echo the prayer of Church leaders in Syria as they seek unity, peace, and protection. The stories of SAT-7 viewers in Syria are a testament to how God is at work in the region and remind us that even in the most difficult circumstances, His love is transformative. As Syria rebuilds, we pray for lasting peace, protection for minorities, and for the Church to remain a source of strength and unity for all who seek refuge in faith.
Please Pray:
- That Syria’s new leaders will govern with wisdom, and that they may have a heart for unity and peace.
- Give thanks for the end of a long civil war in Syria and pray that peace will be lasting and enable Syrians to live their lives without fear.
- Pray for Christians and other minorities in Syria, that the new leadership will seek to protect them and allow them the freedom to express their faith.
- Pray for Syrians who are bereaved or have been injured or displaced in the civil war; that they will experience the Lord’s peace and comfort. Pray for protection and safety of those who have fled their homes.
- Give thanks for the SAT-7 Viewer Support team, and the encouragement that they give to those seeking the truth. Pray for them as they kindly and patiently answer questions and interact with viewers.
- Please pray for SAT-7’s ARABIC channel, that our programmes may touch viewers’ hearts and encourage and strengthen isolated believers in Syria.