Last Wednesday after a campus organization meeting finished and we were cleaning up, one of the other members of leadership looked at his phone and quickly called us all together. He asked if we would take a minute to stop and pray for the people of Aleppo. Thousands of civilians had been trapped there and attempts were about to made to evacuate. I knew about the war that was going on in Syria and saw something about Aleppo on Facebook earlier in the day, but I hardly understood it all. Since then I have read a dozen or so articles and watched a few videos about what is going on. I generally do not keep up well with the news while at school and I figured many fellow college students don't either. Because of this I thought it might be a good idea to write this week's article about some of what is going on in Syria.

Civil war broke out in Syria in 2011 as a result of discontentment and anger over the country’s president. It started out as peaceful, but the Syrian government quickly decided to respond with force. That summer the Free Syrian Army was formed with the goal of overthrowing the government and because of this, the civil war officially began. It has been estimated that over 400,000 people have died in the over five years of fighting.

Aleppo, the largest city in Syria, has been directly involved in the war since 2012. It was during this year that the city was split in two with the government controlling the west and rebels in the east. Starting several weeks ago on November 26th, the Syrian army, with the help of Russia, has captured almost all of eastern Aleppo. Essentially, this means that it is now controlled by the Syrian Government as opposed to the rebels.

This week, the government made a cease-fire agreement with the rebels to allow for civilians to be evacuated. Unfortunately, this was suspended after only 6,000 people left due to rebel groups opening fire again. As I write this on Friday night, the news does not appear to be offering any indication of when evacuations may begin again. Hopefully by the time you are reading this, things will have changed for the better.

I realize that this incredibly short article is not enough to explain a war that has been going on for years along with tensions that have likely been building for much longer. Honestly, the research I have done has confused me more than clarified. Regardless of all of this, nothing changes the fact that there are thousands of people currently trapped in this city. Just sit and think about some of the atrocities these people are currently facing. Like really think about them. There’s no way you could remotely relate to their situations so at least do your hardest to put yourself in their shoes. Can you imagine not being able to leave your own house? Or having your house be bombed? Or losing not just one but both of your parents? Not only did you lose them, but you watched them die. Imagine living in constant fear that at any moment a bomb could be dropped right where you are. These are just some of the myriad of questions and challenges the citizens of Aleppo are having to grapple with.

I say this all not to make you sad or feel helpless, but to raise awareness. In all honesty, there is not much we can physically do right now. We may be completely helpless, but we serve a God who is all powerful. I’ll close today with some videos and articles that I have been reading in attempts to understand all of this, but ultimately the best thing we can do is simply pray. Pray for the children left without parents, for the parents left without children, for the injured, for those fighting, for the leaders calling the shots, for those attempting to supply aid, for all the world leaders that need to make decisions about getting involved, for each and every Syrian that has been affected by this war.

During this Christmas season, I cannot help but think of Isaiah 9:6 as I pray for Aleppo.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

My prayer is that during this time they might come to greater understand these four aspects of Jesus. Viewing Him as a Wonderful Counselor who can comfort them even though all hope seems lost. Also, a Mighty God that has the power to save. Even if their time on this earth ends, they can rejoice in knowing they are heading to a place with no war or suffering. An Everlasting Father, one that continually cares and loves even when there’s no one else left to do so. Lastly, a Prince of Peace for both the country as a whole and each person who is feeling far from peaceful.

Syria’s Civil War Explained – Aljazeera: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/05/syria-civil-war-explained-160505084119966.html

9 Things You Should Know About Aleppo and the Syrian Crisis – The Gospel Coalition: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/9-things-you-should-know-about-aleppo-and-the-syrian-crisis

“Aleppo is a place where the children have stopped crying” – Channel 4 News: https://www.facebook.com/Channel4News/videos/10154354235831939/?pnref=story

10+ Before-And-After Pics Reveal What War Did to the Largest City in Syria: http://www.boredpanda.com/before-after-war-photos-...

A Boy, a Bomb, & the Horrors of War & Survival – CNN: https://www.facebook.com/cnn/videos/10155187960661509/

Refugee Phone Video – BBC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1BLsySgsHM

Voices from Aleppo – The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2016/dec/13/voices-from-aleppo-the-situation-is-apocalyptic-video-report

Aleppo Orphans Video: “Please get us out” – CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/15/middleeast/aleppo-orphans-syrian-american-medical-society/