Dia-Logos Podcast - Ep 13 - On the Ground in Lebanon: Seeking Christ in the Conflict
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In this episode of Dia-Logos, host Brad connects with Jacobus Van Zyl, field reporter and local liaison in Qabb Ilyas (Kab Elias), located in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. Living right in the middle of ongoing geopolitical tension, Jacobus provides an unfiltered, first-hand account of what life in Eastern Lebanon looks like amidst fragile truces, military strikes, and a severe economic downturn.
In this insightful and grounded conversation, Brad and Jacobus explore:
✅ The Truce Reality vs. Ground Truth: The current political stalemate between Hezbollah, Israel, and the Lebanese government, and what it feels like when artillery strikes disrupt the night.
✅ The refugee crisis & Aid Cuts: How international support cuts by agencies like the UNHCR are directly affecting vulnerable refugee families who now struggle for basic meals.
✅ The True Cost of Living: How government electricity blackouts (leaving towns with as little as two hours of power per day) drive up private generator reliance, causing basic grocery prices, like a single liter of milk, to skyrocket.
✅ Education & Brain Drain: The tragic impact on over 500,000 displaced children, 340+ damaged or destroyed schools, and why a whole generation of young graduates feels forced to leave the country.
✅ Seeking Christ’s Perspective: How Jesus’ approach to the poor, hungry, and disgraced offers a blueprint for restoring dignity to those caught in conflict.
✅ Finding Peace in Purpose: Why Jacobus believes the safest place to be is always in the center of God's calling, even when the ground is literally shaking.
Key Scripture: Matthew 25:35-40 / Restoring dignity through presence and care.
In this insightful and grounded conversation, Brad and Jacobus explore:
✅ The Truce Reality vs. Ground Truth: The current political stalemate between Hezbollah, Israel, and the Lebanese government, and what it feels like when artillery strikes disrupt the night.
✅ The refugee crisis & Aid Cuts: How international support cuts by agencies like the UNHCR are directly affecting vulnerable refugee families who now struggle for basic meals.
✅ The True Cost of Living: How government electricity blackouts (leaving towns with as little as two hours of power per day) drive up private generator reliance, causing basic grocery prices, like a single liter of milk, to skyrocket.
✅ Education & Brain Drain: The tragic impact on over 500,000 displaced children, 340+ damaged or destroyed schools, and why a whole generation of young graduates feels forced to leave the country.
✅ Seeking Christ’s Perspective: How Jesus’ approach to the poor, hungry, and disgraced offers a blueprint for restoring dignity to those caught in conflict.
✅ Finding Peace in Purpose: Why Jacobus believes the safest place to be is always in the center of God's calling, even when the ground is literally shaking.
Key Scripture: Matthew 25:35-40 / Restoring dignity through presence and care.
