Pray for Syria’s Christians 'that we can stand firm and not crumble' in the face of further catastrophe

One of the first places the population of Aleppo fled to when the quakes struck was its churches.

At the time of writing this, many residents are still unsure whether it’s safe to return to their homes. However, many churches are robust enough that people feel safe to gather there for warmth and safety.

Even church leaders cannot comprehend the enormity of what’s happening and how to react. However, they have moved fast, opening shelters, as well as providing food, water, blankets and mattresses. We need to protect people from the, the cold weather that we're living in.

Next, we need to do something to make sure that if people do want to return home, their houses are safe enough. Many houses are badly cracked – even my own home. We need to work to make them safe enough to return to.

This concern for the whole community in times of crisis is the natural response of so many churches and Christians in Syria. I have been working with the Centres of Hope project, supported by Open Doors. We have many ministries and activities in which we try to empower the church to be salt and light in their communities. And I’m proud to say that what remains of the church in Aleppo has truly risen to the challenge.

I say “what remains” as the war in Syria has taken its toll on the Christian population. Hundreds of thousands of Christians have fled Aleppo for Turkey, Lebanon and beyond. Before the fighting, the Christian population stood at around 250,000. Now, with the city’s overall population standing at slightly fewer than one million, the Christian population is just 30,000.

Our vision at Centres of Hope is to have hope in Christ restored across Syria through Christ, rooted in a Spirit-filled local church. Now, after years of war we have the quakes and I am afraid for the future of the church in Syria. But at the same time I also have hope.

The long years of war left Christians feeling insecure and unsafe, uncertain about their future and safety in the city. And now, once more, I think that many more will decide to leave. This thought concerns me deeply, after nearly two millennia of Christian presence here.

However, something else has happened to Christ’s church during the years of conflict. When I look back at what Aleppo’s remaining Christians managed to do, and how they reflected the image of Christ to the wider community through acts of service, I feel hugely encouraged. Different denominations were brought closer together than ever before, in their shared task of offering hope.

Once again, I believe that this latest is an opportunity for Syria’s Christians to show the mercy and love of God to everyone around them, through the shelters and through the safe havens that are we providing to everyone regardless of their religious affiliation.

I know that Christians around the world will be praying for everyone affected by the quakes, but there is something else I would urge them to pray for. After everything we have been through in recent years, the church here is facing an existential threat. We need God to strengthen what remains of the church in Aleppo and Syria.

Just as our church buildings have acted as robust refuges for Aleppo’s population, pray that Christ’s body here will also be strong and resilient. Syria needs the service and witness of its Christian minority more than ever.

Ibrahim Najjar works for the Centres of Hope project in Aleppo – a partner of the worldwide charity Open Doors.