Like everyone else in their country, TWR’s partners in Syria face an uncertain future in the wake of sudden regime change.
“We are in touch with our team on a daily basis, and so far, they are safe,” said the Middle East-based Arabic Ministry director* for TWR, also known as Trans World Radio. “So far, they are encouraged. Of course, there is some certain level of fear because they don’t know what comes next, but they’re hoping for the best.”
The Syrian capital, Damascus, fell on December 8th and President Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow within two weeks after the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched an attack in the northwest. However, the country had been in a civil war for 13 years.
Not long after the war began, TWR launched its Arabic-language Hope for Syria programme, produced in Syria and heard across the country via AM radio. “We wanted to provide a message to people who live in that area, who’ve been displaced, who are going through hard situations, and the best thing that we can provide to them is a word of hope, reminding them of our wonderful and caring God,” the Arabic Ministry director said.
Hope for Syria is one of more than two dozen Arabic-language programmes from TWR that can be heard in Syria. “The Syrian team has a studio and is producing new programmes daily, reflecting what is taking place in the country,” the Arabic Ministry director said. They reach out to fellow Syrians through social media as well as radio broadcasts. Aware that their country is young – the median age is 24 – the team includes a programme called Youth in Mind for younger listeners.
Although the Assad regime was repressive, Christians had freedom to practice their faith, the Arabic Ministry director said. The new government has pledged to preserve religious freedom and minority rights, but Jesus followers are taking a wait-and-see approach.
“On one hand, people are happy because the regime they have been suffering under has been removed,” he said. “But they’re not sure what the new regime will be.”
He encouraged Christians to pray for protection for the team in Syria, that they would have freedom and the needed strength and wisdom to continue to minister. Pray for the church in Syria, that its people will continue to be united and to be light and salt for their nation and pray that TWR will have the resources to continue and expand their radio/media outreach ministry.
“The uncertainty in Syria reflects an era of turmoil across the Middle East,” the Arabic Ministry director said. “But TWR’s calling is to bring people hope in such times.”
“God uses all these unrest situations to draw the attention of people, because the ultimate purpose is for people to know him and have a new life and hope in an eternal life,” he said. “The hand of God is using all these things. He’s an almighty God, and he’s in total control of any situation or circumstance.”
* For security reasons, we aren’t using the Arabic Ministry director’s name or the name of the country where he’s based.
