Source: Joel News, October 2016
Mathild Sabbagh, 26, returns to her hometown. She is the first female minister in Syria. Her town in northern Syria is surrounded by ISIS. Last year her cousin was killed by Muslim extremists. Her brother who is also a pastor was kidnapped.
“If there are no men who can lead the church at this time, I’ll do it!”
Before the war her church still had almost 200 members, but today only 30 or 40 people have remained. ISIS has decimated the number of believers. “Some were killed, others fled. From my primary school friends no one stayed. Everybody’s gone. The war left our city shot to pieces and our entire community beaten apart.”
But it doesn’t keep Mathild from going back. She is more determined than ever, and feels a great sense of urgency. “I believe in the mysterious growth of the Kingdom of God, even against the odds. I go back to my church because I know I’m needed there. The church is like my own family. I’ve learned all my life that I can bring my talents to the church. So now I’ll bring what I have.”
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