​A fragile hope has returned for Syria’s Christians. Pray it isn’t snuffed out

Syria’s Christians have endured war, exile and persecution. Now, a new, seemingly more inclusive leadership and Trump’s promise to lift sanctions have opened the door to a cautious optimism. Matthew Barnes says the global Church must not miss this moment to stand with them

When news broke that Donald Trump had promised to lift sanctions on Syria, joy erupted across the country. Car horns blared, banners flew, and people cheered together — Christians and non-Christians side by side. After years of grinding poverty and international isolation, it was a glimmer of hope. For Syria’s long-suffering population, it marked not just a shift in foreign policy, but a possible turning point in their future, also for the Christian community within the land they have called home for two millennia. 

I have spent years walking alongside the church in Syria, and I have seen its resilience tested again and again. From war and persecution to economic collapse, the Christian population has faced unimaginable pressure. Yet somehow, they have endured. 

Now, for the first time in years, many are daring to hope that things might truly be changing for the better.