Responding to Lebanon’s Humanitarian Emergency with May-Lee Melki

This episode of Faith & Finance features Maylee Melke, U.S. Managing Director of Heart for Lebanon, as the podcast addresses the escalating humanitarian crisis in Lebanon due to renewed conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. Melke shares firsthand insights into the devastating impact on families, with over a million people internally displaced in just four weeks—many fleeing with nothing but the clothes on their backs. She highlights the dire conditions: overcrowded shelters, lack of basic necessities, and the psychological toll of living in constant fear. Despite Lebanon’s already fragile state—marked by a 98% devaluation of the lira and 80% poverty rate—families are now experiencing displacement for the second or third time, with no legal protections. Heart for Lebanon is responding by caring for 2,000 newly displaced families, providing food, hygiene kits, bedding, and relational care, while also sharing the hope of Christ. The episode underscores the dual mission of meeting urgent physical needs and pointing people to eternal hope through Christ. The hosts also address listener questions on church financial stewardship and IRA withdrawals, emphasizing prudent reserve policies and tax-smart giving strategies.