Phillip Rice

Syria is home to a group of devoted Christian leaders who have dedicated their lives to spreading the Gospel, building communities, and serving amidst adversity. Despite the challenges posed by political turmoil, economic hardships, and religious opposition, these individuals continue to inspire change and hope. Here, we highlight the stories of four such ChangeMakers: Elias N., Maher S., Mazen H., and Naameh S.

In global missions, we often celebrate the fruit—churches planted, believers baptized, lives transformed. But every harvest begins with soil, seed, and sweat. The reality is that gospel work among the nations almost always begins from scratch. Missionaries enter with empty hands and full hearts, building from the ground up in foreign soil, often with nothing but a burden from God and the power of the Spirit.