{"id":21396,"date":"2015-11-05T21:27:03","date_gmt":"2015-11-06T02:27:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/syria_crisis\/"},"modified":"2025-07-23T12:28:28","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T17:28:28","slug":"syria_crisis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/regions\/mee\/syria_crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Syria Crisis and Our Churches’ Response"},"content":{"rendered":"

The crisis in Syria<\/a> dates back to the early days of 2011, when peaceful protesters expressed their hopes for political and economic reforms, in the spirit of the so-called Arab Spring that was sweeping the Middle East and North Africa.\u00a0 The situation became violent only a couple of months later, in March.\u00a0 Since then, more than a quarter million Syrians have been killed, half of the Syrian population has been forced from their homes\u2014either displaced internally or as refugees in neighboring countries, and now Europe and beyond\u2014and hopes for a resolution of the conflict remain dim.<\/p>\n

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ have been involved in response to the crisis for the past roughly five years, and continue to do so. \u00a0Such response has been prayers and education, advocacy for an end to violence and a responsible US role, and support for the work of partners in the Middle East who continue to provide humanitarian aid to those in need.<\/p>\n

Prayer and Study\"\"<\/h3>\n

Where is God – Razek Syriani<\/a><\/p>\n

On Justice and Peace – Mary Mikhael<\/a><\/p>\n

Our chance to see God<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

Global Day of Action<\/a>
\nand Prayer for Syria<\/a>
\nSeptember 21, 2016<\/a><\/h4>\n

Webinars<\/h3>\n

Through the Middle East Initiative<\/a>, Global Ministries offers monthly webinars<\/a> to offer perspectives by our partners in the region about their work and context.\u00a0 The two webinars here are our August and September presentations on Syria, offered by Dr. Mary Mikhael, Syria Response staff person of the National Evangelical Synod [Presbyterian] of Syria and Lebanon and former Global Ministries Board of Directors member, and the Rev. Dr. Riad Jarjour, President of the Forum for Development, Culture, and Dialogue.\u00a0 Both partners are involved in Syria in a variety of ways, including humanitarian response for the needs of displaced and refugees.\u00a0 Both Dr. Mikhael and Rev. Jarjour are from Syria.<\/p>\n