Syria #6: New
New
For the team, Marilyn Borst, Associate Director for Partnership Development
After epic, apocalyptic visions of a world contorted by evil, the writer of Revelation is granted a much-needed glimpse of the resolution of all that upheaval: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and earth had passed away…I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem…And the One seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new…’”
New. After years of catastrophic war here, we, too, saw glimpses today of how God, through his Church, is able to make things new: from the rubble, from despair, from crushed hopes and eager dreams destroyed.
New.
I have known this Presbyterian Church in Aleppo for more than 15 years. I have worshipped within its solid walls and then, after the destruction of its sanctuary during the war, walked through the rubble of its shattered stones with its pastor, Rev. Ibrahim Nsier. With tears blurring my vision, I watched as he extricated a fragment of a painted plaque from the detritus. The words of the 23rd Psalm had hung on the wall behind the pulpit and here was a fragment of that comfort from Scripture: the Lord is my shepherd…(that precious, jagged reminder of God’s tender, providential care for His children was given to The Outreach Foundation team who were with me, and is now in our office back in Franklin, TN).
New.
Out of the rubble of the destroyed Presbyterian Church here in Aleppo (a new one was built in another part of the city) a sign of “hope and a future.” And today we were thrilled to see what God is doing through his faithful church here! The Aleppo Christian Center, which The Outreach Foundation is honored to support, is taking shape amidst the destruction in the Old City. It will provide a place for ministry outreach to the community, theological training for the Presbyterian Church throughout Syria, ecumenical gatherings, and interfaith dialogue. We stood on the roof, prayed, and surveyed the ruins around us, but Rev. Ibrahim Nsier assured us that their efforts are stimulating a revival all around them. “Behold, I make all things new.”
Almost 10 years ago, at the height of the war, two bishops from Aleppo drove north of the city on a humanitarian mission: to negotiate the release of a priest who was being held captive by terrorists. Bishop Boulos Yaziji, of the Greek Orthodox Church, and Syrian Orthodox Bishop Yohanna Ibrahim would, themselves, be kidnapped – and never heard from again. Over the years, the devastated faith community in Aleppo waited in hope while fearing the worst…
This afternoon we met with two humble, grace-filled servant-leaders who had recently been consecrated to replace the two martyred saints who disappeared. His Grace Aphram Maloee (Greek Orthodox) has a heart for youth ministry. Syrian Orthodox Bishop Boutros Kassis smiled as I shared with him my own memories of his godly predecessor, whom I met, over the years, on several occasions. Both men are friends of Rev. Ibrahim Nsier, our Presbyterian pastor, and all three share a deep commitment and vision to rebuilding their broken nation together.
New.
As our time in Aleppo drew to a close, I reflected upon our family-of-faith here, like Rev. Ibrahim Nsier, and his wife, Tami, who have raised their three children during war and led their church through a time of fierce fighting and impossible living conditions. Yet here they are, still serving, still joyful, still confident for the future of their children and for the ministries they lead. They have seen the worst of the human conditions and yet move forward toward God’s sure future, where He still is making all things new.
