.
Emmanuel
“God
With Us” in
Aleppo
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“Bear each
other’s burden, share each
other’s joy”
...
A December 2016 Update
Report
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by André J. Codouni
The “Battle of
Aleppo”
A once prosperous
commercial center of Syria has been a
divided city under siege for more than
four years. It is now the epi-center of
the conflict in Syria. While many who
could chose to flee did so, some have
chosen to remain. How can one survive in
a civil war that continues unabated?
Emmanuel, a Christian Community in
Aleppo, chose to remain as a sign of
hope and a witness to God’s presence
with his suffering people there.
André J. Codouni, a member of the People
of God in Beirut, has maintained close
contact with members of Emmanuel. Below
is a brief update from interviews with
community members in Aleppo:
Mutual
Support and a difficult reality
“In Emmanuel, we have set
our hope on God being with us,"
a woman leader confidently says. “In the
midst of this war, I can rely on my
brothers and sisters to support me,”
stated a university student.
However, things are not easy. Many
traumatized lives are in need to be
rebuilt now: As neighborhood schools in
the western section of the city
intermittently reopened three months
ago, and the lively chatter of kids
subsided around the homes, adults faced
the reality of the difficulties ahead.
Anxiety sets in, and temptations to
doubt, question and rebel are much too
strong to face without the grace of God;
Even when dispelled they come back to
haunt again and again about the future:
How to pay for tuitions, how to replace
the only family car destroyed in an
instant, how to sustain the holiday
cheer and what gifts can one afford?
Businessmen who employed dozens before
the war, have to sell knickknacks and
cigarettes in order to have a bit of
money at the end of the day in largely
empty pockets. Fortunately, churches and
organizations are helping. But for how
long, must the people feel that they are
begging all the time, even for the most
basic needs?
Every kind of contact whether by phone
or internet from relatives and friends
are very helpful for their warmth and
for inspiring hope for a better
tomorrow. Social media, when the
internet works, reconnects people
together; but everyone has to wait for
their turn on certain hours of
neighborhood generator use. Diesel run
generators are a blessing but they are
expensive to run for the fuel they
consume.
The “Battle of Aleppo” continued to rage
until early December. In these recent
days when one side has “overcome” the
other, it is too easy to forget that
your opponent is a human person with
great dignity in the eyes of God. The
Lord has come for the sick, not only
those who are well. Furthermore, it is
not easy to forgive and be Christ-like
during the prevailing situation as the
last two months have made a very
difficult situation for many to maintain
hope: One is easily tempted to
completely reject the “Other”.
Emmanuel
continues to grow with courage. They
are learning to live holy lives.
After their last joint retreat with the
community from Lebanon, Emmanuel members
went back to face the daily routine. But
they are strengthened now to grow in
holiness. To be more Christ-like, to put
on the “fruits of the Spirit”, to
forbear and to “guard the mind”. How to
speak and act in love and gentleness.
There was a hymn we used during times of
worship using the words of Jesus:
“Love one another,
as I have loved you. Care for each
other, as I have cared for you. And
bear each other’s burden, share each
other’s joy, love one another as I
have loved you.”
Members of Emmanuel are
living the command to love. Rejoicing
with others in their successes, relying
on the support and prayers of others,
extending that support to others who
need it. This has been key to standing
strong together in the face of very
difficult daily circumstances.
Providentially, they have continued to
be protected physically despite the
daily dangers. Let us continue to pray
during this Advent and Christmas for
Aleppo and for them, for protection,
great faith, and persevering courage.
André J. Codouni
is a member of the
People
of God
community in
Beirut, Lebanon.
photo
credit above:
photo of
candles with
cross in
background by
(c) berkay
at
www.bigstock.com
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