Syria has suffered through a brutal civil war between government forces and anti-government Muslim factions. During the conflict, which began in 2011, more than 750,000 Christians fled the country. Those who remained in Syria endured not only horrific violence but also restrictions similar to those seen in other Muslim nations throughout the region. But since the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad, in December 2024, our Christian brothers and sisters in Syria have experienced the freedom to practice their faith in ways not previously possible.
Some MBBs have requested help in leaving Syria, but others are determined to stay and minister amid the uncertainty. One such Christian is a Kurdish church leader named Abdul. Abdul, who serves a church located near one of Syria’s borders, grew up as a Muslim but came to faith in Christ in 2005. In 2014, he and his family fled to a neighbouring country after members of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS) attacked his village, killing more than 6,000 people. He remained there for five months, enjoying fellowship with other Christians for the first time.
“Although I had been a Christian for 10 years,” he said, “I had never attended a church or seen how Christians worship and pray together. This was a turning point for me. I learned how to pray, how to worship, and how to practise my faith in a community.”
As Abdul grew in faith, he began to proclaim the gospel to those closest to him, including two relatives, who also came to know Christ. Together, they returned to Syria in 2015 and planted a church in their home village.
“When we returned home, something had changed inside me,” Abdul said. “Before fleeing, I was cautious about sharing my faith. As a Muslim-background believer (MBB), I had always been careful, evangelising in secret because I feared for my life. But when we came back, I was no longer afraid. I had a newfound boldness, and we began the ministry publicly.”
Abdul began gathering with family members twice a week for worship and fellowship. After starting a ministry for the children in their families, some of their neighbours began to send their own children as well.
“What started as a small family gathering quickly became a way to share the gospel with the entire community,” Abdul said.
Today, Abdul leads the only church in his village, and it is composed solely of MBBs. While he knows there are still ISIS fighters in the area, he remains committed to proclaiming the gospel.
“We must continue to strengthen ourselves and not stop the work,” he said. “One important difference now is that I am not alone. When I first became a believer, even my wife was not a Christian yet. But today, I have a community of believers around me. We encourage one another and stand together in faith.”
Abdul said God’s Word helps him to stand firm when he feels afraid. One verse that has helped him is Matthew 10:28, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Please pray for our persecuted Christian family members in Syria. Though they face an uncertain future, they continue to stand boldly for Christ.
“Our eyes must remain fixed on the One who sits at the right of the throne,” said a Christian whose church was closed by Assad. “I am ready, with God’s help, to love those who persecute the Lord’s work and His people. No matter how much we try to protect ourselves, God is the One who watches over us. I trust that He is with us.”
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