This fall, the Lord poured out His blessing on pastors, their wives, and ministry leaders through our “Time of Refreshing” conferences. We held two gatherings, one in Lebanon and one in Kurdistan-Iraq, each welcoming 50–60 participants. Christian leaders came not only from those two countries but also from Syria and Iran, many of them traveling at personal risk for a few days of rest, teaching, and fellowship.

At each conference, worship teams from local churches led us in songs, many of them written by Lebanese and Kurdish believers in Arabic and Kurdish Sorani. It is powerful to hear the church in the Middle East worship Jesus in its own heart language.

Because there is so much to share, I’m sending this update in two parts. This first report covers Lebanon; the report from Kurdistan-Iraq will follow soon.

Building bombed in Hezbollah area of downtown Beirut

LEBANON

The Lebanese church is alive and full of faith, love, and good works. Believers here live with the realities of war, the fear of civil war, pressure from surrounding Islamic communities, and ongoing financial strain. Yet they continue to serve the Lord and His people faithfully and to make disciples of those they reach. That same life filled the conference: they worshiped with joy, listened attentively to the teaching, and loved one another in fellowship.

Pastor Nihad Hassan

Among those attending our conference in Lebanon was our friend Pastor Nihad Hassan, a Syrian Kurd whose story shows both the cost and the courage of following Christ in this region. Twelve years ago, he was part of the resistance against the Assad regime and was imprisoned. He escaped to Lebanon, where he came to faith in Jesus. Today he pastors a Syrian Kurdish congregation in Beirut.

Last month, with a new government in power in Syria, Pastor Nihad believed it was finally safe to go home. His children had never met their grandparents and relatives, so the family crossed the Lebanon-Syria border to visit his hometown near Afrin. Soon after they arrived, authorities arrested him and charged him with “inciting religious hatred and sectarian strife against Muslims.” The charges were based on online posts he had written several years earlier, which someone had recently reposted and reported to authorities in order to have him arrested.

During one of his hearings, the judge declared that this land belongs to Muslims and that he had no right to preach Christianity. Pastor Nihad answered boldly: “There are 164 monasteries in this region that were here hundreds of years before Islam came. This land is Christian land.” He later told us, “The judge was so angry he turned red and ordered me not to speak to anyone.”

Even in prison, God was at work. Fellow inmates wanted to know why he was there, and their questions opened the door for Pastor Nihad to share the gospel with other prisoners. Like the apostle Paul, who wrote from his own chains that “the word of God is not bound” (2 Timothy 2:9), Pastor Nihad found that a prison cell could not silence the good news.

Meanwhile, news of his arrest spread quickly, and churches and advocates around the world raised their voices and prayed for his release. After two weeks in prison, he was set free. We thank God for His faithfulness in delivering Pastor Nihad, and we thank everyone who prayed.

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (Gen 50:20) 

Pastor Nihad quoted at the end of our interview.

Stories like Pastor Nihad’s made the conference teaching all the more meaningful.

Pastor Dean and Sandy Belle

Pastor Dean Cernek taught through 2 Timothy, Paul’s final letter, written from a Roman prison to a young pastor facing hardship. The message could not have been more fitting.

Paul’s words, “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12), are not theory for these leaders; they are daily reality. So is Paul’s testimony: “The Lord stood by me and strengthened me” (2 Timothy 4:17). Pastor Dean spoke directly into the lives of those present, encouraging and renewing weary servants of God.

Many of our brothers and sisters live under the constant pressure of persecution, the dangers of war, and the daily uncertainty of providing for their families and caring for one another. During and after the conference, many came to thank us, and you, for this time of encouragement and rest, telling us that these gatherings give them the strength to keep going.

Stronger Together/Warm Heart/Lebanese Army/FPI

We also had a wonderful time serving alongside Stronger Together, a local ministry that cares for children and adults with disabilities. Together with our partner Warm Heart and the Lebanese Army, we delivered wheelchairs to the ministry, and they immediately gave most of them to people in great need. For many of these individuals, a wheelchair was out of reach; even if they could find one, they could never have afforded it.

We also spent time with a group of Syrian refugee women and their children, whom we have walked alongside and discipled for years. Some had to return to Syria, but many remain in Lebanon, where they have lived for more than ten years since fleeing the Syrian civil war. We took them out for a meal at a restaurant, and Josiah shared the gospel with them. He did a wonderful job, and the women were attentive and receptive to the message.



We are so thankful to the Lord for the dear friends who make this ministry in Lebanon possible.

Pastor Joseph, a respected leader in the Lebanese church

Pastor Joseph, a respected leader in the Lebanese church, brings these pastors, wives, and leaders together. He also oversees ministries to refugees and serves many churches across the country, and we are grateful to call him a close friend.

Saeed leads our partner Warm Heart and works tirelessly to coordinate relief efforts alongside the Lebanese military and Civil Defense.

And we could not have done any of this without our wonderful translator, Sandy Belle, who has translated for us at every conference. She does far more than translate words; she clarifies our meaning and carries our message across cultures, so that what we say is truly understood.

 Please pray with us:

For Pastor Nihad, his family, and his congregation in Beirut, for protection and continued boldness.

For the men who heard the gospel from Pastor Nihad in prison, that the seed planted would take root.

For the two newly baptized brothers, that they would grow deep roots in their faith and stand firm under pressure.

For the pastors and leaders who attended, that the refreshment they received would overflow into their churches.



For peace and stability in Lebanon and Syria.

Your prayers and financial support are essential to this work. Together, we are carrying the love of God to people and places where the gospel is rarely heard. Thank you for standing with us.

To help us continue serving in these difficult regions, please give here:

Supporting the Parks Family

To maximize the donations that go directly to the field, we do not take a salary from FPI. Instead, we raise our family’s personal support through donations to the Parks Family Team. When you give to our personal support, your gift covers our living expenses, freeing us to focus fully on the ministry while meeting our financial obligations. Thank you for making it possible for us to serve.



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Look for Part 2, our report from Kurdistan-Iraq, coming soon.