Spring 2026: War, Ceasefire & A Baby on the Way
- May 1
- 5 min read
Updated: May 5
Greetings!
Read on for ministry highlights and regional news from February, March, and April 2026.
Not much time to read? Here’s a summary:
The Hezbollah-IDF conflict reignited in early March. 2,500 Lebanese have been killed and 20% of the population displaced. A ceasefire was called but strikes continue.
This war's harm has surpassed that of 2024 due to wider spread airstrikes, mass evacuation orders, and destruction of bridges. The IDF's newly announced ‘yellow line’ buffer zone means the demolition of many Lebanese villages.
More than $100,000 has been raised through CBM’s Lebanon crisis appeal! Funds supported people sheltering at ABTS and distributions of aid to 12,000 more people via MERATH. Thank you!
CBM sent me to Kenya in mid-February to collect materials for this year’s summer camp resources – stay tuned for the final product.
Exciting news: Khalil and I have a baby on the way! Littlest Haddad is due September 2026.
Arabic word(s) of the month
Wa’f itlaq al-nar meaning ceasefire. Lebanon’s current agreement is tentative at best.
Ways to pray
For those who lost who have lost homes and livelihoods, and those left in limbo not knowing when or if they can ever return. We also pray that the ceasefire would hold, allowing people to check on homes and access aid.
For church partners, staff members, and aid workers, that they be kept safe and that they would be able to be agents of hope during these tough times.
Insight for helpers to know how best to serve those hurting.
War in Lebanon
I’ve been posting regular, small updates on war in Lebanon and how CBM and its partners have been responding. You can see those updates here:
To date, the recent conflict has killed up to 2,500 in Lebanon. More than a million people displaced (20% of the population) and 15% of Lebanese territory is under forced evacuation. Only 138,744 of the displaced have places in official shelters.
Crisis Response
Shortly after war broke out, CBM created a special appeal for the crisis in Lebanon (and I believe it's still open). At last count we had passed our $80,000 goal by $20,000! Praise God. Most of the funds went towards the housing and feeding of close to 200 displaced individuals sheltering at ABTS.
MERATH used crisis funds from CBM to support emergency aid distributions to impacted communities around Lebanon. To date, MERATH has distributed 5,750 mattresses, 6,200 blankets, 13,500 clothing items, 200 tarps, 9,692 hygiene items (including diapers and feminine pad packs) to an estimated 3,000 conflict-affected households, or 12,000 individuals. Wow! All of this was done through 10 local church partners and Beirut Baptist School. Please pray for the safety of their staff who take on personal risks to get aid to the right places.
Once again I was blown away by how ABTS immediately opened its doors to families in danger. It is a massive undertaking for the staff and means significant loss in rental revenue for the seminary.
I am also very proud of the many ways I am seeing my MERATH coworkers step up. On top of their relief work they have volunteered to hold psychosocial support sessions for parents, pitch in with kid care, run sound at movie nights, and serve as judges and MCs for talent shows. Go team!
Khalil has been kept busy setting up and running a church emergency shelter in Saida as well as coordinating aid distributions for the Presbyterian church.
Child & Youth Ministry
Photo (1) Khalil and friends scooping meals to be sent to displaced families. (2) Me leading games to teach children sheltering at ABTS about emotion management.
Much of my March was filled by supporting Thimar's programming for displaced children at ABTS. We held two teaching times a week using Bible stories, games, and crafts to teach emotional regulation, and an extra ‘fun’ event for families such as a movie night or sports tournament. My personal highlight was the talent show. Read more about those activities here.
With the Living Room young adult ministry, I helped coordinate weekly soup kitchen volunteers and a prayer weekend. We continue to hold weekly drop-in events to make space for people to talk about their experience of the war and get support.
My usual preparations for summer camps with Thimar, Youth for Christ, and the Presbyterian church are currently on hold, but I hope to restart them soon.
CBM Trip to Kenya: Camp Resources 2026
Photos: Some images I captured while visiting homes, schools, and businesses supported by CBM in Kenya.
You may remember that this time last year, CBM asked me to create curriculum to help Canadian summer camps teach kids about global missions, focused in Lebanon. They invited me to do so again this year, this time focused on Kenya!
I had a deeply impactful trip there in early February visiting the homes of students supported by CBM’s Kids at Risk project. CBM’s local partner implementing the project, Africa Christian Church and Schools (ACC&S), does very cool stuff with microloans, saving circles, and marketplace theology too.
There are too many stories and photos to share here, but you can read more about my trip in this ministry update.
Running kids camps or VBS’s this summer? Check out CBM’s free resources for 2026! I am clearly biased but I think they’re awesome. No payment needed, just an email address for the curriculum package to be sent to.
Fundraising Update
At almost halfway through the year, I am 26% towards my 2026 goal. I am endlessly grateful for your support, prayers, and check ins.
Personal Updates
Khalil and I have a very joyful personal update from this season: we are expecting! Baby Haddad is scheduled to arrive September 2026 and I hope to give birth in Canada. The 'peanut' is an answer to much prayer and we are overjoyed, as are the grandparents.
Naturally, my pregnancy added complexity to the decision to stay or evacuate during airstrikes on Beirut. CBM has been hugely supportive of Khalil and I during this time and graciously sent me to Canada for a couple weeks to update paperwork, meet with doctors, do all my second trimester scans, and stock up on vitamins and medicines in case of shortages in Lebanon. It was difficult to be away – particularly during “Black Wednesday”, a day of mass causalities in Lebanon – and I am happy to be back. However, taking time away to be with family, rest, and regulate my nervous system a bit was a huge blessing to me and baby; I couldn’t be more grateful.
Many of you have asked great questions about what maternity leave looks like for CBM field staff. My plan is to continue my ministry in a smaller capacity, balanced with spending time with baby and supporting Khalil’s ministry. All my usual activities will keep up right until I leave for Canada in mid-July. I hope to visit several churches while home – airlines and baby allowing😊
Blessings on you and yours.
Salam,
Evie
