Syria

Three months after the devastating earthquake hit, millions in Turkey and Syria are living in tents, collective shelters and temporary homes. There is acute need for healthcare, mental health and nutrition services, shelter support and safe water supplies. Please pray for those affected as they cope with life in the aftermath of the destruction, and for NGOs like Medair as we work to provide safe shelter and water, health services, essential items and mental health support.

Pray for two doctors as they head up a Health Project among nomads, and navigate the many challenges of time pressure, travelling for specimen and data collection, long hours, fatigue and stress as they manage staff and locals. Pray for good working relationships between local staff and foreign visiting specialists who come and go, with opportunities to be ‘salt and light’ among these remote people.

Please pray for the leadership of the Turkish Baptist Alliance and the leadership of the Baptist Convention of Syria, that God would give them wisdom and strength as they grieve and respond to these tragedies.

Pray for a team from BMS World Mission’s partner the Baptist Forum for Aid and Development responding on the ground. Pray that rescue efforts will even now bear fruit and pray that God will sustain the team as they work to bring aid to those in desperate need.

Pray for BMS World Mission partners in Lebanon working in Syria, that they might both provide crucial relief on the ground but also offer necessary support to Syrian refugees in Lebanon who are grieving from afar.

When the earthquake struck Türkiye and Syria, our emergency response team were on the ground within 24 hours to begin assessing needs in Aleppo. We will be providing urgent health services, safe drinking water and sanitation and protective shelters. Please pray for those we are working with who are traumatised by loss of loved ones, homes, livelihoods or who themselves have been wounded. Please pray for wisdom, strength and energy for Medair and other NGOs as we seek to bring relief during this time of immense need.

Pray for the area most affected by the devastating earthquake in Southeast Turkey. There are only about 3,500 national protestant believers in this land of 73 million Muslims, so the need for increased Christian witness is enormous, especially in rural and remote areas. Pray for the Christian radio and Satellite TV stations, plus Christian NGOs and congregations, to share messages of hope and assist in mobilising prayer and resources for those injured and made homeless, including church members and foreign workers.

TEN has been in touch with our partners in Turkey, who are keeping us informed about the situation and how to pray. They are not directly involved themselves but are sending funds to an organisation called First Hope Association, who are on the ground. For information on this organisation website: https://ilkumutdernegi.org/en/ We are keeping our supporters updated via social media. We are signposting people who come across our communications to give via those who have partners on the ground who are actively engaged. This could be through the First Hope Organisation, Stewardship or Worldshare, or another. Please pray for all the Christian churches in Turkey as they care for those affected by the devastating earthquakes and pray for those agencies that are actively involved in the rescue and restoration effort.

Please pray for Turkey (and Syria) following the devastating earthquakes in the early hours of Monday 6th February 2023.  The death toll is already over 25,000 and rising. The Union of Churches of Turkey are coordinating their response in the region. A partner there has informed us of people known to him who have been trapped under the rubble, some having died. A major challenge to the rescue efforts is the harsh weather conditions which show no signs of turning milder. Our partner has asked us to pray the Lord will work miracles because miracles are needed at this time.