Dia-Lgos Podcast - Ep 7 - Forgotten No More: Loving Syrian Refugees on the Frontlines of Lebanon
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“Many of the families I’ve built relationships with have told me, ‘You are literally the only person who cares about us.’ That’s such a wonderful thing to hear, but it’s also so sad. They lost everything. And the world has forgotten them.” - Jacobus van Zyl
In this deeply moving episode of the Dia-Logos podcast, we travel to Lebanon to speak with Jacobus van Zyl, a 27-year-old cross-cultural missionary from South Africa. Jacobus shares his unexpected journey of moving from South Africa to Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley to serve the Syrian refugee population - a community of over 1.5 million people living in a country facing one of the worst economic crises in modern history.
Working alongside the Nexus Centre and Dia-Logos, Jacobus steps into the gaps left by the rest of the world. From helping teach young refugee children to managing administrative tasks, his true passion lies in the hours after school, where he visits families in the camps, builds relationships, and shows the love of Jesus through consistent, practical care.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
The Reality on the Ground: What life is really like inside the informal Syrian refugee camps of Lebanon.
Relational Ministry vs. Street Preaching: How to share the gospel in a Muslim-majority country where actions, presence, and genuine care speak louder than words.
Miracles in the Midst of Crisis: The powerful, real-life stories of Jana, an 11-year-old girl receiving life-saving blood transfusions, and Hayat, a young paralyzed girl whose life was changed by a sponsored electric wheelchair.
Missions Where You Are: Jacobus’s advice for anyone who wants to serve but cannot travel across the world.
Support & Subscribe
Every bit of support makes a massive difference on the ground. To partner with Dia-Logos and support projects like Jana's medical treatments, visit our website. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share this episode on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
In this deeply moving episode of the Dia-Logos podcast, we travel to Lebanon to speak with Jacobus van Zyl, a 27-year-old cross-cultural missionary from South Africa. Jacobus shares his unexpected journey of moving from South Africa to Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley to serve the Syrian refugee population - a community of over 1.5 million people living in a country facing one of the worst economic crises in modern history.
Working alongside the Nexus Centre and Dia-Logos, Jacobus steps into the gaps left by the rest of the world. From helping teach young refugee children to managing administrative tasks, his true passion lies in the hours after school, where he visits families in the camps, builds relationships, and shows the love of Jesus through consistent, practical care.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
The Reality on the Ground: What life is really like inside the informal Syrian refugee camps of Lebanon.
Relational Ministry vs. Street Preaching: How to share the gospel in a Muslim-majority country where actions, presence, and genuine care speak louder than words.
Miracles in the Midst of Crisis: The powerful, real-life stories of Jana, an 11-year-old girl receiving life-saving blood transfusions, and Hayat, a young paralyzed girl whose life was changed by a sponsored electric wheelchair.
Missions Where You Are: Jacobus’s advice for anyone who wants to serve but cannot travel across the world.
Support & Subscribe
Every bit of support makes a massive difference on the ground. To partner with Dia-Logos and support projects like Jana's medical treatments, visit our website. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share this episode on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
