Syria

From the 18th January, we celebrate the International Day of Education (24th) by praying for formal and informal education projects around the world. Please pray for a successful 2026 for: 1) Calcutta Emmanuel School, India, (CES) and Spurgeons Academy, Kenya - formal schools facing rising costs, staff turnover, curriculum and other challenges 2) The Graveyard Preschool in Cambodia, the Hope Centre in Syria, the GCare Centres in Patripul, the Morning Star Care Centre in Sri Lanka - all providing informal education 3) Pray for quality education for all.

From the 11th January, we pray for our work at the Hope Centre, in Damascus, Syria. Please pray for: 1) Wisdom and energy for Afaf and the team at the Hope Centre 2) The counsellors working with children who have suffered so much trauma through the chaos and conflict of the last 14 years 3) Peace and joy for the children at the Hope Centre, progress in learning and healing of emotional wounds 4) Positive relationships with families and local authorities 5) Protection in an unstable region.

This week, as Christmas approaches, pray for the youngest children, born into multi-dimensional poverty, just like Jesus. Please pray for: 1) Mums and babies with inadequate shelter and clothing 2) Babies born displaced from wider communities or families which would usually support them 3) Babies born without healthcare 4) Young families fleeing persecution and targeted acts of violence 5) Child refugees trying to make sense of life in foreign lands, cultures and languages.

On the 25th November we mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women Please pray for: 1)our partners’ work helping abused women in Sri Lanka 2) protection for young women and girls in all our projects 3) justice / fair legal representation for abused women and girls, especially Dalit girls in India 4) efforts to tackle cultural practices condoning domestic violence 5) greater participation for girls so their needs are seen and voices heard.

This week we pray for our work at the Hope Centre in Syria. Pray for: wisdom for director Afaf and her team at the Hope Centre, encouragement for the 90+ children supported through Global Care at the Hope Centre, relief and healing from the many traumas experienced by most of the students at the centre an end to conflict, a stable peace and economic growth to reduce widespread poverty healing for broken relationships; almost all the children are living in very dysfunctional settings.

Please pray with us for our work in Syria. Please pray for: - wisdom and energy for our partner Afaf and the team at the Hope Centre - the counsellors working so hard with children who have suffered so many traumas through the disintegration of Syria over the last decade or more - peace and joy for the children attending the centre, for progress in their learning and healing for their emotional wounds - positive relationships with families and local authorities - protection for everyone at the Hope Centre in an unstable region.

Druze in the Levant: Over one million Druze originate in the Levant region, calling themselves the 'Mowahidoon'. Their religion was founded on 9th and 10th century caliph and mystic teachings from Persia and Egypt. Like Alawi people, they believe in 'transmigration of the soul' (reincarnation). They are reticent to talk about their religion, don't accept converts and rarely intermarry with outsiders. Although they respect Jesus as a prophet, the Druze do not know him as Lord.

Alawi people of the Levant: The Alawites are a closed society, led by the 'Khassah', initiated religious leaders who learn the mysteries of their religion. 'Alawi' refers to their veneration of Ali as a manifestation of God; therefore they are persecuted by mainstream Muslims. The mountains have been a haven for such minority groups; today 127,000 Alawites live in Lebanon and 1.67 million in Syria. Alawites will not discuss their beliefs with visitors. There are few known believers, so the good news needs to be shared particularly with Khassah leaders.

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 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.

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.

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.