Saint Luke’s has been supporting, both in prayer and financially, Elmarie and her husband Scott, Presbyterian mission co-workers who are based in Beirut. Their work includes the countries of Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria. Please do keep the Parkers in your prayers.
About
Elmarie & Scott’s
Ministry
Scott Parker serves with the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) as a writer in residence. He uses written storytelling to communicate the experiences and views of the Middle East Church and peoples with Presbyterian constituents in the United States and MECC partners in both Europe and the United States. In addition, Scott has been asked by the MECC to lead their efforts in responding to children traumatized by unrest and war in Iraq and Syria who now seek refuge in Lebanon. Out of this invitation has come “Strong Kids, Strong Emotions,” a play-based program that seeks to develop emotional and spiritual resiliency in Iraqi and Syrian children refugeed in the Beirut area.
Elmarie Parker serves as regional liaison to Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. The heartbeat of her work is to help deepen and strengthen the relational ties between the church in her region and the church in the United States and to develop the practical ministries that are birthed from these relationships. More specifically, she facilitates Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) support for partner programs and activities and implements partnership strategy. Elmarie assists in strengthening healthy, effective and appropriate relationships among entities of the PC(USA) and those of partner denominations and organizations in the region. This often takes shape through PC(USA) group solidarity and learning visits to Syria, Lebanon and Iraq facilitated by Elmarie. Additionally, Elmarie supports other PC(USA) associates serving in this region through communications, information sharing, mentoring/guiding, encouraging and reflection.
Regional Context
In recent years, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq have become known to most Americans as countries dominated by political and religious conflict, war and violence. However, few know that a small but faithful Christian community is trying to bring hope and healing to the Middle East. The PC (USA) celebrates more than 150 years of involvement in the region and maintains close ties with its partner churches, some of which were founded by PC(USA) missionaries. Turmoil and violence have driven many Christians from the region in recent years, but a number remain and strive to be faithful witnesses in a place where the Christian tradition dates back to the apostolic era. In the midst of the current violence engulfing much of Syria and Iraq, the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon and the National Evangelical churches in Iraq, along with other PC(USA) partners in the region, are working to aid thousands of displaced families of all religious creeds. Their work ranges from providing basic life necessities such as food, water, clothing, fuel, rent and basic medications; to helping families rebuild their homes and start their lives again; to providing education to students whose schools have been lost or destroyed; to striving to develop a civil society built around the principles of international law, human rights and democracy.
About
Elmarie & Scott
Both Scott and Elmarie served as parish pastors prior to this call, starting in California and then serving in Florida and Ohio. Scott received his Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. Elmarie also graduated from Fuller with a Master of Divinity and a Master of Science in marital and family therapy.
The Parkers began their current work in July 2013, moving to Beirut, Lebanon, at the beginning of Advent in December 2013. This is a call that takes up all the threads of their previous ministries and personal experiences and weaves them more deeply into Christ’s work in the world.