Syrian Muslim refugees in Lebanon are turning to Christ despite threats

A considerable number of Syrian Muslim refugees who fled to Lebanon have converted to Christianity despite the attacks and threats from extremists.

Abu Radwan, who hails from the city of Homs in Syria, said that Jesus appeared to him in a dream two years ago. He and his family came to Lebanon at the beginning of the civil war, according to PRI.

Radwan said that he started attending church and became a Christian seven months later. "I believed that Jesus was coming to help us, to save us," he recounted.

He and his family were baptized by Bishop George Saliba at a church in Beirut. The bishop noted that he has baptized around 100 Muslim refugees since the civil war began in 2011.

"Because [of] the constitution of Lebanon, they have the right to change their religion [here]. But in Syria, Iraq, Egypt, it is impossible," he said.

At another church in Beirut, one pastor said that his church provides food and assistance to those in need, but it does not push anyone to convert. The pastor did not want to be identified because his church fears reprisal from extremist groups like ISIS.

"The ones that accept the Lord, we put them in groups," he says. "We teach them about the Bible and the Lord so they will grow in faith," he added.

Some Syrian Christian refugees, and even Christian leaders, raise questions about the motives of those seeking to convert to Christianity. Some believe that they are just looking for assistance and help to immigrate to Western countries.

Radwan said that he receives about $200 a month from his church, and he believes that being a Christian would make it easier for his family to resettle in a Western country.

Many refugees like Radwan believe that being a Christian would give them an advantage in resettling to other countries. However, the U.N. identifies refugees in need of resettlement based on vulnerability criteria. The U.S. has used the same criteria and has not given preference to Christians.

In 2016, fewer than one percent of the Syrian refugees accepted by the U.S. were Christians even though 10 percent of the Syrian population is Christian.

Radwan said that he has tried many ways to leave Lebanon. His decision to convert to Christianity has put him and his family at greater risk.

He narrated that he was stabbed recently as he was coming home from church. He contended that the attackers were Syrians from his tribe who do not accept his conversion. His wife still wears the hijab outside of the church for her safety.

Radwan said that his conversion has made it almost impossible to go back to Syria as his tribe has issued an order to have him killed. But despite the recent attack and the threat, he does not regret his conversion.

"I was relieved when I was baptized. If I die, now, here in front of the church, I will die in peace," he said.