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Syria: Church is Flourishing Despite Devastation of War, Report

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The International Christian Concern (ICC) humanitarian organization has reported that a small community of Christians in Syria is flourishing even amid the devastation of a civil war, which, despite giving way to fresh disasters in world news headlines, has been raging with extreme violence since 2011.

While all Syrian civilians are vulnerable to violence and displacement, the country’s Christians suffer persecution on religious grounds, too, in areas where Islamic jihadist militants are active: Syria ranks 12 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.

Nevertheless, the Church in Syria is going forward, ICC reports.

“Although the Christian population in Syria has dwindled, those who remain are insistent on seeing God’s kingdom advance in their homeland. At the start of the conflict, Syria was solidly 8% Christian. Today, only 2% remain,” ICC said in its report.

“During the war, International Christian Concern (ICC) staffers have witnessed the flourishing of the remaining church in Syria amid the war. The church may be small, but it is vibrant and determined. ICC has invested in training for priests, offering a chance for them to encourage one another while learning more about the Bible,” ICC said.

In a statement to ICC, a local priest said, “Thanks to God that you are here, so we are learning new things to help our parishes and stand next to our brothers and sisters.”