Partnership Ref.:	LEB01
Partner:	Bassam Haddad
Commenced:	25/05/2017
Funding Status:	Fully Funded
Partnership Type:	Humanitarian, Evangelism / Church Planting
Funding Size:	$8,000 - $14,999
Annual Budget:	US$ 8,800

Partnership Overview

Since the Syrian crisis started in 2011, Lebanon has been hosting millions of Syrian refugees who have found it a temporary place to live while they decide where to immigrate. The church has stepped in and been able to extend help on different levels.

In Beirut there are a number of Baptist churches and one in particular, located in the suburb of Baucherieh, has in recent years encountered many refugees fleeing from the war in Syria. By far the majority that have come are Muslims who have lost everything. Some have been able to move on to other countries as they were processed by the UN but the majority have remained in Lebanon. 

Since approximately 2015/16 the church in Baucherieh has had a number of ministries to the refugees, including providing them with food, medicines and catering for other basic needs. However, as of 2024 this is no longer the case. In more recent times the approach has been to encourage the refugees to help themselves, and to find their own ways to meet their personal needs. The team seeks to do this in two ways, firstly by guiding them to learn new skills and professions, and secondly, by helping them to find jobs and to become financially independent.

The partnership with BHW revolves around two intervention programmes:
1) Bible Study groups and camps to train, encourage and support leaders,
2) Teaching the refugees skills that enable them to start working and being financially independent.

History of Partnership

BHW’s introduction to this ministry among Syrian refugees in Lebanon was when our New Partnerships Director met a Baptist pastor in Beirut in 2015. The Director made another visit in November 2016 and after regular communications, a decision was made in May 2017 to commence a partnership, with the focus on work being done in the church in the suburb of Baucherieh.

Beneficiaries

The refugee families that come into their sphere of influence are the primary beneficiaries here. The circumstances of most of the refugees are pretty dire and many have lost hope in the process. Most of those who have come to Lebanon are families with children.  

What We Like About The Partnership

Our partners are dealing with some of the poorest people on earth. The plight of many of these refugees has only increased in the past few years as the economic crisis in the nation has worsened.

This partnership is church based, with multiple numbers of small groups engaging in a well-established holistic ministry. They have a great network of people on the ground. 

Through the strategic way in which this ministry has developed over time, there has been a shift from the earlier focus to provide much needed physical, medical, or financial aid  for the refugees entering Lebanon from war in Syria, to a focus now on enabling these people within the context of multiple discipleship groups which they regularly attend to grow in faith and be equipped with skills to start working and to become financially independent.   

 

Key People

Leadership Profile

Pastor Bassam Haddad runs the Baucherieh refugee support and intervention programme and is a very sharp guy with a great team.  He is a part-time pastor and an insurance agent by day although the desperate economic situation in the country in the past few years has meant that this source of income has become significantly reduced. He is totally passionate about the work and leads the Syrian refugee church ministry. He is such a servant, as is his wife Nada, who is a trained counsellor and provides this service free to any of the refugees. They are obviously loved by the congregation.

 

 

Vision and Annual Strategy

Vision 

The vision is to come alongside the refugees with holistic love and care and serve them in the name of Jesus. They have seen hundreds come to faith. 

Strategy

They facilitate church activities, particularly for the Syrian people with Syrian leaders. This includes discipleship, teaching and worship. Those being resettled outside the Middle East are leaving with a strong Christian foundation and are becoming influential among their people once they get to their destinations. 

There is an increasing focus on the women and children as they are the most vulnerable. This has meant their facilities are now too small as there are many children. Getting them into some form of education is also an increasing issue.

 

Annual Budget

The annual budget for this partnership is US$8,800, the main component being support for key people involved in the training and leadership of the multiple small groups. By and large these key people are themselves Syrian refugees who have come to faith and are now being used by God to touch the lives of other Syrians and of Lebanese families also.