Beirut – The Baptists of Lebanon have called on Christians around the world to pray for their country. Demonstrations had erupted in many cities after the billionaire Najib Mikati was named Prime Minister to succeed Saad Hariri. Mikati had been the candidate of the pro-Iranian Hizbollah. Before he had won the majority vote in Parliament: 68 deputies voted for him, 60 for Western-supported Hariri. Hariri’s administration had broken apart on 12 January after the opposition withdrew its cabinet members. That crisis had been caused by UN-tribunal investigations into the murder of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005. In that incident, Saad Hariri’s father had been killed along with 21 others. Reports state that leading Hizbollah politicians were to be placed on trial for the killings.

Nabil Costa (Beirut), Director of the Lebanese Baptist Society states in a call for prayer: 'Pray for our younger generation. How can we convince them that they have a future in Lebanon if our country is repeatedly caught in a vicious circle of violence dragging us back into an era, which we had attempted by all means to put behind us?' Concerned that recurrent tension negatively impacts their future, an increasing number of usually well-educated Christians are leaving Lebanon annually – roughly 150.000 per year.

In his letter, Costa thanks the Lebanese army for attempting to uphold peace and order in the country. Despite unrest, Costa remains convinced that God is in control. His promises and Word need to be trusted. Costa points to Philippians 4,6: 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.' He continues: 'Our land needs responsible leaders who reflect the heart of God.' It is not difficult for God to reach that goal: 'We are are praying and waiting on his intervention.'

The number of Christians in Lebanon has sunk drastically in recent years. In 1975, Christians made up roughly 60% of the population – today it is estimated to be slightly more than 30%. The majority of the country’s four million inhabitants are Muslim. The Baptist Union of Lebanon consists of 27 congregations with approximately 2.000 members