Dia-Logos Podcast - Ep 22 - What Syria and Lebanon Can Teach Us About Christ with Mike Burnard
Loading player...
Light in the Ruins: Faith, Gratitude, and the Growing Kingdom in Syria and Lebanon.
When you cross into a nation recovering from 13 years of war, the border guards don’t say “welcome” - they say “good luck.” But amidst devastation and shrinking numbers, a vibrant, resilient, and deeply grateful faith is flourishing.
In this episode of the Dia-Logos Podcast, host Brad Kirsten connects with Mike Burnard, analytical strategist and investigative journalist for Dia-Logos, following his recent return from Syria and Lebanon. Mike shares eye-opening insights from visiting local believers and pastors on the ground.
In this episode, Mike shares:
✅ The Mission Field Re-examined: Why missions wasn’t born in the West or Israel, but in Syria—and why the goal of visiting is to encourage local believers rather than lead from outside.
✅ The Shrinking Church & Growing Kingdom: How an 83% drop in traditional Christian populations runs alongside an extraordinary wave of conversions, including among unreached groups like the Druze.The ✅ "Gratitude Meetings" of Aleppo: How believers in completely destroyed cities meet weekly not to ask or complain, but simply to give thanks for life, worship, and daily bread.
✅ Middle Eastern Hospitality: Challenging Western stereotypes by experiencing the warmth, generosity, and open doors of locals in the streets and refugee camps.
✅ Lessons for the Global Church: Why darkness cannot overpower light, and how shifting from suspicion to radical love can transform our own communities and nations.
Tune in to gain a fresh, kingdom-centered perspective on faith, resilience, and hope in the heart of the Middle East.
When you cross into a nation recovering from 13 years of war, the border guards don’t say “welcome” - they say “good luck.” But amidst devastation and shrinking numbers, a vibrant, resilient, and deeply grateful faith is flourishing.
In this episode of the Dia-Logos Podcast, host Brad Kirsten connects with Mike Burnard, analytical strategist and investigative journalist for Dia-Logos, following his recent return from Syria and Lebanon. Mike shares eye-opening insights from visiting local believers and pastors on the ground.
In this episode, Mike shares:
✅ The Mission Field Re-examined: Why missions wasn’t born in the West or Israel, but in Syria—and why the goal of visiting is to encourage local believers rather than lead from outside.
✅ The Shrinking Church & Growing Kingdom: How an 83% drop in traditional Christian populations runs alongside an extraordinary wave of conversions, including among unreached groups like the Druze.The ✅ "Gratitude Meetings" of Aleppo: How believers in completely destroyed cities meet weekly not to ask or complain, but simply to give thanks for life, worship, and daily bread.
✅ Middle Eastern Hospitality: Challenging Western stereotypes by experiencing the warmth, generosity, and open doors of locals in the streets and refugee camps.
✅ Lessons for the Global Church: Why darkness cannot overpower light, and how shifting from suspicion to radical love can transform our own communities and nations.
Tune in to gain a fresh, kingdom-centered perspective on faith, resilience, and hope in the heart of the Middle East.
