Syria

I'm here to learn more about the challenges confronted by Syrian refugees, and the organizations working to help them.

Everyone's asking whether the U.S. should back the Syrian rebels. But who's asking about the fate of Syria's Christians?

The U.S. was not given any warning before air strikes in Syria against what Western and Israeli officials say were weapons headed for Hezbollah militants.

About 30 kilometers outside Syria's western border, the Lebanon town of Zahle is full of refugees. Many make it across the Syria-Lebanon border and not much farther.

Two leaders of the Christian community in Aleppo, Syria, who were kidnapped by gunmen on Monday are still missing despite conflicting reports.

More than 1.3 million Syrians have fled the war-torn country, according to the latest figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Last month marked the deadliest month in Syria since protests against President Bashar al-Assad's regime began two years ago.

The World Evangelical Alliance's human rights ambassador has warned that Christians are being "chased from their homes" in Syria.

Islamic rebels have been taking over Christian villages in Syria, leaving Christians facing some tough choices.

The number of Syrians who have fled their war-torn country has now topped the 1 million mark.

Armenian authorities are trying to find ways to speed the exit from Syria and make the adjustment to life there easier.

In a poor gypsy neighborhood of Istanbul, a Syrian Orthodox refugee from Syria says he worked as a dentist in Aleppo as long as he could after fighting broke out in 2011; he finally fled when lack of food, electricity, water, and constant fear of sniper-fire and kidnapping of Christians made life too dangerous.

The recent horrors of finding yet another mass grave in an Aleppo canal are part of what's driving more people toward Syria's borders.

Egypt's Christians were worried about their safety as they marked the first orthodox Christmas under Islamist rule. Some complained their lives have gone from bad to worse in the nearly two years since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak. They are not alone.

As the civil war in Syria nears its two-year anniversary, the United Nations estimates that more than 60,000 people have been killed, with monthly casualty figures steadily increasing.

Syrian rebels beheaded a Christian man and fed his body to dogs, according to a nun who says the West is ignoring atrocities committed by Islamic extremists.

It's a new year, but some things remain the same. Take Islamists for example. In Nigeria, Islamic extremists slaughtered 15 Christians. In Syria, members of the rebel group supported by the U.S. have murdered a Christian pastor, his wife and three children

"We are not celebrating Christmas like before," says a church leader from the northern Syrian city of Aleppo. "We will have services in church and invite church people to come and bring their friends. The focus will be on children more than anyone else because they need to feel some joy."

I am thankful for the lessons I have learned from persecuted Christians, especially on their observance of Christmas. They return to the true heart of the Christmas message: God sending his Son into the world to be born, die for our sins and return to His heavenly home. No Christmas trees, mall visits, substituting "holiday" for "Christmas."

The U.S. is now officially standing with the coalition of fighters opposing Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's regime. Syrian Christians, who fear for their future should Assad be defeated, say the growing presence of foreign Islamic fighters in the country and many Islamist brigades within the opposition Free Syrian Army are of particular concern.