Dear Editor,
Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,
Our hearts are heavy and broken as we cry out to the Lord in this dark hour. For nearly a week now, fierce fighting has raged in Suweida, Syria, between the Druze and Bedouin (Sunni Muslim) communities. Over a thousand precious souls have perished, and countless others are wounded or taken captive.
It is with deep sorrow and tears that we share the heartbreaking news that our beloved brother and shepherd, Pastor Khaled Mezhir, pastor of the Good Shepherd Evangelical Church in Suweida, has been martyred for his faith, along with his wife, his parents, and over 20 members of his family. They were brutally killed. Pastor Khaled, once a Druze, gave his life to Christ and faithfully proclaimed the Gospel to his people despite opposition and persecution. He and his family stood as lights in the darkness, and now they rest in the presence of the Lord they so faithfully served.
The church in Suweida is now scattered; many believers are unaccounted for. The surviving members are enduring unimaginable suffering—cut off from food, water, electricity, internet, and hope for safety, despite the so-called “ceasefire” declared by a new regime.
We urgently plead with you, our family in Christ, to lift up your voices in prayer:
• Pray for the comfort and strength of Pastor Khaled’s surviving relatives and for the flock he has left behind.
• Pray for the protection and endurance of the remaining churches and believers in Suweida.
• Pray that the Lord would miraculously provide food, water, and safety for His children.
• Pray for wisdom and resources so that we may reach and help those who are suffering and displaced.
May the Lord, who is near to the brokenhearted, rise up as our refuge and strength. Let us stand together as one body, crying out for His mercy and deliverance over Suweida and all our brothers and sisters in Syria.
We are,
Rick & Patricia Ridings,
Succat Hallel Jerusalem