Our Story
Challenge International Ministries was born from a journey of faith, compassion, and a deep love for the people of Lebanon.
In 1994, after approximately 20 years away from his homeland, Elie Ziady returned to Lebanon. As he walked through the country of his childhood, memories that had never faded came flooding back — memories of bombs, missiles, rockets, kidnappings, displacement, instability, and poverty. As a teen, at just 14 years old, Elie and his family had left Lebanon in search of safety and stability, carrying with them the hope of a better future.
Leaving home was not easy. Elie left behind his childhood home, relatives, school, friends, and the familiar life he loved. Boarding an airplane for the first time and traveling to the United States, he entered an unfamiliar world. Yet one thing remained with him wherever he went: the seed of faith planted in his heart.
Around that same season in 1995, while driving alone on a highway, Elie remembered a Bible verse he had memorized years earlier in the chapel of his small school in Lebanon:
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
As he reflected on these words and on the One who stood at the door, Elie opened his heart and surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. From that day forward, the Lord became his Father, Savior, and closest friend. A new passion grew within him — to serve Christ by helping others come to know Him.
Before this life-changing conversion in 1995, Elie had been deeply discouraged and depressed with life in Nashville, Tennessee. He felt restless, overwhelmed, and desperate for change. At times, he wanted to move his family to another state — or perhaps even another country — hoping that a new place might bring relief from the heaviness he was carrying. In many ways, he later realized he had been trying to run away from himself.
After his encounter with Jesus, everything began to change. The despair that had once weighed heavily on him was replaced by peace, hope, and purpose. Yet instead of wanting to run away, Elie found himself afraid to leave the familiar environment he had known. In prayer, however, he sensed the hand of God freeing him from fear and leading him with a new understanding: “Now that I am with you, you may go anywhere you want with your family, and I will bless you.”
Elie’s love for his homeland had always remained strong. For that reason, he had long desired to return to the old country. But God had a different plan. He began to understand that the Lord was not simply sending him back to Lebanon for himself, but for a greater purpose — to serve God and others. In his heart, Elie sensed the Lord saying, “You can go home now, but not to serve yourself — to serve Me.” That calling became one of the reasons Challenge International Ministries came to be.
When Elie and his wife, Lika, returned to Lebanon in 1995, they encountered people who were hungry not only for food and basic necessities, but also for hope and the message of Jesus Christ. They witnessed families struggling under difficult economic, social, and security conditions, while many longed to know more about God’s love.
This experience became the foundation of Challenge International Ministries.
Inspired by Matthew 5:16 — “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” — and by 1John 3:16–18, which calls believers to demonstrate Christlike love through sacrifice, compassion, action, and truth, their vision was to share Christ’s love in practical ways while helping people develop a personal relationship with God throughout Lebanon and the MENA region.
Since 2019, Challenge International Ministries has served hundreds of vulnerable families and individuals by demonstrating Christ’s love through both compassionate care and the proclamation of the Gospel.
Hundreds of Bibles and Christian publications have been distributed to families, individuals, and prisoners throughout Lebanon. Alongside spiritual support, the ministry has provided food assistance, medicines, and other essential daily necessities, seeking to meet both physical and spiritual needs with the love of Christ.