"The scenery looks like Hiroshima. I saw literally around 200 injured lying on the ground of a hospital that has been itself half destroyed. The scene looks like a battle field. There are some damage at the church building. But now we care for the injured souls", our partner, and lead pastor of the Free Evangelical Church (FEC) Beirut reported. His elderly mother and a Sister in the church were both severely injured by the blast.

The explosion wrought devastation and impacted everyone in the city. Buildings have been left as shells. Many are homeless. Another FEC pastor said, "The streets are covered with glass. Everyone we know has lost a friend, a family member, or a home, a business." Another pastor simply said, "It's horrible." Incredibly, none of our friends or partners died, but there are many injuries and much damaged property. Hospitals are overrun with wounded in the hallways, equipment damaged. Even more, the effects of the trauma and aftermath are evident in people's faces.

ReachGlobal Crisis Response and ReachGlobal's Middle East/North Africa Division, who have been working together for years with our partners in Lebanon in response to the region's Refugees in Crisis, are committed to continuing alongside our Lebanese local church partners. Additionally, we are partnering with Allianz Mission of the German Free Church, and the International Federation of Free Evangelical Churches in the response. Resources are presently being mobilized first for prayer, but also to help with immediate food, shelter and trauma processing needs, but also for the long term recovery, rebuilding and outreach needs.

Pray: Join us in praying as our partner requested, "Pray for peace. Pray for our church to be a helping hand to show love and generosity; to be a church that spreads the love of Christ."  

Give: Invest in the recovery and mission field that follows crisis.