Five years ago, on August 4, 2020, in the bustle of a typical afternoon, one of the most powerful non-nuclear explosions in history rocked Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, killing more than 220 people, injuring over 6,000 others, devastating entire neighborhoods, and leaving a nation traumatized.
Since then, while the world has kept turning, Lebanon, and the lives of those living there, feel frozen in time, stuck like the hands of a broken clock, stopped at 6:07 by the force of the blast.
For those of us who weren’t there, there’s a lingering sense of guilt for not having shared in the physical losses, yet we carry the same heartache for the people and the city.
August 4 feels heavy for all Lebanese for once, not just for one part of the country.
On the fifth anniversary of the blast, hundreds of people gathered in Beirut to commemorate the memory of that tragedy, the loss of loved ones, homes, and futures—losses for which justice and accountability remain elusive. The mourning continues, and August 4 feels heavy for all Lebanese for once, not just for one part of the country.
People are crying out for justice and for their pain to be acknowledged. And five years on, justice has yet to be served. Yet in an August 3 statement, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, declared: “Justice knows no exceptions, and the law applies to everyone without distinction.” His words offer a glimpse of hope that the port explosion case has not been cast into the sea and forgotten.
Since 2019, Lebanon has faced an economic collapse.
But the blast was only part of a relentless chain of crises. Since 2019, Lebanon has faced an economic collapse, with the local currency losing over 98% of its value, and poverty affecting more than 44% of the population. Just as it felt like the country was beginning to stand back up, a war between Hezbollah and Israel erupted on October 8, 2023, displacing over a million people and plunging the country deeper into crisis.
Looking beyond our borders, the picture remains bleak. To the south, war continues to rage in Gaza. To the north, Syria is undergoing drastic changes following the fall of the Assad regime last December. Bloodshed surrounds us, and the entire Middle East remains gripped by uncertainty.
Even as darkness looms, there is light.
And yet, even as darkness looms, there is light: the light of the gospel, which never ceases to breathe life into hearts that feel barren and dry.
Amid conflicts, we see God at work. Thimar, is but a small part of His greater mission in this region, but in Lebanon God has enabled us, along with others, to serve the weary and reach the unreached, both Christians and non-Christians. We are witnessing hearts turning to the only true hope in this world: Jesus Christ.
Many are choosing to hold fast to God.
Beyond Lebanon, our partners in Syria are opening their church doors to welcome the needy and plant seeds of forgiveness and reconciliation in communities long torn by sectarian violence. Even as fear creeps into the hearts of Christians, especially after the horrific attack on Mar Elias Church in Damascus on June 22, when emigration feels like the only way out, many are choosing to hold fast to God.
As our ministry efforts continue, we seek to point people to the living word, to the unshakable hope of true justice that will one day be fulfilled when Jesus returns in glory to set all things right and bring an end to evil and injustice.
Originally published by Thimar LSESD. Republished with permission.
Ghinwa Akiki joined Thimar LSESD in April 2023 as a communications coordinator. With her profound love for writing, she discovered a platform to nurture her literary passion and communication skills. At Thimar LSESD, Ghinwa engages in various facets of communication, allowing her to grow and refine her writing abilities across different domains. Ghinwa pursued her BA in Arts in Modern Languages and Translation at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK). Her early career in education began at Beirut Baptist School, where she gained rich experience working with students. Ghinwa is a member of City Bible Church in Beirut, where she is actively involved in children’s ministry and singing.
Thimar LSESD is a Lebanese nonprofit organization (NGO) that seeks to strengthen the witness of the Church in the Arab World through inclusive education, community development, and church discipleship.
Thimar works alongside local schools, ministries, and churches throughout the Arab World. Through these relationships, we see God at work, even in times of war and crisis. Come share in His miraculous, life-giving work of transforming communities and changing lives.
