To Lebanon and Back Again

Kelsea Hunt

Mar 3

5 min read

It was about a year ago that I began learning how to plan a DTS. Together with my co-leader Chris, we started praying and shaping the vision for what the 2025/26 Kingdom DTS would become. I had some idea of what to expect, having been involved in at least four other schools, but I knew stepping into the role of school leader would stretch me and invite growth.

I felt both nervous and excited about the possibilities.

God led us as we chose lecture topics, built a speaker list, selected outreach locations, and interviewed potential students. Then in September 2025, fourteen new faces arrived. Along with Chris, four other staff, and myself, we stepped into the school expectant to see how God would move.

And He did.

Lecture phase was marked by both beautiful and challenging conversations. We wrestled with God’s character and the tension between theology and the lived practice of loving our enemies. We spent hours listening to one another, processing what the Lord was inviting us to release and what He was calling us to step into.

For me personally, it meant pushing myself to teach and learning to trust that God could speak even through my muddled words. Simaltaenously lecture phase was my comfort zone --- a process I was familiar with and knew well — and at the same time, I often felt like I had no idea what I was doing in this new role of school leader.

And when our original outreach plans fell through, we pivoted and brought the entire team to Bourj Hammoud, a neighbourhood in northeast Beirut, Lebanon.

If lecture phase was full of lessons, outreach felt like earning a whole degree.

For me, outreach was about softening.

Softening my grip on needing to understand everything all the time.Softening my expectations of others — and of myself.Softening my rigid ideas of what is absolutely okay and absolutely not okay.Softening my heart to grow in deeper compassion, and from that place, learning to lead through service.

I was not a perfect leader. And as I let go of the expectation that I had to be one, I found a new confidence in simply showing up — imperfectly. I learned to apologise when I made mistakes. I became less stressed (which, in turn, made me kinder and generally more fun to be around!). And I hope it gave those I was leading permission to show up imperfectly too.

The group I arrived in Lebanon with was not the same group I left with. Our hearts had been broken open with love for this nation and its people — both those originally from the land and those who have sought refuge and built their lives there.

I could tell you about the different ministries we were part of. They were meaningful, and I was so proud of my team as they served wholeheartedly. But as I was reflecting with someone today, I realised the true gift of this outreach is not just what we did — it’s who shaped us.

The real gift is being able to speak with deep love about the people who met us and moulded us more into Christ’s image. It’s taking what may have always been just a place on a map and turning it into people to love for those of you who may never have the opportunity to visit yourselves.

So, allow me to give you just a glimpse of the wonderful friends we've made.

There's Ramy and Roula, along with their kids Jonathon and Deborah, who run Al Shabiba Risala. I met them on my own DTS seven years ago! And to see their ministry grow to what it is today is truly such a gift. To see the dedication they have to their work and the people they serve was to see their hearts for what God has called them too, to be Peacemakers.

There's Walter, Joyce, Gilbert, Bekah, MT and George. All staff and volunteers at the ASR centre whom I could write entire paragraphs about. They were (mostly) strangers who became fast friends who actually became family. The tears that were shed when we had to leave them! They made space for the sixteen of us without any hesitation and together we served their community, played games, shed tears and laughed, shared crepes as we talked about who God is and what His Love looks like. They have marked my heart in a way that'll never be washed away.

There's Jad and Milo, Souline and Leah, Toni and Tarek and Nour and Michel, Elie, Omar, Bilal and all of the other players and coaches we met through Shabeb Play for Peace, a football program that gives everyone from under the age of 8 all the way up to grown adults a place to play football, learn teamwork, and enter community.

There's Abouna Yohanna and his family, Mario and Elie, Mirelle and the rest of the congregation of a local church that adopted us and showed us true Lebanese hospitality! Somewhere between Sunday coffees after Mass and dancing on bus rides to see the sights of Lebanon we all became the best of friends. People we will never forget!

There are also those who's names I never caught or can't pronounce. The people that run the veg stand who invited us to sit and have tea. The man selling fruit who'd always give us free fresh made orange juice. The men at the juice cafe who helped rescue my keys from the sewer. The elderly woman who'd wave at us every Sunday on our way to church. The couple who ran the wee market and the barber who always had a smile for us.

The women who came to Zumba and to have a place of community together every week.

The kids who came to play games and giggle with the crazy foreigners.

The teens who came to improve their English.

The ones who would stop by the centre all hours of the day to play games and hang out even though we didn't share a language.

The ones who loved us so fiercely, so wholeheartedly and openly and unreservedly.

This is who Lebanon is. Beautiful people with beautiful hearts.

I am so thankful for my staff team who helped me support and lead this school, and especially thankful to Chris for guiding me each step of the way.

I am beyond proud of the students and the way they allowed God to meet and shape them and am privileged to have been witness to this part of their journeys.

And I give all glory to God who is our foundation, our shelter in the storm, the light to guide our feet, and the Love that brings us all Home.

Thank you all for your continued interest and support in the work I'm involved in here, it wouldn't be possible without you!

Blessings,

Kelsea