Syria
With approximately 1.8 million Christians, Syria has the second largest Christian population in the Middle East, after Egypt. Christians in Syria enjoy considerable rights within its secular system. They find it easy to obtain authorization to build churches or have processions in public without harassment. Religion is not mentioned on identity cards. Christian holidays are official state holidays, and members of the clergy are excused from military service.
Currently, the country faces enormous challenges. It hosts about 2 million Iraqi refugees who have fled their homeland since the 2003 war began. It has been increasingly subjected to hostile rhetoric and threatened isolation, mainly by the United States.
Jordan
During the last century, Jordan, a largely Muslim country has been open to modernization. In general, Muslims and Christians have been living together with little tension or discrimination. Since the establishment of the Hashemite Kingdom in 1950, Christians have been guaranteed freedom of worship, religious education, and parliamentary representation.
Jordan has taken in over 1.7 million Palestinian refugees since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Today, Jordanians of Palestinian descent constitute over half of the population. Jordan’s future is inextricably tied to developments between neighboring Israel and the Palestinians. Since the 2003 war in Iraq, close to a million Iraqis have fled to Jordan, burdening the country’s economy and its educational and health systems. Inflation has skyrocketed. The churches and the Middle East Council of Churches continue to address this large-scale human need, and the PC(USA) tries to help in shouldering this burden.
Partners/Ministries [Syria]
National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon: Rev. Maan Bitar, moderator, Rev. Joseph Kassab, general secretary
Jinishian Memorial Program: Ani Cholakian, director
The Syrian Orthodox Church
The Armenian Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Apostolic Church of Antioch and All the East
Partners/Ministries [Jordan]
The Ahliyyah School for Girls, Amman: Mrs. Haifa Najjar, director
The Bishop’s School for Boys, Amman: Rev. Dr. Kamal Farah, director
The Theodore Schneller School, Marka: Rev. Hanna Mansour, director
The Holy Land Institute for the Deaf: Brother Andrew de Carpentier, director
PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Judy Walton, PILP
Rev. Shun Wang, GAMC
We pray for the safety and well-being of Iraqis of all faiths who have found refuge and hospitality in Syria and Jordan. We also ask your blessing and guidance for the churches and other institutions that minister with those in need. In thanksgiving we pray. Amen.
Ps. 33, 146 Ps. 85, 94
Amos 7:10–17
Rev. 1:9–16; Matt. 22:34–46
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