East to East: Why one Singaporean family chose to serve in the Middle East

Hunter Williamson

October 6, 2025

When Hanley and Janice first decided to serve in the mission field, they looked for somewhere close to their home in Singapore. 

But when nothing opened up, they found themselves looking further abroad, to a region they knew little about — the Middle East.  

With its sizable Christian community, thriving economy, and a reputation for being an “Antioch of Asia,” many Singaporean churches are deeply involved in international missions. While most Singaporeans serve in countries that are closer both geographically and culturally — such as Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia — Thimar partners have noted a growing interest in the Middle East.  

“While this region is still largely unfamiliar to most churches, I think the turmoil, the war that is still raging on now, the suffering and all, have spotlighted the Middle East like never before,” said Christy, a Thimar-partner extensively involved in raising awareness for Middle East missions in Singapore.   

Whether that growing interest has translated into more Singaporeans coming to the Middle East is not entirely clear, but it reflects a wider shift in relations in international missions. Over the past several years, Middle East churches and faith-based-organizations like Thimar have developed and expanded relations with churches and organizations in southeast and East Asia. It also comes alongside an evolution in the idea of what missions look like.   

“Over maybe the last decade or so, I would say that there is an increased awareness, or broadening of the definition of missions, to be more integral and holistic,” Christy said. That means that missions can encompass many more occupations and skillsets than people once thought, and that ministry extends beyond just work and into all aspects of life and society.  

That has most certainly been true for Hanley and Janice, both of whom have backgrounds in healthcare. Hanley is a medical doctor, while Janice is a pediatric occupational therapist.  

“We do believe that the Lord, from long ago, really directed us to acquire vocational skills in our fields,” Hanley said. “We knew that we would be involved in serving cross-culturally at some point in our lives, although we didn’t know exactly where or when.”  

The couple’s journey to the Middle East started with a prayer meeting that Janice attended in Singapore. While there, she heard about the Middle East and became interested in the idea of serving in the mission field in the region. Hanley, however, preferred to remain closer to Singapore to be able to care for his mother if needed.  

But when no doors for missions closer to Singapore opened for them, they started to wonder if God wanted them to go elsewhere.  

Around that time, they got connected with Thimar and started to learn about Lebanon — a small, multilingual country in the Middle East.  

In 2022, they flew to Lebanon for a visit. It didn’t take long for them to fall in love with the country, even despite the dire political and economic issues it was facing.  

“We could see how there was potential to be part of the kingdom work that is going on in this country,” Hanley said. 

The couple returned home, confident that Lebanon was where they were supposed to be. Six months later, they arrived in Beirut with their five-year-old son.   

They didn’t expect what came next. 

Caught in War 

Hanley and Janice used their occupational skills to serve with Thimar’s ministries. Hanley joined Middle East Revive and Thrive (MERATH), where he helps with health-related projects, while Janice works with SKILD to train churches to be inclusive of people with special needs.  

Like anyone moving to a different country, the couple had to adapt to a new culture and language. They enrolled in Arabic courses and found a local church where they began to serve.  

“There were always a lot of things that were going on, but I think God was very gracious and really provided for us along the way,” Hanley said.  

The family was still settling in when conflict abruptly broke out between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon in October 2023.  

“We were so new into the field,” said Hanley. “We didn’t know how to plan for that.”  

With concerns that Israel might bomb Lebanon’s only airport, the family decided to return to Singapore while it was still possible.  

When the family later returned to Lebanon, conflict was still raging, particularly in southern Lebanon. But Hanley and Janice felt more prepared and received assurance from God that He would take care of them.  

For a while, the conflict in Lebanon remained relatively far from Thimar’s offices, confined mostly to the country’s south and eastern Beqaa Valley. But in September 2024, bombs began to fall on Beirut as the fighting escalated into a full-scale war.  

From their home in hills overlooking Beirut, the family could hear the frequent airstrikes, along with the sound of surveillance drones. It became difficult to focus on work, “but at the same time, we experienced God’s divine peace,” Hanley said.   

Despite the violence and bloodshed, Hanley and Janice wanted to remain in Lebanon, to serve in whatever capacity they could. But after a few weeks, their missions organization asked them to leave the country. With heavy hearts, the family boarded a flight to the nearby country of Jordan.  

As the plane ascended into the air, Hanley looked out the window at Lebanon’s landscape.   

“I remember thinking that I already missed it,” he said. 

Reflections on war and missions 

While leaving Lebanon was not easy, Hanley also recognized the importance of taking care of his family.  

In a miraculous sort of way, Hanley and Janice managed to shield their son from what was happening, but Hanley isn’t sure that they could have done so much longer. In the same vein, he had to consider his entire family’s mental health.  

“It’s tricky, because part of being here is to understand the lives of the Lebanese, to identify with them in some way so that we can better minister with them and better be involved in the ministry that is here,” Hanley said. “But if I got PTSD because of being subject to too much mental stress, how am I going to be effective for ministry in the long haul? Or if my wife or son developed similar issues, that would affect our long-term effectiveness.”   

With plans to serve for many years in Lebanon, Hanley and Janice needed to consider the big picture.  

“We are doing a long run,” Hanley said. “We’re not doing a sprint.” 

Serving in post-war Lebanon 

In late November 2024, a ceasefire went into effect. A few weeks later, Hanley and Janice returned to Lebanon with their son, arriving just in time to celebrate Christmas with their friends and church.  

“It felt like we were coming home,” Hanley said.  

Nearly a year on, Hanley and Janice continue to use their vocational skills to serve with MERATH and SKILD, respectively. Hanley is helping to manage medical clinic projects under Thimar’s partners, and is looking to start community-based health programs. Janice is conducting workshops for church leaders and their congregations on the theology of disability, and how to include people with special needs in their church communities. Their presence is encouraging more Singaporeans to serve in Lebanon alongside Thimar.  

One such example occurred in April when a Singaporean medical team came and supported two local churches in Lebanon’s north and Chouf regions with mobile clinics. Over the course of a few days, the team and churches provided medical care to around 400 patients dealing with health issues ranging from coughs and colds to malnutrition and anemia.   

Through such projects, Hanley sees an opportunity for ministry.  

“It’s part of the concept of integral or holistic mission, where on one hand, there is the Great Commission to go and make disciples of Christ, and then on the other hand, there is the Greatest Commandment, which is to love the Lord your God and to love your neighbor,” he said. “I always believe that these are two sides of the same coin.”  

Reflecting on his family’s experiences in the Middle East, Hanley described a sort of reframing in the way that he looks at missions.   

“We always thought that we wanted to come to a place in order to serve the Lord,” he said. “But looking back on these last two years, it’s really more like, God is at work in this region… and He has actually invited us to come and see the work that He is doing, and then from there, to see how we can work alongside what He is already doing.”