Resurrection Church Beirut Update - Part 1
Church Planting: Lebanon and the MENA Region
Resurrection Church is a missional church that seeks to make disciples for Christ in Lebanon and all the Arab speaking world. As we reach out to people beyond the Resurrection Church’s direct community and impact in Lebanon, we focus our efforts on planting new churches in Lebanon, as well as networking and partnering with local indigenous churches to plant new churches in the MENA region.
Lebanon
In the past year, as a local Evangelical church, and despite all the challenges that Lebanon is passing through, we have seen a growth in our church in quantity, quality, and impact! When Covid-19 hindered our physical meetings, we strategically divided Resurrection Church into smaller congregations called spiritual communities. Each community is led by a faithful and passionate campus pastor who is being trained and equipped to disciple his/her congregation and leaders in the best way possible, leading a transformational movement in their local neighborhood.
Just last year, we were able to serve over 3,500 families, impacting more than 5,000 families in the community, and hundreds of thousands online. Today, the church has 41 communities in 11 different locations all over Lebanon, where people meet for fellowship, congregational worship, Bible teaching, breaking of bread, and prayer. These spiritual communities are led by 36 campus pastors, pastoring more than 258 life group leaders who lead over 400 life groups.
What makes these spiritual communities unique is that they are led by indigenous leaders who have the ability to better affect and improve their communities. As a result, many individuals are now being discipled, baptized, and serving in these emerging churches.
MENA Region
We actively partner with more than 30 indigenous church planters, churches, and assemblies in 6 different Arab countries, in the Middle East and North Africa, partnering with them in discipleship movements, church formation, sustainability projects, community service projects, and leadership development.
For the next 5 years, we aim to build on our past partnerships to enhance the Kingdom of God, share our resources, and build His Church, bringing revival in all unreached areas.
Food & Hygiene Relief
As Jesus lived, we want to live, and as He served people holistically, we want to do the same. This is the reason that Resurrection Church helps families in a holistic way, one of which is through our Food & Hygiene relief ministry.
Situation Update
Lebanon is witnessing an economic collapse where the Lebanese currency has lost more than 90% of its value ($1= LBP22,000, prior to the collapse $1= LBP1,500) and even basic goods are no longer affordable.
Through it all, Resurrection Church is growing in size and impact and today encompasses 40 congregations totaling at least 3,500 families, the majority of whom are families who live under the poverty line. Many are refugees and have been struggling for some time to provide basic essential needs for their children, spouses, and elderly parents. Lebanese families within our congregation have also been suffering from all the crises that Lebanon has been going through. Many have lost their jobs due to the economic collapse or because of Covid-19, while others have lost their life savings because of the inflation.
Today, our pastors are constantly faced with challenges, to meet the needs of their communities as they share the Gospel and call people to follow Christ. Needs come in different forms, but the most essential one we are seeing is basic food and hygiene items.
Food Relief
In the past year, Resurrection Church has been serving more than 2,100 families with monthly food & hygiene parcels, most of whom are from within our community. With this year as well, we are aiming to continue serving these families in a holistic way including supporting them partially with monthly food vouchers worth $40 per voucher. We believe vouchers are more efficient, as each family has the chance to buy the items they need and cater to each of their needs personally.
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