Emmanuel-God is with us

As the UK pauses for Christmas celebrations, Jackie Macadam and Thomas Baldwin learn more about celebrations in the midst of conflict or danger.

The Rev Tut Mai Nguoth is Executive Director, Presbyterian Relief and Development Agency (PRDA) in Juba, South Sudan and a minister with the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan.

“The Presbyterian Church of South Sudan and Sudan was founded in 1902 at Doleib Hill, South of Malakal. Greater Upper Nile Region and has been the territory of the Presbyterian Church until now.

“However, during the years of civil wars, the church growth happened all across the country through movement of its members – whether they were government employees, aid workers, soldiers and internally displaced persons (IDPs) – all of them established congregations that have become big churches nowadays. The church is here in Greater Equatoria and Greater Bhar El Ghazal states and across the borders into Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia. The Presbyterian Church is one of the three largest denominations in the country along with Roman Catholic and Anglican.

“Christianity become one of the most progressive cultures in South Sudan, many African norms, traditions and cultures declined greatly in advancement of Christianity and education.

“But the Church goes with the people.

Christians carry their faith wherever they go. They pray on Sunday regardless of their location. Even when they are on a journey they stopped to pray, then they continue with their journey, in most cases, they don’t travel on a Sunday unless it is not safe to stay.

“The Presbyterians in my country continue to trust and believe their God is with them. The Psalms and the many Gospel passages that speak about God’s protection and of being carried during strife, wars, and crisis are the main source of strength and encouragement. They developed most needed resilience to carry on with their lives tied to the presence of ‘Emmanuel’ – God with us in difficult time.

“In South Sudan at Christmas everyone attends December 25 services, especially those who are not regularly attenders of Sunday services on a weekly basis, but at Christmas everyone goes to Church on that day. Once a year they attend a church where they are known locally as ‘Christmas Christians’. They will not go to church throughout the year, but on December 25, they must and have to go to church. Even some people travel so they can attend the church on that day. Many people renew their relationships with Christ on that day. There are no new year resolutions, but always there is a Christmas resolution for the year ahead. I heard people telling me that they stopped drinking or smoking or stopped a habit that was not pleasant on December 25. They always believe that Christmas comes with good news, and the expectation of peace and peaceful living with the birth of Christ. Therefore, Christmas comes with hopes, renewal and change.

South Sudan has been torn apart by repeated civil wars in the latter part of the 20th century and early 21st and break-out battles and attempted coups are ongoing.

“Difficulties caused by wars and displacements has become part of the lives of many South Sudanese.

“We have never had peace throughout the country even under a united Sudan and after the independence of South Sudan on July 9, 2011, wars and conflicts continue with hardship, economic challenges and political fragility. Yet my fellow believers develop hopes, resilience and strong faith in Christ and his presence with them wherever, whatever, and in whichever situation they are in, the saving and salvation by the Lord will surely come at the right time.

“Like the ‘Christmas Christians’ the members of the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan believe that we can all do something that will make change for a better future for ourselves, families, communities and the nation as whole. We must do something that gives meaning to our life. As the saying goes ‘Do Your Best and God will do the Rest.’”

The Rev Rola Sleiman is pastor of Tripoli Evangelical Church/National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL), in Lebanon.

At the time of writing, Lebanon was under fire from the Israeli Army due to the ongoing fight with Hezbollah, who use Lebanon as a base.

“Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

“As the Christmas season is approaching, families are decorating their homes and putting the Christmas tree to welcome baby Jesus... In a small beautiful country in the Middle East, families don’t have any more homes to decorate, they instead are escaping bombs, running away for their life. Many have lost their loved ones and have had no chance to bury them properly. Christmas time is supposed to be a time of joy and hope. Unfortunately, we have been under fierce strikes as our beautiful country, Lebanon, has been attacked daily.

“The situation continues to deteriorate and the destruction is intensifying, the number of casualties is rising daily and the injuries are filling our hospitals that are already dilapidated.

“ As the Christmas season is approaching, families are decorating their homes and putting the Christmas tree to welcome baby Jesus... In a small beautiful country in the Middle East, families don’t have any more homes to decorate, they instead are escaping massive bombs, running away for their life.

“ We wish fathers, sons and families could return home to their homeland and not have to live in a foreign country.

“After what happened on October 7 2023, followed by the war campaign on October 8 against Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon began a support attack under the heading of ‘In Support of Gaza.’

“On September 24 2024, as most of our children in Lebanon were entering their second week of school year and university students started their academic year, Israel launched a series of attacks in Lebanon, never seen before. Around 5000 pagers and walkie-talkie units exploded simultaneously in the hands of Hezbollah operatives, causing the permanent blindness and damage of thousands all at the same time. Lebanon has been experiencing continuous crisis since 2018 with the revolution, 2019 the economic crisis, 2020 Covid and the huge port explosion, all that left our country especially the health sector, weak, shattered and vulnerable.

“In parallel with this, a bombing campaign started on villages in South Lebanon among them Christian villages, and the Bekaa and on Beirut’s southern suburbs. Approximately a million citizens have been displaced since the attacks started, many are hosted in public and technical schools.

“In this time of crisis, we look with eyes full of faith to our rock and redeemer, to the new born child, the prince of peace, who came to our world so we will experience peace, who ‘came that they may have life and have it abundantly’ John 10:10.

“The new born baby who later defeated death and arose from the darkness will surely bring us comfort in time of troubles. We keep our hands crossed so God will provide us steadfast faith, strength and hope that this craziness and brutality will come to an end.

“We need your prayers and support for the safety of all Lebanese people, congregations and churches, houses and properties, healing of injuries, immediate ceasefire and permanent peace. As we stand faithfully in our belief in our Lord Jesus Christ who incarnated to provide humanity with salvation, hope and an empty tomb.”

Sándor Zán Fábián, Bishop of the Transcarpathian Reformed Church.

“Christmas preparations of the Transcarpathian Reformed Church in 2024 are in the shadow of the third year of the Russian-Ukrainian war.

“It is important that children who stayed at home with their mothers or grandparents feel the support of the church and the congregation. For them, during the Advent season and as Christmas approaches, we offer a package of sweets with a message or a Bible story.

“The elderly people left alone by the war need constant support. The absence of young family members is also a burden for them. This is helped by the 26 social kitchens run by the congregation, which are open all year round and provide hot lunches for 1,135 people. However, even during the holidays, when the kitchens are closed, the elderly are not left without food. We want to provide them with a sustainable food parcel so that they have everything they need for the Feast of Love. It all depends on having donors to help us achieve these goals.

“In addition, the Home Care Service, with seven work points, provides care for nearly 350 cared for elderly people who are also alone but ill. We need to pay more attention to them because, in addition to loneliness, they also have to cope with the illnesses of old age.

“We wish fathers, sons and families could return home to their homeland and not have to live in a foreign country.

“We prepare for Christmas by waiting for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are not waiting for a little baby Jesus, we are not celebrating a little child, but the Saviour who is not lying in a manger, but is present in our daily lives as the Lord of life.”