Signs of hope in Homs

On Monday 8 February, a new furniture factory was opened in the city of Homs, providing some 30 people with much-needed work. The bishop of Homs was invited to open and bless the shop, which is an SED (social economic development) project supported by Open Doors.

"Thank God for signs of hope in Syria," said an Open Doors worker. "Thank God for the resilience He gave to (these) Christians who decided to stay in this city and to rebuild their lives."

Homs has been devastated by the violence caused by the war in Syria, which has been raging for five years. Recent footage taken by a Russian news agency shows a shocking picture of how much damage has been caused to the city, rendering many areas uninhabitable. Many thousands of people have been displaced because of the violence between government and rebel forces. But as the story above shows, for some people life in the city can continue as they pick up the pieces of their lives.

Syria has been ranked as number five in the 2016 Open Doors World Watch List, an index of the countries in the world where it is hardest to be a Christian.

Source: Open Doors; The Guardian

Please pray:

• Thank the Lord for this new opportunity for people to earn a living for their families in these desperate times
• For the Lord to protect the civilians who are still living in Homs
• That diplomats and leaders from around the world will be able to establish a lasting peace for Syria.