Our one-year in the US seemed to have passed so quickly. We returned to Lebanon towards the end of August. We were greeted at the airport by good friends with flowers and warm smiles, which made us so happy. Generally August is the hottest month in Lebanon with high temperatures and humidity. But we truly thanked God for re-opening the doors to return to the country without any problems. Right now we are on 6-month visitor's visa. We will be applying for our Resident Permits at the end of January. Please pray that the process will be free from troubles.
From all outward appearances Lebanon has not changed much. The ubiquitous traffic jams and the aggressive drivers jostling to get ahead, even if it means driving on the side walks! The hectic pace of construction has not abated despite the gloomy economic situation. Lebanese Diaspora (more Lebanese live outside the country than the total population of the country) from around the world are returning to their beloved Lebanon visiting families and vacationing in ever increasing numbers. They seem to have extraordinary attachment to their culture despite the past wars and mayhem.
Community in Anxiety
However, moving beyond the veneer of normalcy the internal conditions of the society changed little. Dogged by chronic unemployment, with many family businesses having closed, there is a deep sense of disillusionment, especially among the young. Their singular ambition seems to be to immigrate. The experiences of the Protestant evangelical churches have not been pleasant either during the past year. The killing of a Christian Alliance missionary in the South and the violent death of one of our own alumni in the Northern city of Tripoli appears to have cast a long shadow. We have also just heard that another of our former students from Egypt, ministering in Morocco had died of gunshot wound. We still do not know the full story. There was a considerable public discussion in the media against the work of the Protestant Evangelical Churches in Lebanon. Most of the antagonism appears to be coming from the powerful older established (Orthodox and Maronite) Christian communities. They believe the death of these Christian workers has been the result of what they perceive as the openly evangelistic stance by the Protestant evangelical churches. The small and splintered Protestant denominations always acquiesce to the larger and more powerful religious communities.
The government has temporarily banned students from about 5 countries from the Middle East and North Africa to study in Lebanon. This has not only affected our seminary enrolment but our mission of equipping men and women for the ministry of the Gospel in the Arab region. No reasons are given for this ban and the folks here are afraid to question the state or to test the laws.
Yet, we never cease to be amazed by God's purpose and timing! Just as the doors closed for some foreign students, in a miraculous way God opened the doors for the local Lebanese students to enroll.
Lebanese churches, largely ministered traditionally by lay pastors and workers, are suddenly opening to the idea of having theologically trained clergy. We are told that we now have the largest enrollment of local Lebanese students. We thank God for these signs of hope and renewal among the Lebanese Baptist churches.
The Promise of God to walk beside us in this New Year
The severe economic uncertainties coupled with the breakout of fresh troubles in Southern Lebanon and Northern Israel, situation once again has become gloomy and uncertain in Lebanon. None of us can predict what God has in store for us in this New Year. God makes no promise in the Bible that his children will be immune from troubles and difficulties. But his promise is that, "Fear not, I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flames shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel. Your Savior". (Isaiah 43: 1b- 3a) Just as God promised and took care of his people in the past, he is intimately concerned about our well being now. As we step into the year 2004, rest in the promise that as we pass through uncertainties and anxieties, God will be with us ready to lead us by hand and sustain us.
Dan & Sarah Chetti
Arab Baptist Theological Seminary