Eight of the ten countries in the Anglican Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf are currently under threat of attack amid the escalating tension in the Middle East, but its diocesan bishop who is currently on a pastoral visit to the UAE, has told Premier Christian News despite many churches in the region remaining closed, many are flourishing.
Churches such as those in Doha and Kuwait have shut and those in Bahrain are operating a hybrid combination of online and in-person services, but Rt Rev Sean Semple said Christians remain resilient and determined to attend services where they can.
“Some churches in the UAE are reporting between 50% and 75% of normal attendance. And in central Dubai, where I was last night taking a service at Holy Trinity Church, they're reporting 100% attendance just about every week since the war started," he said. "That speaks of the wonderful commitment to faith that people have here.”
The bishop added that it’s a similar story in Iraq where “despite the fact that Baghdad is experiencing attacks from three directions and is a very, very dangerous and volatile place, people are still coming to church”.
But speaking to Premier while on a “solidarity visit” to the Anglican parishes of the UAE, Bishop Sean said he recognised that people are starting to struggle the with uncertainity of safety.
"Attacks are sporadic, random" he said. "They happen during the night, so people are feeling the effects of interrupted sleep. Their nerves are on edge, and perhaps most heart-breaking of all, many parents speak about the fact that they don't know how to comfort their children who are woken with loud explosions and don't know why this is happening.”
Lebanese state media said on Tuesday that an air strike hit a Christian town north of Beirut, an area that had not yet been targeted in the expanding war between Israel and armed group Hezbollah. There were no immediate reports of casualties in the town of Sahel Alma. Witnesses in the area told Reuters they heard several blasts and saw white smoke emanating from the town.
The Anglican Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf is, according to Bishop Sean, mainly expatriate with 70% from the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Africa and the west.
He said he wants raise awareness ot the resilence of the Church in trying times.
"We’re continuing to minister under fire. I'm very grateful for that witness, for the resilience, for the steadfastness of Christians who are continuing to come to church, who are continuing to reach out, even when there are alerts sounding on their phone to say that there are missiles in coming," he said,
"They shelter in places in the church, and as soon as the danger is passed, we just continue with our services. And I think that's a wonderful picture of the resilience and the witness of Christians in the Middle East.”
He added that despite the "shock and disorientation and tiredness," congregations are caring for the most vulnerable around them and spreading the message of hope.
Pakistan's prime minister said on Tuesday he was willing to host talks between the United States and Iran on ending the war, a day after President Donald Trump postponed threats to bomb Iranian power plants after what he called "productive" talks.