Elma Leeburn, President of Presbyterian Women (PW), has been in Lebanon this week to get alongside and encourage the women of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s (PCI) partner church in the Middle East, and see first-hand something of the life of the Church, in particular its work with refugees who have fled the conflict in Syria.

Speaking from Beirut, Elma said, “Since we arrived in Lebanon I have been very richly blessed. It has been a fascinating and challenging experience, in particular meeting some refugee women in the cities of Tyre and Sidon and learning how the Lebanese church is reaching out with the love of Christ. As a result of the continuing conflict in Syria, Lebanon’s population has grown considerably.”

The National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL) contains 39 congregations split between the two jurisdictions, although a number of churches have closed due to the conflict in Syria and the displacement of members. The first Evangelical congregation was founded in 1848; the Synod itself was established in 1920 and has around 12,000 members.

Accompanied by her husband Ian, Women's Ministry and PW Development Officer Pauline Kennedy and PCI’s Global Mission Secretary, Rev. Uel Marrs, the group had an encouraging visit
 to one of the six refugee schools that NESSL has set up. The schools were supported by last year’s PCI Youth and Children’s project ‘Journey’s of Promise’.

The group also visited the headquarters of the Bible Society of Lebanon and saw something of the impressive work that the Society is doing. They were welcomed by its General Secretary Dr. Mike Bassous, who spoke at PCI’s ‘Hope Unexpected’ conference last year.

Before coming home Elma hopes to be able to meet with NESSL Church leaders, including Rev. Najla Kassab, who heads up Women's Ministry and to meet with women from the wider church, especially the Damascus Congregation, which Presbyterian Women recently supported. In 2017 Rev. Kassab was elected President of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, of which PCI is a member.

“Although we come from very different cultures, global borders are nothing to God. His heart is for people from every nation and it has been a privilege to witness what God is doing in the Middle East today,” Elma said.

“On my return home I hope to be able to give our members a vivid picture of everyday life in Lebanon, encourage prayer for the region and help Presbyterian Women consider how we can best take an interest in the churches in Lebanon and Syria and our sisters in Christ.”

Talking about their time in Lebanon, Rev. Marrs said, “The visit by the PW President is an important step forward in encouraging PCI's longstanding relationship with the Reformed Church in Lebanon and Syria.”

You can find out more information on Presbyterian Women here.