Syria

POSTPONED UNTIL OCTOBER 2020

This unique journey, led by Marilyn Borst, Associate Director for Partnership Development, is designed to bring encouragement to and gain inspiration from many of the Presbyterian congregations in Syria which are an integral part of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL). Since 2012, when The Outreach Foundation ramped up its efforts to support its longtime partner, the Synod, as fighting and violence threatened the homes and livelihoods of families as well as the ministries of the churches because of the collapsed economy, Outreach through its supporting churches and individual donors, would provide hundreds of thousands of dollars as well as “show up”, even in the midst of the war, to demonstrate our love and concern to our family-by-faith there---8 times since the war began!

This 9th journey, in a mostly-peaceful Syria, will include visits to more familiar places like Aleppo, Damascus, Latakia, and Homs. But it will also bring us to the far south of the country where, in Sweida, the Presbyterian congregation of nearby Kharaba now resides in exile, and to Amr Hosn, a small town in the “Christian Valley” where a new Retreat and Conference Center, with significant gifts from Outreach, is under construction to give space for rest and refreshment, as well as equipping and teaching for Presbyterians of Syria as well as other local Christians.

Participants will fly into and out of Beirut, where we will gather before entering Syria together, under the guidance of the Synod and with the logistical facilitation of the Rev. Dr. Nuhad Tomeh, Mission Consultant for Outreach, a native Syrian and pastor-member of NESSL who now resides in Tucson. Plan for long drives (and long days!) as we move between cities in western Syria to visit as many congregations as possible. Because of the lead time needed by the Synod to secure visas for our team, applications must be in to our office by March 15.

Ground costs are estimated to be $3300 which covers accommodations, meals, vehicles, and visas. Airfare to/from Beirut is NOT included.

For more information contact Carol Dublin: carol@theoutreachfoundation.org or call (615) 778-8881