Emergency Country Briefing: Lebanon
With tensions remaining high in the region and air strikes and ground operations impacting thousands of Lebanese families, we’ve released an Emergency Country Briefing looking at Lebanon in more detail. We’ll look at how Christians are responding to the unfolding situation and hear from one of SAT-7’s directors in Lebanon, Sarah Soueidy, about how the team are keeping faith and supporting viewers.
Click here to listen to the 7-minute audio version of the Briefing
As violence escalates in Lebanon, we take a step back to look at the history of the country, the experience of Christians on the ground and how the Church and SAT-7 are responding to the ongoing conflict and uncertainty.

One of the smallest countries in the Middle East, Lebanon sits on the eastern shoreline of the Mediterranean. Despite its size, the snowy peaks of Mount Lebanon and the Mediterranean coastline in the east make for a diverse climate. This combination of coastline and rich natural resources has made Lebanon an important trade port for civilisations throughout history, such as the Phoenicians, Romans and later the Byzantines.
Southern Lebanon is often included in the biblical region known as Upper Galilee, and includes key sites in Jesus’ ministry such as Cana, Sidon and Tyre. The Bible even documents that wood from the famous Cedar of Lebanon groves was used to build King Solomon’s Temple.
After becoming independent in 1943, periods of prosperity have been interspersed with significant political instability, culminating in the 1975-1990 civil war. However, despite periods of conflict, Lebanon has remained a cultural and economic hub in the region, and in recent years has also experienced a spiritual awakening, with congregations growing in number and thousands coming to faith in Christ. While there aren’t any official numbers for Christians in Lebanon, it is one of the few countries in the Middle East to have a significant Christian population: it’s estimated that over 2 million people, or around 33% of the population, are Christian. 1
Following cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel and airstrikes in September that killed senior Hezbollah commanders, thousands of families have fled their homes in the south of Lebanon, an area with a high population of Christians. 2As people move north in an attempt to escape the violence, local churches, considering how they can support those who have become displaced, have responded by opening their doors to those needing shelter. 3

Church Support
Last week SAT-7 ARABIC programmes Different Angle and Voice of the Church heard from church leaders in Lebanon about how they are supporting people affected by the ongoing violence.
Dr Michel Abs, Secretary-General of the Middle East Council of Churches, told Different Angle about how they’re stepping up their Lebanese relief programme in response:
“We are moving fast as events develop. We are following up on our network of provisions… We are all one in Lebanon; there’s no discrimination based on denomination. We help treat all those who need medical treatment.”
While some Lebanese Christians are concerned that the renewed violence may lead to a large number of Christians leaving the country, Enaam Haddad, from Resurrection Church Beirut, shared on SAT-7’s Voice of the Church how in providing shelter, meals, medicine, and other essential supplies for the displaced, the Church has an opportunity to show God’s love to people:
“The Church is going through a difficult time because of the strikes and fear around us, there’s death and injury, and many displaced. Our church is experiencing difficulties, but this is now our chance and not a challenge for us… [as] we also work on showing people who Christ is.”
Christians across Lebanon are being motivated by their faith to help those who have lost their homes. Nihad Hasan Pastor of the Kurdish Church in Lebanon told You Are Not Alone how his church is providing shelter for displaced people, and also how members of the congregation have opened up their homes to accommodate families fleeing the violence.
“Christ came for all people,” he said. “This is an opportunity for us as Christians to be a light in this world, so that people can see Jesus Christ through our actions.”
Meanwhile, Pastor Souheil Saoud, from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Beirut, told SAT-7 how they have been preparing to launch supply packages to help 300 displaced Lebanese families. He asked for prayer for church leaders in Lebanon as they open their doors to those fleeing the intensifying violence. In a video for SAT-7, he described the fear and destruction caused by the airstrikes on 27 September and how as many as 200,000 were displaced overnight.
SAT-7’s Response
Earlier this year in January, SAT-7 ARABIC aired live coverage of “Beirut 2024”, which saw 10,000 Christians gather for worship at a special celebratory event in Lebanon, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). Today, from SAT-7’s Beirut studio, the team can hear the shelling just a couple of miles away.
Sending out a call for prayer, Executive Director for SAT-7 Lebanon, Maroun Bou Rached asked: “People around the world, please pray that the violence stops immediately, that our country will be spared further bloodshed, that the children, in particular – this precious generation – will not witness or experience what we did as children and their lives will be spared, and that Lebanon can live in peace with its neighbours.”
Lebanon is home to more than 30 SAT-7 staff and their families, but amidst the violence the team continue to go live with programmes like You Are Not Alone, even after nights of airstrikes and fear. Director of SAT-7 ARABIC’s You Are Not Alone, Sarah Soueidy, told us what it’s currently like for the Lebanese team:
“When we are at work at the studio, we are so close to the bombing, it’s palpable – it’s only a few kilometres away, so you can really feel and hear everything when the bombs go off. Christian and non-Christian people are fleeing their homes. Our programme You Are Not Alone is trying to cover these stories and be the voice of those who don’t have a voice at these times. We are living in very difficult circumstances – we are sleep deprived and anxious. But we keep faith in God and his promises, and we are passionate about SAT-7 and its mission. We ask everyone to keep praying for all the SAT-7 staff in Lebanon, so we can keep the strength and faith to keep doing what we are doing.”
You Are Not Alone is usually a weekly programme, but for the next two weeks will broadcast live three times a week to help give a voice to those affected and bring much-needed messages of hope and comfort to viewers. The latest episode shared messages of encouragement from church leaders, as well as personal stories from people caught up in the violence and medics who are battling to save lives.
Holding onto Faith
As the violence escalates, it’s thought that up to a million people have now been displaced, including tens of thousands of Syrian refugees who are attempting to cross back into Syria to escape the violence. Viewers on You Are Not Alone shared live on air how they’re holding onto faith, even as everything around them falls apart:
Viewer Rakan Diab, who lives in south Lebanon with his family, wrote: “The power of prayer is strong. Pray, pray, pray for this country. That is my message.”
Nisreen, a mother of three from the southern border of Lebanon, shared the heartbreaking reality of how her children, once terrified by the sound of explosions, now accept it as a part of their daily reality:
“It makes me upset that these children are not being raised safely, going to school, and living in peace and security,” she told presenter Sirene on You Are Not Alone. “Everyone has the right to live in safety and peace…[but] this is a reality we can’t escape.”
But even while Nisreen fears for her children’s safety and future, she is also firmly holding onto faith in Jesus:
“Our strong faith is in Jesus Christ – He is our salvation. This is what keeps people in my village strong… To find resurrection, we must walk on the path of Calvary. We are all holding the cross and walking towards salvation. That’s why we say we are children of hope and the resurrection. We are holding tightly to our faith.”
As SAT-7’s Beirut studio called for prayer that the situation will de-escalate, SAT-7 ARABIC held a live prayer session focussing on Psalm 23:4: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.”
As the situation continues to evolve, let us join the prayer of a SAT-7 viewer in Lebanon:
“You, Lord, are all-powerful, and nothing is too difficult for You. In the name of our Lord Jesus, extinguish the flames of war and let Your name be glorified everywhere. Comfort the hearts of the grieving and heal all the wounded. Only our Lord Jesus is able to do all things, and nothing is beyond Your power. Amen.”
Please Pray:
- Pray for an immediate end to the conflict in Lebanon and the Holy Land. Pray that the Lord will fill hearts with peace and love, replacing anger and revenge.
- Pray for wisdom for political leaders and that international efforts to establish a peace deal will be successful.
- Pray for the bereaved, injured and displaced, that they will experience the Lord’s peace and comfort. Pray for protection and safety for those who have fled their homes.
- Pray for the SAT-7 team in Lebanon as they continue making and broadcasting programmes and offering support to viewers. Give thanks for their strength and perseverance, and pray that they will know the Lord’s strength and peace as they minister to others at this difficult time.
- Pray that You Are Not Alone will be a great source of comfort and encouragement to viewers in Lebanon, and that it will shine God’s light in these turbulent times.
- Give thanks for the churches in Lebanon who are helping those in need and pray that they will continue to be the Lord’s hands and feet as they support those seeking refuge from violence.