The recent 34-day war in Lebanon and Israel has left thousands of Lebanese traumatised - men, women and children, the Baptist World Alliance has stated.

|PIC1|"It was with the children in mind that the Lebanese Baptist Society organised two post-war children's events in the Bekaa Valley - a children's camp and a festival reaching together around 600 children," a BWA press releases explains.

Following these events, children received Back-to-School kits, Picture Bibles, and colouring books to aid their recovery.

Following the recent war in Lebanon, the Lebanese Baptist Society (LBS) and the Baptist Youth Ministry developed a one-year plan for a series of children and youth activities.

The relief efforts have transitioned into community development projects that are of public benefit and serve to strengthen Christian presence in the areas of focus in South Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.

These projects are organised by the Lebanese Society for Educational and Social Development of the LBS and are made possible through the joint efforts of international and local partners, including Baptist World Aid (BWAid).

The projects are mainly water-related ones, and include an irrigation project in Mieh w Mieh (South Lebanon), an artesian well in Deir Mimas (South Lebanon) and another in Khorbet Kanafar (Bekaa). The Mieh w Mieh and Khorbet Kanafar projects are already in progress. Work in Deir Mimas will begin once the legal documentation is completed. A fourth water project under consideration is for the town of Bourj El Moulouk (South Lebanon). BWAid has contributed US$15,000 for these water-related projects.

Both the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary and Beirut Baptist School, which housed around 1,000 displaced people during the war, were able to start the 2006/07 academic year on time. The publishing house, Dar Manhal Al Hayat, is preparing to launch new Arabic language books in the coming months.

In addition, Lebanese Baptists have continued to be involved in ministry outside of their own country, with projects in Northeast Africa and the Middle East.

BWAid also has contributed funds to assist Lebanese Baptist ministry in these regions as well as their annual Christmas outreach project.



For more information on the BWA, please visit: www.bwanet.org


[Source: BWA]