In excess of 100,000 people have been killed during more than 12 years of civil war in Lebanon. Jean Boucheble, 45, who serves as associate pastor of Bikfaya Baptist Church, has led World Vision’s relief-and-development ministries in Lebanon since 1984. A Lebanese citizen, Boucheble himself has lost two cousins to stray artillery fire. CHRISTIANITY TODAY asked news correspondent Art Toalston to interview Boucheble about the current state of the church in his country.
What struggles have the Lebanese people faced since the start of the civil war?
A half-million of Lebanon’s 3 million people have been displaced. At the start of the civil war in 1975, Maronite Catholics, Greek Orthodox Christians, and evangelical Christians lived throughout the country. Now they are confined to 15 to Boucheble 20 percent of the land, essentially in the east Beirut area. For most of them, there is no hope of returning to their homes anytime soon. Other political factions now control those regions. And in many cases, there is nothing to return to. Homes have been destroyed or occupied by others.
Many extended families live in one room—parents, married children, and grandchildren—16 or 17 people in one room. Many are still in a state of shock, unable to believe or adjust to what has happened to them.
What about the problem of kidnaping?
When an American is kidnaped, the whole world knows about it. But thousands of Lebanese have been kidnaped and killed and nobody hears about them. Every political faction has been involved in this activity. My family and I were kidnaped and held for several hours in 1985. My wife and I were separated from our children, and all of us were interrogated. For three minutes, in an olive grove, I thought I would be killed. A militiaman put a gun to my head and said, “What is your last wish? This is the last moment of your life.” Then we were released. Kidnaping slowed down last year as people learned not to cross into areas controlled by other factions.
What other problems exist?
Lebanon has become a center for international terrorism, against the will of the many good people of Lebanon who are the first victims. And the country has virtually no government. Every political party is supported from outside, by a different nation, so it’s not left entirely to the Lebanese people to decide their future. The people are living under the law of the jungle. There is no redress for losses incurred because of the war or social chaos. There are no social programs. If someone is sick, he may die without getting proper medical treatment.
The economy has collapsed, bringing poverty to many who once were in the middle class. The Lebanese pound, which stood at three to the dollar during much of the war, has tumbled to 450 to the dollar. Our wonderful fruits and vegetables, as well as products of our small factories, are exported at great profit. The result is that prices are higher and quality is lower for everything left in Lebanon.
In addition, one of every three young people—and one out of ten in the population at large—are drug addicts. Farmers willing to plant drug-producing crops can make a lot of money.
How are conservative Protestants faring in the midst of such turmoil?
As we learn from the Book of Acts, the church grows under afflictions and difficulties, and that is happening in Lebanon. Our churches are full or almost full. One church is constructing a new meeting place. Not all Lebanese are turning to the Lord, but we have more people trusting God now than when things were more settled.
People who put their trust in material things and lost them overnight have discovered that they only have God to trust now. We have seen people come to the Lord who later couldn’t understand why they had been fighting. They rejoice that God pulled them out of that trap. There is lots of zeal to serve the Lord, and churches are going out of their way to help the needy. Humanly speaking, everybody is emotionally drained. But many of us believe this is where we belong.
How can Christians support their fellow believers in Lebanon?
Lebanese believers need to see that their brothers and sisters in the West are concerned. Christians outside the country can pray for committed believers in Lebanon to continue doing the Lord’s ministry. And they can create an awareness in their churches about what is happening in Lebanon. Also, they can stand with the suffering Lebanese by helping us meet some of their needs in food, clothing, and medicine.
