Joseph Kassab Speaks on the Effect of Lebanon Explosion on the Christian Community

The huge explosion that rocked Beirut, capital city of Lebanon on Monday evening has left dozens dead, hundreds injured, and over 300,000 forced out from their homes.

Millions around the world observed in horror as the detonation of 2,750 tons of confiscated ammonium nitrate laid waste to the Mediterranean port and surrounding neighborhoods.

The equivalent of a 3.3-magnitude earthquake was felt deep into the coastal mountains of Lebanon and as far away as Cyprus.

The images of destruction reminded many of the small Middle Eastern nation’s 15-year civil war that lasted from 1975 to 1990.

Christianity Today interviewed Joseph Kassab, president of the Supreme Council of the Evangelical Community in Syria and Lebanon. Based in Beirut but born in Aleppo, Syria, Kassab deliberated on the damage suffered in Christian neighborhoods, early efforts to assist the suffering, and hope for what this tragedy might produce in the Lebanese church.

Interviewer:

These are very difficult days in Lebanon. What happened, and how bad is it?

Joseph Kassab:

It is very bad. I’ve been in Lebanon since 1984, experiencing the civil war. This is the first time that one single explosion caused such damage. People were terrified.

Until now, there is no agreement on the explanation, with many speaking according to their political point of view. Some say it was an electrical problem. Some say it was arson. Others assure that they heard jet fighters. We have to wait, hoping that the coming days will provide an answer.

Interviewer:

This explosion destroyed so much of Beirut, across sectarian lines. What is the impact on the Christian community?

Joseph Kassab:

The areas nearest the port in East Beirut are primarily Christian neighborhoods, and generally poorer than others. But even we here in the mountains suffered broken windows.

One of the worst affected was Jesus Light of the World church in the Qarantina neighborhood, affiliated with the Christian Alliance denomination. But similar was the downtown All Saints Anglican church. And the historic National Evangelical Church had all its stained-glass windows blown out. The pastor was startled by the first vibration, and then the second explosion sent shards down right where he had been standing.

But everyone is affected. Catholics, Orthodox, and as you move a little further away you see the damage in Muslim neighborhoods also.

Interviewer:

How difficult will it be to clean up and rebuild?

Joseph Kassab:

My niece’s family came and stayed with us because her apartment is a mess. You cannot imagine what happened. Her cupboards fell on top of her as she protected her two-year-old.

There are up to 100 casualties, and I expect more. There are over 3,000 injured. It is a disaster for a small country like Lebanon.

How could such explosive material be kept in the port, stored for the past six years, close to civilian areas and vital sectors of the government? We lost the port, and this is the sector we need most in this time of economic collapse. It is a chronic situation of corruption, mismanagement, and selfish interests.

Lebanese people deserve better leaders. Even the leaders know this.

Back in October, they admitted the country was almost bankrupt; but since then, the situation has only gotten worse. Inflation has risen 85 percent. The government  of Lebanon is running out of hard currency in the central bank. And ordinary citizens are denied access to the dollars they have in their personal accounts.

Already many people have lost their jobs, and those still working only receive half their salary. And this morning they woke up having to repair their homes. Where will they get the money from?

We are a bankrupt country, becoming a failed state.

Interviewer:

How can American Christians help in this time of need?

Joseph Kassab:

We need money for repairing houses, medical care, and food baskets.

The Compassion Protestant Society of the Presbyterian synod is helping the most affected families reinstall their windows. The costs of replacement is now twice the true minimum monthly wage. And it must be paid in cash dollars, which almost no one has.

So many people are displaced from their homes.

The explosion also destroyed essential goods at the port, like our wheat supply. Every day we will be hearing about new shortages.

There is no one organization for all evangelicals, and every church has its own programs. Everyone can give through the denomination they belong to.

We are also suffering in education, and ask our evangelical friends to support the institutions of the Protestant community. This is part of our identity and mission; we need to keep the level high.

The Fellowship of Evangelical Schools in Lebanon is under the umbrella of our Supreme Council. It will form a delegation to ask for help from the US and British embassies, just as the French foreign minister promised assistance for the Catholic schools.

But we want to raise the awareness of our brothers and sisters in the West and especially in the United States. We have a common history and a common mission, started 200 years ago. Do you still care? We are continuing what your ancestors started, and this is our shared spiritual heritage.

Interviewer:

Do you have hope for the future? What are your fears?

Joseph Kassab:

The most important thing is for Lebanon to have peace with itself. We do not want conflicting political views to lead to clashes or a new civil war, as we see now in Syria. Whatever is external, we can deal with it. But internal conflict will devastate the country.

For the church, we are afraid of a coming train of migration. But this is an opportunity to sharpen our calling and live our ministry. We have to help people with their needs and lessen the damages suffered by the Christian community.

In the midst of such pain, we need to become a better church. We are not called to sit in the pews, but to witness for Christ and work for the kingdom of God.