Pray for Beirut:
Huge blast rocks Lebanon
On Tuesday 4 August, reports emerged of a huge blast which has killed at least 200 civilians and injured around 5,000 in the Lebanese capital of Beirut. Please join us as we pray for Beirut.
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At least 200 people are reported dead after a huge blast rocked the Lebanese city of Beirut on Tuesday 4 August. The incident occurred in the city’s port area and is suspected to have originated in a warehouse storing 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate. The blast also injured 5,000 civilians, and hospitals already struggling to contain the tide of Coronavirus cases are said to be overwhelmed. President Michel Aoun said that the chemical had been stored unsafely after reportedly being unloaded from a ship in 2013.
The aftershocks of the huge explosion registered as a reported 3.5 magnitude earthquake whose effects were heard and felt in Cyprus, over 200km away across the Mediterranean Sea.
At an already fraught time for Lebanon, this new unexpected devastation will contribute to rising tensions caused by the economic crisis, political protests and rising Covid-19 cases. The explosion has also caused huge damage to Beirut’s port, increasing fears of food insecurity in the country. BMS World Mission is in active contact with our partners and friends in the country, and has ensured that our brothers and sisters in Lebanon are safe and accounted for, though understandably shaken. Many thanks to all those who have been in touch to ask after our partners in the area.
You can help today by joining us as we pray for Beirut:
- Please pray for all those who have lost loved ones in the explosion, that they would know God’s comfort.
- Pray for those who have been injured, or whose homes and offices have been damaged by the blast.
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Please pray for the doctors, nurses and paramedics who are caring for the injured. Pray that they would have energy and wisdom, and that hospitals would be able to cope with the number of patients they are taking in.
- The people of Lebanon have already faced so much this year – from a collapsing economy to the spread of Covid-19. Please pray for hope for those who are feeling hopeless, and that Christians can be a positive witness in this immensely challenging time.
- Our partners at the Lebanese Society for Educational and Social Development (LSESD) are under a lot of stress (both mentally and physically) as they seek to support the most vulnerable in an increasingly volatile context. Pray for wisdom, energy, protection and strength for this dedicated team.
- Pray for refugees living in Lebanon, who may be reminded of past trauma following the explosion. Pray for BMS work supporting Syrian refugee children in Beirut.
- Pray for staff and students at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (a department of LSESD), based in Beirut. Pray that they would experience the peace of Christ and would be used as vessels to bring that peace to others.
BMS World Mission has been working and partnering in Lebanon for two decades, most particularly with the Lebanese Society for Educational and Social Development (LSESD). Our work in the country centres around supporting theological education and social development projects, including ensuring access to education for Syrian refugee children.
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