Revd David Roche, Vicar of the Bright Waters Benefice and Area Dean of Whitchurch, and Revd Dr Amy Roche, Head of Mission and Ministry for the diocese, served in the only Anglican church in Beirut for 4 years. They reflect on their connections in the region and lead us in a call to pray for the Middle East at this desperate time of escalating violence.
Bishop Philip begins…
“Lebanon is a country that has a particular place in my heart. I have witnessed God’s people engaged in some remarkable acts of loving service there, and it is where I first met David and Amy Roche when we were all working with Church Mission Society, and David and Amy were particularly involved in the work of All Saints Church Beirut. David and Amy know the country far better than I do, so please do join with us in prayer for the issues David describes below…”
Revd David continues…
“This week I have been lost for words in my prayers with regard to the escalation of violence and intolerance across the Middle East. We live in times that seem more tribal than ever, language loaded with micro-aggression is used to justify our conduct towards the ‘other’. Yet, I believe our prayers will make a difference for God to bring healing and redemption to all communities, and end cycles of violence that has seen generations come and go. A big part of God at work in the Middle East is found in his people living there, faithfully going about their daily lives and in the background working for peace and justice.
“Once such place is All Saints Anglican church in Beirut where Amy and I served for 4 years. It is the only Anglican church in Lebanon, it is a small but beautiful building dwarfed by tower blocks in downtown Beirut on Zaitunay Bay closed at the moment because it is dangerously near to where current bombing is taking place, and was already structurally damaged by the port explosion in 2020. In the current crisis both the Arabic Speaking and English speaking congregations have dwindled in numbers significantly, life in Beirut was never easy but now much infrastructure has been damaged, electricity and water are in short supply.
“Please pray for Raymond Khoury Church Warden, a quiet but devout man who keeps things together as best as he can, and The Venerable Imad Zoorob, Archdeacon of Lebanon and Syria. I spoke to both on Sunday just gone, both were exhausted from constant fear of bombing and where the whole situation is going and the impact on the lives of the congregation as innocent Lebanese who have nothing to do with Hezbollah are dying. Imad’s parents live in a small Christian area very near Dahieh, and his wife’s parents live in a small Christian village deep in the south near the border – their village has been bombed beyond recognition, both parents now living with Imad in Beirut.
“Please continue to pray for all God’s people at All Saints Beirut, Lebanon and of course across the region in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, the suffering of so many on both sides will take years to recover from.”
Other Resources
Prayer materials and updates from Embrace the Middle East: Embrace partner updates — Embrace the Middle East (embraceme.org)
Christian Aid Gaza Appeal: Gaza Appeal: Donate now | Christian Aid
Resources and prayers from Friends of the Holy Land: Friends of the Holy Land
