Some Lebanese consider themselves Arabs while others associate themselves with the ancient Phoenicians. Both groups have made their mark on world history through trade and power. Others consider the Lebanese to be Levantine Arabs, referring to those who originated in Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine or Syria. Some also include Arabs from Egypt, Iraq and Turkey. Like their ancient ancestors, today's Lebanese Arabs live all over the world. One can find them in most parts of the world including Canada.
The first Lebanese Arab who settled in Canada was Abraham Bounadere. He settled in Montreal in 1882. For decades, most Lebanese who entered Canada were Christian because of restrictive immigration laws. After WWII, these laws were relaxed, and more recent immigrants are often Muslim or Druze. There was an influx of Lebanese who left for various countries during the Lebanese Civil War starting in 1975 and ending in 1990.
Today the Lebanese are among the largest Arabic-speaking peoples in Canada. They tend to be French speaking, and one is most likely to find them in Montreal or Ottawa.
Some Lebanese with a Muslim background feel like victims of Islamophobia. Others disagree.
Lebanese in Canada can be students or take on a number of different occupations. They lean towards small business ownership.
Most of the Lebanese Arabs in Canada are from various traditional Christian backgrounds. They are in the majority, but there are Druze and Muslims among them as well.
Whether they are Muslim or traditional Christian, the Lebanese Arabs in New Zealand need to put their hope and trust in Jesus Christ. They need the infilling of the Holy Spirit and the willingness to obey Christ so they can experience abundant life.
Pray for their traditional Druze, Muslim and Christian cultures to soften, creating open doors for the gospel to spread far and wide among them.
Pray for their fellowships to be Christ centered rather than tradition centered.
Pray there will soon come a day when the Lebanese people will send loving workers to unreached people groups in the Middle East and Europe.
Pray for spiritual hunger and a discernment that will keep them away from spiritual counterfeits.
Scripture Prayers for the Arab, Lebanese general in Canada.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanese_people
https://www.reddit.com/r/lebanon/comments/jzwvd8/why_do_some_lebanese_say_they_are_not_arab_what/
https://www.independent.co.uk/property/house-and-home/phoenician-or-arab-a-neverending-debate-in-lebanon-5547901.html
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/outintheopen/come-to-pass-1.5289465/i-m-lebanese-canadian-but-my-white-passing-appearance-gives-me-a-window-into-the-racism-of-others-1.5290049
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/druze-dating-diaspora-toronto-exclusion-1.4904888
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
