This Faith and Finance podcast is underwritten in part by Heart for Lebanon. War is once again shaking the Middle East. In Lebanon, families already crushed by poverty and instability are now living in fear, unsure if food, shelter, or safety will be there tomorrow. Heart for Lebanon is responding with emergency aid, practical care, and the unshakable hope of the gospel. To give or learn more, text the word FAITH to 98656.
That's FAITH to 98656. Or visit faithfy.com/slash Lebanon. A humanitarian crisis is unfolding right now, and for hundreds of thousands of families, survival has become a daily question. I am Rob West. Lebanon is once again facing a devastating conflict, and the impact on families, especially women and children, is overwhelming.
Today, Mali Melke from Hartford, Lebanon joins us to share what's happening, how they are responding, and how you can be a part of bringing both help and lasting hope. And then we'll turn to your questions at 800-525-7000. That's 800-525-7000. This is Faith in Finance, biblical wisdom for your financial decisions. Mm-hmm.
Well, we often highlight the importance of supporting trusted ministries doing meaningful kingdom work, and one we're especially grateful for is Heart for Lebanon. In the midst of a growing humanitarian crisis, they're faithfully serving families who've been displaced and are in urgent need. Joining us today is our friend Meili Melke, U.S. Managing Director of Heart for Lebanon. Meily, always great to have you with us.
Thank you so much, Rob. It's such a privilege to be with you during these critical times. I know they are, and we're delighted as well. Melee, you grew up in Lebanon, so this is, of course, deeply personal for you. As you watch what's unfolding right now with escalating tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, part of a wider regional conflict, families are being displaced and entire communities are being shaken.
You know that better than anyone.
So what's on your heart as you see this happening? It's absolutely heartbreaking, Rob. Lebanon has yet been pulled in again into another devastating conflict. And for so many families, life has simply stopped. And Rob, this is under the same circumstances that we started Heart for Lebanon in 2006, 20 years ago.
And to see this cycle of war repeat itself is absolutely heartbreaking. The same two parties, Hezbollah and Israel, going after each other. And the ultimate victim here is the innocent families who are being forcibly displaced. People have fled their homes with nothing, sometimes literally just the clothes that they were wearing that day. And now they're trying to get by in temporary shelters, schools, or whatever they can find a space to pitch a tent on the sidewalk and just stay there.
There's so much fear and uncertainty. And for many, this isn't the first time that they've lived through something so tragic like this. Yes, that is so true. Melee, help us understand what this looks like on the ground. We, of course, hear the numbers, but how is this impacting families in their everyday lives?
It's so overwhelming. I mean, this is my country, my community, and I can't wrap my head around the numbers and the images that we're seeing come out of the country as of late March.
So we've seen the scale of displacement that has moved from a humanitarian crisis to a complete national emergency. There's over a million people internally displaced, and to put that into perspective, that's roughly 20% of our entire population in less than four weeks. Ground operations in the southern part of the country and intensive airstrikes in the Bikat Valley and southern suburbs of Beirut have really rendered entire regions uninhabitable.
So you have families who are sleeping in cars and public parks and overcrowded schools. Students are no longer going to those schools. And this comes really after 80% of our population was already living in poverty due to the 2019 financial collapse.
So savings were wiped out, the Lebanese lira has lost. 98% of its value. And Rob, let's also not forget that before all of this national emergency took place, Lebanon is and continues to be and has been for over two decades the host of the highest number of refugees per capita globally.
So, these families who had fled war already once are now experiencing displacement, and many times for a second or even a third time, and no legal protections or safety nets.
So, it's unbearable to us as humans to think about. And nearly 94% of official shelters are at full capacity, meaning you have hundreds of thousands of people with nowhere to go. And lots of informal settings like churches and unfinished buildings without adequate water or sanitation or heat are now becoming places that people are finding refuge. Wow.
Well, when we come back after this break, we're going to hear an update from the Hope Center director with Heart for Lebanon from the ground in Lebanon so you can get a better understanding of what's happening. We'll talk about what the needs are right now and how Heart for Lebanon is responding and how you can participate in this. There's an all-out crisis going on, and yet we know when crisis strikes, God invites us to be a part of his response, meeting urgent needs while pointing people to the only hope that lasts, and that's Jesus Christ. We're talking with Meili Melke from Heart for Lebanon today, and we've got much more just around the corner. Stay with us.
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Visit faithby.com slash CCC or call 800-557-1985. Yeah. Lebanon is once again facing a devastating conflict, and the impact on families is overwhelming. We're joined today by our friend Meili Melke from Heart for Lebanon with a report of what's happening, how you can be a part of helping, and we're going to shine a light on the great work that Heart for Lebanon is doing. Straight ahead, we'll tell you how you can be a part of that.
But Mei Li, I want to give us an opportunity to hear directly from someone on the ground. We're going to listen here now to a brief update from Bashir Sarkis, who serves with Heart for Lebanon as Hope Center Director in the Baka Valley. Take a listen. We thank the Lord that our team is safe. despite the challenging circumstances.
However, many families have been forced to leave their homes because of the danger. and some have found temporary shelter in schools. Could they? We visited one of these schools and distributed blankets, mattresses and food packages to all the families staying there. We pray that these initiatives Would be a practical expression of the love and hope of Christ.
As the Bible says, God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble. I would like to thank everyone who is praying for Lebanon and for Heart for Lebanon. and for all the families affected by the war. God bless you.
Well That is a powerful glimpse of what's happening right now. May Lee, as you hear that, what stands out most to you about the needs on the ground and how your team is responding? Both the urgency, Rob, and also the opportunity, the opportunity that moments like this offer divine open doors for the work of Christ and the expansion of the kingdom to be front and to be center. We have been on the ground. Our team has been there since day one of this war.
We've been able to meet immediate needs like food and distributing packages that have hygiene kits in them, mattresses, blankets, and anything that a family needs to just merely survive. But we're also doing more than meeting physical needs because we believe that, driven by the compassionate heart of Jesus Christ, we are to run towards him and in turn move these families who have been newly displaced towards an unconditional hope. And so, unconditional relief that restores dignity and points towards the only unshakable hope of the gospel is our moment today. When everything else has been stripped away, people are often more open to hearing about this hope that lasts eternally. Beyond their struggles and their suffering today.
Well, that's well said. And I know that's at the heart of your mission: meeting urgent needs while pointing people to Christ. As we see in 1 John 3, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth. By the way, folks, as you're hearing what Melee is describing, I want to go ahead and give you the place to respond. If you'd like to know more about how you can be involved in this, go right now to faithphy.com slash Lebanon.
That's faithfi.com/slash Lebanon. Mainly, help us understand what Harp for Lebanon is specifically focused on in this season. And this season, we've committed to care for 2,000 newly displaced families. That's over and above the over 5,000 families that are already within our care. These are families that need us right now.
So we're expanding, but also wanting to go deeper with these newly displaced families. It's not just a one-time response. That's why we're committed to walking with them for as long as they need. Each month, we're providing food, bedding, hygiene supplies, along with ongoing relational care. Over the last four weeks only, Rob, our team has conducted over 1,500 visits to homes and shelters where these displaced families are.
These are personal, one-on-one touches. Our team is going into some of the most war-stricken areas, and many times putting their own lives at risk. And that's because we believe these families represent opportunities for the kingdom. And we are not just to help them in the immediate, but to introduce them to the hope of Christ and the possibility. of a lasting eternal peace.
Yes.
Well, the long term commitment of what you just described really stands out to me. And I know your team is right in the middle of it. Share a bit more about their role and what they're experiencing on the ground. First of all, I just want to say they are absolutely incredible at the DNA of Heart for Lebanon. What makes us unique is that we are founded and operated by locals who endure the same crises alongside the families that we are serving.
That's why we are able to be there on the long run. We're not a pass-through, we're the direct implementers, we're the ones who are having those, holding those relationships true and near with the people that we are serving.
So we're delivering aid, and in many cases, we ourselves, our own staff members are displaced. Our team in southern Lebanon had to completely relocate to a safer area and are going into these southernmost villages and then out themselves to deliver aid and to visit families, to pray with them, to offer encouragement. It's really a powerful, tangible expression of the love of Christ in very real and practical ways, but also in tremendously personal ways where you are serving in the midst of something that you yourself are experiencing. As well. And that's the power of relationship.
That's where you really earn the trust of the families and you're able to take the gospel into their most vulnerable moments. Powerful.
Well, I'd love for our listeners to hear from Camille Melki, your father, Meili, and co-founder of Heart for Lebanon, as he shares a broader perspective on what's unfolding here. Lebanon has been dragged into an ugly war. a devastating conflict. Streets have turned into shelter for thousands of families. Businesses and homes have been destroyed.
Schools are closed. Life has come to a stop. Fear. and uncertainty surround us. Yet again, this is our opportunity.
For the church to rise to the occasion, for the church to be the church that Christ has always wanted, a loving, caring, compassionate community. One thing we are certain of, God is in control. And his love. will overcome fear. The hope in Christ the hope for eternal life.
They hope for eternal peace. will and shall prevail. Together. We will make a difference. and leading people.
Out of despair, and the hope in Christ In Christ alone. This is our opportunity. to rise to the occasion, and heart for Lebanon. has chosen to do so. Mm.
Wow.
Melee, your father described this as a moment for the church to rise, to be the hands and the feet of Jesus.
So, how is that taking shape right now, and how can our listeners help? You know, we truly believe, Rob, that the church is made for moments like this. And that's why a gift of $90 helps provide a full month of support for a newly displaced family in this crisis. That includes food, mattresses, blankets, hygiene supplies, and everything that they need to get through each day that they are displaced. But it also makes possible to deploy our relational engagement team, the relational care, and the sharing of the gospel.
It's not just about meeting physical needs, it's also about opening the door to lasting hope in Christ, and that's our ultimate goal.
So good. And that's why we have this partnership. Folks, you have an opportunity right now to make a real difference in the lives of families who have lost nearly everything. As Meylie said, a gift of $90 can help care for a displaced family, providing food, bedding, hygiene supplies, and compassionate, Christ-centered support. Simply text Faith to 98656 and you'll receive a link and a phone number to complete your gift.
Again, that's faith to 98656 or visit faithfi.com/slash Lebanon. That's faithfi.com/slash Lebanon. Melee, thank you for your work and your partnership here today. Thank you so much, Rob. We're so grateful for your partnership and for everyone who's praying and supporting this work.
Folks, you have an opportunity to respond right now at faithfi.com/slash Lebanon. Your calls are next at 800-525-7000. I'm Rob West, and this is Faith in Finance. We'll be right back. We are grateful for support from Timothy Plan.
Since 1994, Timothy Plan has shared good news with investors and advisors by offering faith-honoring mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. More information is at TimothyPlan.com. The investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses are contained in the prospectus and summary prospectus available at TimothyPlan.com. Mutual funds distributed by Timothy Partners Limited and ETFs distributed by Foreside Funds Services LLC. Investing involves risks, including possible loss of principal.
There's war in the Middle East, but the opportunity to reach people with the gospel has never been greater. Here's Daoud from Heart for Lebanon. Families are terrified, even when the ground is shaking. Our hope is in Christ. Our mission is to lead people away from despair and toward the hope of Jesus.
Bring emergency aid and the hope of the gospel to a family impacted by the war. Text the word faith to 98656 or visit faithfund.com slash Lebanon. Great to have you with us today on Faith and Finance. We're taking your phone calls now for the remainder of the program. We've got room for you.
If you have a financial question, call right now, 800-525-7000. That's 800-525-7,000. Let's dive in today. We're going to begin in New Hampshire. Mike, go ahead.
Yes, Rob, thank you for taking my call. Our church was given a gift of some money from the sale of a house, and I'm just checking to see what you would think. Of how much risk does it we had a finance planner come in to maybe put this money in some way to grow while we're waiting to use the money. And how much risk does a church take? They had proposed a moderate risk which to me seems a little aggressive, but um I'm just looking to see.
I know in personal finance, I'd be willing to go this far. It's just because it's the church's money, I feel a little more conservative. Should we just stick with putting it in C D's, which are safe? You know, I'm just looking for your opinion on that. Yeah, it's a great question here, Mike.
It's something I've dealt with numerous times in the past on various church finance committees and elder boards. But I think there's really two things that need to be established by either the finance committee or the deacons, certainly alongside the leadership of the church. And that is an investment policy. Not considering this gift, just kind of at a higher level, what is our investment policy? And then, second, what is our cash reserve policy?
Because it really starts with how much cash do we want to have on reserve, and then anything else that comes in, unless it's for a specific project, like we're, you know, socking money away because we need a new building or something, gets put back into ministry because that's why it was given to advance the ministry purposes of the church and the programming. But apart from that, we do need to have a stated reserve policy and an investment policy.
So, on the reserve side, you know, I think in addition to whatever, if you have a mortgage on the building, in addition to what the mortgage covenants would require, you want to have liquid reserves. And I would say having nothing is too little, and having more than a year is too much. And so, figuring out kind of what your policy is just based on the overall health of the church, the giving. Patterns, the age of the givers, you know, where you're located in terms of what's going on in that local area. You know, a lot of times churches will say, Yeah, we want six months' worth of expenses or we want three months, you know, whatever it is, but establish that policy so that you know what your target is.
Anytime you dip below that, you're budgeting around building that back up. And then the second piece is an investment policy that specifically states what you are willing and not willing to do with anything that comes into the church. I mean, if you were to get a major gift tomorrow, kind of like this one that you're talking about, you know, you don't have to decide what to do with it. It's already been decided in advance. With regard to that investment policy, I would align with you.
I don't think there's any reason for a church to take money that was given by a donor, a congregant, or someone from the outside for the church purposes and to put that at the risk of the market. I just, you know, I would not be in favor of that if I was on the committee. I would say we stay. In the category of what is called cash and cash equivalents.
So, this would be money market funds, what are called sweep accounts, where they sweep the money into high-yield, cash-like investments, but where it can be spread out so that there's FDIC insurance across all of it. Short-term treasuries, government money markets, maybe CDs, things like that, where there's near-daily liquidity, you've got principal stability, but you're also getting a modest return. It's not designed to beat inflation, but it is designed to be a good steward and have something coming in. But we're not putting it at risk because, again, the whole point is: if it's not for reserves, and if it is, we need it liquid. We don't want to have to sell it to use it when the market's down.
What if the market was down 30%? We wouldn't want to have to take a loss on it. And if it's not for reserves, then let's get it into ministry.
Sooner rather than later.
So I think for all of those reasons, you need to establish that reserves policy and the investment policy. And again, I would be in favor of not including anything that goes beyond cash and cash equivalents. Does that make sense?
Okay. Absolutely. Absolutely. Thank you so much. You're welcome.
An article you can reference, just do an internet search for it. It's called Church Cash Reserves: How Much is Enough. And it's by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, ECFA. And I think that may give you a little bit of a starting point if you were to raise this among the church leaders just to say, hey, can we talk about what our policy is here for church cash reserves? It doesn't address the investment policy, but it does address that first part.
I hope that's helpful, Mike. We appreciate your call today, sir. God bless you.
Let's round out the broadcast today in Chicago. Christine, how can we serve you? Thank you for taking my call, and I appreciate your program. My question is, I'm sixty four years old, and I have a significant amount of money in IRA C D's, and I was considering taking the money out little by little every year. They have more liquid Yes, that's.
And I understand that when I take the money out, that that goes towards my annual income. What I wanted to know was, is there another way to withdraw the money to lessen the taxes that I have to pay? Yeah, there really isn't, Christine. I mean, let me give you a few thoughts, but overall, apart from giving it away charitably, it's going to be recognized as income as it comes out.
Now, you could be strategic about when you pull it out.
So, if in one particular year you had more income than another year, you might try to wait and take it as you turn the clock into a new calendar year if you had the ability to defer when you recognize it because you pay tax on it in the year it comes out.
So, you could be a little more thoughtful about when you take it out. And if you have the flexibility to make sure that you get it into that tax year where your income is as low as possible, so that you're not pushing any portion of it up into a higher tax bracket. The other approach would be once you're seventy and a half, And I realize you're not there yet, but that's going to be another opportunity for you because through the qualified charitable distribution, if you're doing any charitable giving out of your cash or your checking account or savings account, like most of us.
So, when we write a check to our church or something like that, you know, we typically write a check or, you know, put our debit card in and make a gift.
Well, what if you did the same giving you were already planning to do out of your cash after tax dollars, but instead you sent it from your IRA?
Well, if it went from your IRA directly to your church or charity, now it's not added to your taxable income.
So you're, in a sense, replacing the money that you were already going to give with after-tax dollars, and you're giving the same amount from your IRA, except now it's coming out without you having to pay any tax on it. Again, you can't do that until you're 70 and a half, but when that time comes, that would be a great way for you to get money out. Without it increasing your tax liability. Does that make sense?
It does. Thank you for answering my question. I appreciate your help. You're very welcome. Thank you so much.
God bless you.
We appreciate you being on the program today. Thanks to my team today: Pat, Jim, Taylor, and Devin. Couldn't do it without them. We'll see you next time. God bless you.
Bye-bye. Faith in Finance is provided by Faith Buy and listeners like you. Yeah.
