Faith
Syrian Christians Endure Unprecedented Persecution
Faith Facts
- Extremist groups have targeted Syria’s Christian, Alawite, and Druze minorities with brutal violence and human rights abuses.
- The June bombing at Mar Elias Church in Damascus illustrates the mounting risks faced by Syria’s ancient Christian communities.
- Religious freedom advocates are urging the United States to act, emphasizing constitutional protections and the safeguarding of minority rights.
Syria’s religious minorities are experiencing escalating violence from jihadis, loyalists, and militias following recent regime upheavals.
Faith leaders warn this is a coordinated effort to erase the area’s historic Christian witness, which traces back to the earliest days of the Church.
“It’s a deliberate campaign of terror,” declared Dr. Morhaf Ibrahim, president of the Alawites Association of the United States.
Over 1,500 Alawite community members were killed on Syria’s coast in March, with horrifying details revealing the extent of brutality.
Richard Ghazal, executive director of In Defense of Christians, highlighted, “With every suicide bombing, every desecrated church, every community exodus, Syria edges closer to losing a 2,000-year-old spiritual and cultural pillar.”
Prior to the civil war, Christians made up about 10% of Syrians, coexisting peacefully with their neighbors and maintaining a biblical legacy in sites like Antioch and Damascus.
The June church attack, according to Ghazal, signaled “accelerated cultural and religious erasure” amid violence and displacement.
The presence of Christians, Alawites, and Druze has served as a moderating influence, fostering compassion and coexistence in Syrian society.
Ghazal cautioned, “Their elimination would cause a narrowing of ideas, a narrowing of identities, and a narrowing of beliefs, which would enable radical ideologies to reach an otherwise moderate Muslim demographic.”
He further warned that the disappearance of Christianity would “mark the loss of a vital bridge between East and West” and sever a crucial link to early Church heritage.
Advocates urge the U.S. to take a stand for religious freedom and minority rights, pressing Syria’s transitional leaders for constitutional safeguards and the accountability of perpetrators.
“The U. S. must condition any formal diplomatic normalization on the Syrian transitional governance, guaranteed to protect minority rights, religious freedom, and enshrine constitutional safeguards,” Ghazal insisted.
Dr. Ibrahim called on Congress and American leaders to reflect biblical values by demanding the protection of all minorities and pursuing genuine peace through inclusive governance.
He stated, “Protecting Alawites, Christians, Druze, Kurds, and all minorities is not a moral imperative. It is the foundation of lasting peace in the Middle East.”
Believers know that standing for truth and justice honors God and is essential to preserving the spiritual legacy entrusted to Syria’s faithful.
As followers of Christ, let us pray for our brothers and sisters in Syria and urge our leaders to champion policies that defend freedom, dignity, and faith for all who remain.
Faith Facts
- The majority of pastors now use AI tools such as ChatGPT and Grammarly to prepare sermons.
- Sixty-one percent of pastors report using AI weekly or daily, a significant rise from the previous year.
- Church leaders express concerns over the ethical and spiritual impacts of AI-generated content.
Many pastors are turning to AI technology to enhance sermon preparation while emphasizing the importance of maintaining spiritual discernment and personal connection.
Commonly used AI tools in ministry include ChatGPT for research and creative support, and Grammarly for refining church communications.
Researchers found that church leaders see value in AI for efficiency, yet remain vigilant about upholding biblical truth and safeguarding the unique role of human guidance in ministry.
Churches of various sizes and denominations are participating in the adoption of AI, with a majority willing to invest in further education and ethical training regarding its use.
Leaders are encouraged to approach technological tools with wisdom and transparency, prioritizing faith-based values and community trust as they navigate these new opportunities.
Faith Facts
- Sherry Pogue transformed a French château into a free spiritual retreat for Christian missionaries and their families.
- The ministry, Restored & Renewed, was founded to renew missionaries’ strength and prevent burnout.
- The château also fosters community outreach and Christian fellowship in a largely secular region of France.
Sherry Pogue purchased the 6,000-square-foot Château Claire Fontaine in rural eastern France to advance God’s calling by providing rest and renewal to missionaries. Built in 1870, the four-level home now welcomes missionaries at no cost, offering comfort, recreation, and biblical counseling.
“Our goal is to keep missionaries on the field,” Pogue shared, noting many face exhaustion worldwide.
Sue Foster, a veteran missionary, expressed that Restored & Renewed has “been a tremendous blessing to a great many missionaries around the world, including myself!!”
Pogue, working with life coaches and even a helpful poodle, intentionally opens her doors to missionaries of all biblical backgrounds, emphasizing Christian unity and support. She observed the challenges large missionary families face in affording rest, so her property’s expansive grounds and tranquil setting provide much-needed relief.
Luk Brazle, another missionary, described the experience as healing: “A place where we could sleep, be cooked for and nothing was expected of us was healing.” His family found fellowship with other missionary families, strengthening their connections and faith.
Pogue’s commitment is rooted in her extensive background in education and counseling, all guided by her strong faith in God’s direction. She credits God’s hand for preparing her path, from her early days studying French to her present ministry work in France.
Beyond the château, Pogue organizes Christian services in the local Catholic church—often closed and without a priest—to share the hope of Christ in the village. Professor Robert McCready, whose students join these events, testified, “We would talk about the Lord between songs…it was very encouraging.” His involvement in these faith-filled gatherings was so positive that the mayor honored him as an honorary citizen and welcomed continued Christian fellowship.
Through dedication to biblical values, Sherry Pogue’s faithful obedience is a powerful testimony to the difference one believer can make in God’s kingdom and in the lives of His servants.
Stay connected with us for more stories of faith in action. Subscribe and follow Faith and Freedom Report as we spotlight believers living out Christ’s commission and bringing hope to the world.
Faith Facts
- St Bernard of Clairvaux, born in 1090, was a leading Cistercian abbot and theologian who shaped church life in medieval Europe.
- He described three distinct Advents: Christ’s past coming, His future coming, and His present coming into believers’ hearts.
- St Bernard’s Advent sermons inspired the faithful to experience Jesus’s presence as fulfillment, hope, and joy.
St Bernard of Clairvaux, canonized in 1174, was renowned for his spirituality, wisdom, and service to Christ’s church.
He taught that Advent is a sacred journey, reflecting on Christ’s incarnation, promised return, and daily presence in the hearts of believers.
“If anyone loves me and keeps my word, my Father will love them, and my Father and I will come to them and live with them.”
Jesus’ message in John 14:23 calls Christians to open their hearts to His love and guidance today.
Let this Advent be a time to renew our faith, honor Christ’s coming, and share His hope in our families and nation.
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