Christians will disappear from Middle East in two years, Lebanese MP warns

A Christian member of Lebanon's parliament warned that there might not be any Christians in the Middle East in two years, except in his country.

Speaking on the "Aaron Klein Investigative Radio" show, Lebanese MP Samy Gemayel said that Christians, together with moderate Muslims in the Middle East, are caught in the middle of the fighting between two extremist forces, the Islamic State of Iran and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

"The moderates are stuck in a sandwich between these two powers," Gemayel said, according to WND.

Gemayel comes from a prominent Lebanese Christian family and his father Amin served as President of Lebanon, while his brother Pierre held ministerial duties before his assassination in 2006.

During the interview, Gemayel spoke of a lack of support from the international community despite widespread reports of persecution against Christians at the hands of the Islamic extremists.

"We have been calling for the international community to do something about the Christians all over the region... That means support," the Lebanese parliamentarian said. Despite these calls, he said, the Christians in the Middle East "are left alone."

"Maybe in two years you will not have Christians in the region anymore except in Lebanon because we are strong and we are still defending ourselves," Gemayel warned.

Gemayel also told Klein that he sees positive developments in the military alliance between Sunni Arab nations Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates against Iran-backed Shiite rebels in Yemen.

The same countries are also involved in fighting the ISIS, which is a Sunni extremist group.

The MP said the alliance sent a strong message to the Sunni extremists, as it involves Sunni moderates fighting against the militants.

"I believe this is a very good message that is sent by the Sunni world, saying that we don't want extremism in our world," he said.

News
Active faith linked to happier marriages and lower divorce rates, study finds
Active faith linked to happier marriages and lower divorce rates, study finds

People who regularly attend church are more likely to report happy marriages, according to a new report examining the relationship between faith and family life.

Indian churches fearing anti-conversion laws tell non-Christians: enter at your own risk
Indian churches fearing anti-conversion laws tell non-Christians: enter at your own risk

Churches in Dhamtari, a town in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, have put up notices warning non-Christians that they enter at their own risk, weeks after a law against religious conversion came into force in the state.

£1k bursaries to help churches develop youth and community mentoring programmes
£1k bursaries to help churches develop youth and community mentoring programmes

Churches across the UK are being offered bursaries to help them establish mentoring programmes aimed at supporting young people and others in their communities.

World Evangelical Alliance celebrates 180th anniversary
World Evangelical Alliance celebrates 180th anniversary

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) has held an online celebration to mark its 180th anniversary. Hundreds of people from more than 22 countries attended, and the event was rebroadcast to accommodate different time zones.