Muslim Woman Finds Hope in Jesus Amid Lebanon Crisis
LEBANON – Once known as the Switzerland of the Middle East, the nation of Lebanon is suffering through one of the worst national crises of its history.
It was only eight months ago that the world was shocked with the news and footage of the blast that annihilated Beirut, killing 200 and displacing 300,000. Then, due to the devaluation of the national currency, Lebanese citizens were left with pennies on the dollar to rebuild and care for their families. To make matters even more desperate, these calamities occurred in the midst of a worldwide pandemic!
Even amid the tragedy, Call of Hope’s Frontline Workers see an opportunity to show the love and comfort of Christ to their homeland at a critical time!
Recently, we heard the inspiring testimony of a Syrian refugee woman who found Christ through the work of Call of Hope. Doumani comes from a prominent family in Damascus, Syria. At the mere age of 14, she was arranged to marry a man much older than her. Shortly after, the Syrian Civil War broke out and Doumani’s parents moved to Egypt to avoid the conflict.
Back in Syria, Doumani gave birth to two children. A year later her husband divorced her and took her son, leaving her and her infant daughter to provide for themselves in the heart of a warzone. Doumani couldn’t help but think that Allah had abandoned her. “I always prayed 5 times a day and worked hard to be a good Muslim” she explained. Her prayers however, went unanswered. It became clear to Doumani that “Allah” did not care about women.
In 2017, Doumani and her daughter traveled as refugees to Lebanon where she met a Syrian man whom she married. Our frontline workers in Lebanon first met Doumani during our regular food distribution for Syrian refugees. We invited her to a women’s weekly Bible study, and astonishingly she accepted without hesitation!
Doumani and her daughter began attending church regularly, despite protests from her Muslim husband. From the moment she stepped into our church service you could see that Doumani was eager to learn more about Jesus and the Bible. After reading God’s Word on her own, Doumani made the courageous decision to leave Islam and become a follower of Jesus!
Today, Doumani and her daughter are still attending our weekly meetings and Bible studies. She is proud of her faith and she is planning a date for her baptism! Even though Doumani has experienced a life of sadness, she tells us that she is happiest when she is singing praises to Jesus every week!
Doumani is just one of the many women who have found hope, purpose, and belonging in the family of faith. As we observe women’s history month this March, please be in prayer for women like Doumani who have endured tremendous hardship, but have found great hope, and new life in Christ!
If God has used this story to touch your heart, please consider giving a gift below, so that Call of Hope can reach more women in need, just like Doumani!
