Names of the Levant homeland proper with the northwest coastal region of the Levant, centered at Phoenician cities such as Ugarit, Tyre, Sidon, and Byblos. Today, this place is usually equated with modern Lebanon and the coast of modern Syria. Also there is a modern town in Turkey called "Finike" which is thought to have derived by the Lycians who traded with Phoenicians in ancient times. Israel: Judea: The kingdoms of Israel and Judah were Iron Age Semitic nations spanning from Edom to Assyria. Today the modern State of Israel controls much of the former territory of the ancient Israelite/Judean kingdoms. According to the
National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon There has been a steady growth in new members in recent years. The church supports and runs over 20 schools and kindergartens. In 2004 it had 8,000 members and about 60 congregations. The Evangelical Synod in the Middle East is a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, the World Council of Churches and the Middle East Council of Churches. The president of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon is Reverend Doctor Salim Sahyouni and the vice-president is Reverend Samuel Hanna. Reverend Mgrditch Karageuzian is the Synod's Secretary General. National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon The