Near East School of Theology (NEST) - November 2020 Update
Beirut, Lebanon
In Beirut, on August 4, an explosion at the port rocked the city. Within minutes, videos of a huge fire, followed by a deafening “boom” and a massive mushroom cloud-spewing toxins-went viral around the world. Within hours, international news media was capturing the aftermath of destruction and chaos.
Anyone who watched the disaster was horrified by the scale and impact of this cataclysm, playing out a world away, even if they had had no prior connection to Lebanon. Our collective humanity was deeply impacted. But for The Outreach Foundation, what unfolded in Beirut-and continues to unfold-is deeply “personal” as we have nurtured and been blessed by partnerships there that go deep and wide. (Were it not for the pandemic, we would have had an Outreach team in Lebanon at this moment.)
As we reached out quickly, we heard of the direct impact on ministry facilities (much damage). But we know that the “collateral damage” of this disaster will be extensive, particularly in light of an already destroyed economy and the hyper-inflation that is dragging the middle-class towards poverty. With Lebanon importing 80% of its goods-via that destroyed port-it is hard to imagine the strain upon the available food supplies, let alone materials like glass for the tens of thousands of windows blown out. Click HERE to learn more about the Beirut Compassion Fund and how you may help our hurting brothers and sisters in Beirut.
We recently received this update from one of our partners there, the Near East School of Theology:
Dear friends and partners of NEST,
It has been over three months since the Beirut port explosion (August 4). I can report to you that we are almost done with the repairs to our seminary building. We have repaired most of the damage, but there are still a few more glass windows in the library and at least one door to be replaced. But we were able to start the academic year on September 28 on schedule. NEST is one of the very few institutions of higher education in Lebanon that is teaching in person. Everybody else is mostly online. We have a small number of students and faculty, and most of our students reside in the seminary, so we are able to teach in class, following very strict measures of masks, hand washing, and social distancing, despite the worsening COVID situation in the country.
The repairs will probably cost us around $50,000. Thanks to your donations we will be able to cover all expenses. We have also engaged in some initiatives to help others who suffered from the Beirut explosion. NEST has supplied mattresses to needy families and helped in providing food parcels. And we plan to do more with some of the funds that we have received.
The NEST Recovery project was not just about material damage. To “recover” NEST has to be able to continue its mission in the midst of the COVID crisis and the severe economic and financial crisis that Lebanon is going through. Due to COVID-19 and the economic crisis, NEST has had to cancel many of its activities and programs, suffered a reduction in the number of students, as well as in the number of residents and guests in our dorms and guest rooms/apartments. This has meant a significant loss of income. Furthermore, the loss of value of the Lebanese currency, the rise in prices, and soaring inflation have also incurred huge expenses on the institution.
Once again, thank you for the support and solidarity that all of you have shown us,
Grace and Peace,
George Sabra, NEST President
Read more about the Near East School of Theology HERE.
THE NEED
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts totaling $20,000 for student scholarship support and general seminary operations. Outreach is also seeking funds for the Beirut Compassion Fund. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.