In this special Thanksgiving-themed episode of Journey of Hope, host Elio Constantine sits down with Camille Melki, Heart for Lebanon’s CEO and Co-Founder, for a heartfelt conversation about gratitude, discipleship, and the faithfulness of God in the midst of Lebanon’s ongoing challenges.
Together, Elio and Camille reflect on the importance of gratitude—not only as a holiday tradition in the United States, but as a spiritual discipline for believers everywhere. Camille shares how he first encountered Thanksgiving as a young university student in the U.S. and how the practice of pausing, reflecting, and expressing thanks shaped his life and leadership.
Their conversation unfolds into a rich exploration of gratitude on multiple levels: gratitude to God, to Heart for Lebanon’s faithful investors, and to the dedicated team in Lebanon serving in some of the most difficult circumstances in the region.
Camille emphasizes how vital it is to stop, acknowledge God’s protection and provision, and recognize the blessing of being chosen to serve others through the ministry.
Three Areas of Gratitude Camille outlines the ministry’s posture of thankfulness in three key areas:
- Gratitude to God: for protection, resilience, wisdom, and the privilege of participating in the transformation He is bringing to Lebanon and the Middle East—despite instability, conflict, and fear. Camille speaks powerfully about God’s peace in the storms and His continued favor on the ministry since its founding in 2006.
- Gratitude for Heart for Lebanon’s Investors: Elio and Camille highlight the profound impact of those who pray, give, and even visit Lebanon to serve. Camille refers to them as “investors” because their generosity is an investment in eternity—impacting lives they may never meet until heaven. Their encouragement, prayers, and involvement often arrive at the exact moment the team needs strength.
- Gratitude for the Team: With more than 80 staff members living and serving across Lebanon’s crisis-stricken regions, Camille expresses deep appreciation for their resilience, compassion, and commitment to sharing the Gospel. Their work is not transactional—it is relational, innovative, and rooted in a calling to make disciples in hard-to-reach places and among diverse communities.
A Story of Transformation Elio shares the story of Maysa, a Syrian woman from a deeply conservative and radical Muslim background who found value, dignity, and new identity in Christ through Heart for Lebanon’s discipleship programs. Today, she is helping lead Bible studies in communities where the Gospel has historically been inaccessible. Her transformation is a testament to God’s work—through the ministry team and through the generosity of investors.
Practical Gratitude Camille closes with simple, tangible practices of daily gratitude:
• Beginning each day with, “Thank you, God, for life and freedom.”
• Expressing thanks to neighbors, friends, children, and parents.
• Recognizing the everyday blessings we often overlook.
• Taking time to reach out to someone with a message of appreciation.
A Word to Our Listeners
We invite you to reach out with questions at podcast@heartforlebanon.org
For your prayer requests email us at prayer@heartforlebanon.org. Every Monday, the team gathers to pray for friends and supporters around the world.
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