Sharing the Gospel in Syria: How TWR Brings Hope to the Syrian People

Of the 23.5 million people living in Syria, only 0.2% know Jesus personally. TWR is meeting them with the hope of the gospel, sharing the love of Jesus through the Hope for Syria program.

“Although my name indicates peace, I’m far away from feeling any peace now,” said Salam. “The latest events here in Syria left me shaken. I am not sure what to do with my life.” 

Salam’s husband was recruited into the army, leaving her alone to look after their child on her own.  

One day when she felt lonely, she came across TWR’s Hope for Syria Facebook page. “When I scrolled, I found a post asking us to listen to a certain program, so I did,” she shared. “It was about loneliness and sorrow, and I cried as I listened.” 

Salam began to understand that God was with her.  

“How strange,” she reflected, “that a feeling of safety, as if I wasn’t alone, seeped into my soul.”  

Since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, the toll of war has left many people, like Salam, desperate for hope.  

As of March 2025, 3.4 million people were displaced in Syria’s northwest region due to war and its effects, according to the UNHCR, the U.N.’s refugee agency. 

At the time of writing, Syria is governed by a transitional government that came to power after the fall of the Assad regime in 2024, yet the country remains divided among various armed groups. 

Today, Syrians continue to grapple with poverty, economic collapse and the lasting physical impact of war. Families endure the strain of severe economic conditions, while necessities like food and medical care remain scarce. Many feel a sense of hopelessness. 

What Is TWR’s Response to Years of War in Syria?  

TWR’s response is to faithfully share the hope of Jesus with Syrians through media.  

Since the first broadcast went out in 1954, TWR has been using media to share Jesus’ story with people in diverse environments. For those living in dangerous circumstances, media can put the gospel directly into their hands, reaching beyond the barrier of war. 

TWR’s Hope for Syria program uses a multiplatform approach to deliver word of the true hope that Jesus offers. Beyond traditional radio, it uses reels, videos and other digital-content formats to connect with a diverse audience. A key strength of the program is its adaptable nature: The topics as well as the media formats evolve with the changing situation within the country and the needs of listeners. 

Audience responses guide the Hope for Syria team in understanding the most pressing spiritual needs to address in future episodes. 

Popular topics have included “Finding Joy,” “Loving One Another,” “Forgiveness Is a Choice,” “Anger,” “Economic Crisis and the Rising Need,” “Work Pressure” and “The Ten Commandments.”   

Hope for Syria creatively weaves biblical teaching together with practical advice so that listeners can easily apply what they’ve learned to their daily lives. 

The program has also faced opposition, as some listeners voice their struggles and doubts about how a loving God fits into their suffering. In response, the Hope for Syria team offers grace, gently guiding them closer to Jesus. 

Over the years, Syrians have experienced insurgencies, regional rivalries and humanitarian crises. Through programs like Hope for Syria, TWR continues to bring eternal hope to Syrians living in the shadows of war. 

One listener shared, “I know that my family and I might be hungry for [physical] food, but I’ve discovered that we are even more hungry for heavenly food.”