7. THE UNMISTAKEABLE THEOLOGY of radiant beauty
This reflection marks Part 7 of a seven‑part series drawn from our visit to Lebanon and Syria. Please visit the home-page to view the others. 1Peter 3:3-4 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your…
6. THE UNMISTAKEABLE THEOLOGY of intentional resilience
Resilience is not an accident of personality; it is a choice that becomes a discipline. And nowhere is this discipline more visible, and more embodied, than in the church of Lebanon and Syria.
2. THE UNMISTAKABLE THEOLOGY – of drawing near
At the heart of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, we find a central theme: a God who keeps moving towards His people and a God who invites His people to draw near to Him. Creation begins with God walking with humanity in the cool of the day. Redemption begins with God stepping into our dust as Emmanuel—God with us. Pentecost continues the same movement: God not only with us, but within us. The whole story of God is a story of nearness.
1. THE UNMISTAKEABLE THEOLOGY – of showing up
In places where bombs fall and hope thins, the simple act of arriving—of standing beside someone in their darkest hour—speaks louder than any sermon. There is a principle in the New Testament that is often overlooked. Most theological reflections on the life of Christ tend to focus on His public mission, which commenced shortly after His baptism by John the Baptist, when He was about thirty years old. But God’s first mission on earth was not a sermon but an arrival. He showed up!
A PERSONAL EYEWITNESS: where bombs expose what faith assumes
This past week I met with believers in the war-torn countries of Lebanon and Syria. What follows over the next few days are the theologies that rose from the rubble—truths tasted, touched, and seen. Truths that call us to show up, draw near, delight deeply, shepherd faithfully, and recognise beauty even in brokenness. These are the unmistakable theologies of a church that refuses to die. So, for the next 7 days we will explore a theology that was placed under the spotlight as we fellowshipped with the remanent in Lebanon and Syria. Here is the introduction
8 LESSONS: celebrating Pentecost in the context of war
In just two weeks we will again have the glorious privilege of visiting the church in Lebanon and Syria. We do not take these visits lightly. For us, they are sacred opportunities to learn, to encourage, and to witness the beautiful harmony of the body of Christ across borders and circumstances. It was exactly a year ago that we returned from a similar journey, and the lessons remain vivid in our hearts and minds. As we prepare to travel once more, we pause to recall eight lessons that shaped us then and continue to shape us now. We offer them again in the hope that they will echo the message of Pentecost.
WHERE HEAVEN TOUCHES EARTH: a reflection on our visit to Lebanon and Syria.
We’ve just returned from Lebanon and Syria, our hearts deeply stirred by the people of this region—their resilience, their boundless love, and their generous hospitality. In the midst of hardship, we encountered sacred moments where heaven touched earth. These encounters were not rare—they were radiant, rooted in faith and community. We carry their stories with us, and we invite you to share in the joy, the beauty, and the hope we witnessed.
RESURRECTION IN RUINS: a Christian response to Syria’s elections
On Monday, 15 September 2025, Syria will hold its first election since the fall of Assad. The elections may not offer direct representation for believers, but they do offer a chance to reclaim moral imagination. To insist that peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of dignity. And to remind Syria—and the world—that the Church, though bruised, is not broken. In this fragile moment, the Church’s role may be less about power and more about presence: a quiet but resilient sign of hope in a land aching for renewal.
SYRIA’S CRY, HEAVEN’S RESPONSE: In a world that turns away, we choose to draw near.
We have been inundated with heart-wrenching updates from Syria, shared by local pastors and dear friends from across the region. The news is devastating, and our hearts ache, consumed by sorrow as we cry out to the Lord for the people of Suweyda in southern Syria. The crisis has escalated into chaos, and civilians are being subjected to horrific acts of systematic extermination. And heartbreakingly, the Church has not been spared from the violence.
FEAR OR FORGIVENESS: The Church in Syria Responds
Christians in Syria were in mourning after a suicide bombing struck a Greek Orthodox church in Damascus during a June 22 Divine Liturgy. At least 20 were killed and more than 60 injured after an attacker, reported to be armed and wearing an explosive vest, entered Mar Elias, a Greek Orthodox church in the city’s Dweila neighbourhood. But for believers in Syria, and all of the Middle East, persecution is neither a new theology nor an unfamiliar territory. There has always been a deep-rooted understanding that to follow Christ is to share in His suffering. Unlike the responses often seen in the West, this has never diminished their witness—it has only refined it.