Beit El Nour, Lebanon

Bourj Hammoud is a marginalised northern suburb of Beirut. The neighbourhood is characterised by poor infrastructure and inadequate access to basic services. There is a high level of poverty, which has been exacerbated by successive crises: the pandemic, the Beirut blast and Lebanon’s severe and ongoing economic crisis.

Children are particularly vulnerable in the face of humanitarian crises. Sadly, many children growing up in poverty in this area of Beirut are at risk of violence and exploitation, especially child labour and early marriage.

Our partner, Beit El Nour, works with Lebanese and Syrian families in Bourj Hammoud to prevent vulnerable children from dropping out of school and becoming at risk of early marriage or child labour. They are doing this by providing educational support for 145 children, 85 of whom are registered at school and 60 of whom are not currently attending school. Alongside this educational support, children also benefit from psychosocial support that builds their resilience and coping skills.

Beit El Nour also works with parents in the community, to increase awareness about children’s rights and to promote positive parent-child relationships.

Bible reading

‘This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.’

1 John 3:16-18

Thought

These verses tell us that Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross is the definition of love. They also urge us to follow the example of our Saviour and love other people in a way that goes beyond mere words and presses us to take action. The outworking of this will look different for everyone (depending on our age, our abilities, our circumstances, etc.) but it is a high calling.

Ask yourself: Can you think of some practical ways that you can put your love into action and serve those who are ‘in need’?

Prayer

Loving God,

Please still our hearts and help us to remember that ‘God is love’. You have freely bestowed your love on us, and nowhere do we see this more clearly than in your Son’s sacrificial death on the cross – thank you.

May you bless the ‘love-in-action’ work that Beit El Nour is doing in the deprived neighbourhood of Bourj Hammoud. May your hand of blessing be upon each of the 145 children they are serving, and their families. Please protect them from the evils of exploitation and violence. May the education they receive unlock new opportunities and may you enable them to flourish.

Help us to follow your example, and the example of our Christian partners like Beit El Nour, and put our love into action. Show us how we might do this and make us receptive to your voice.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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