Middle East (MNN) — ISIS targeted more Muslim-populated areas
in Syria on Sunday. According to reports, the attacks left at least 140
dead in Damascus and Homs. These attacks were the deadliest of Syria’s
5-year war.
(Photo courtesy of Vision Beyond Borders via Facebook)
Citing a monitoring group, the BBC reporting
a double car bombing in Homs. Later in Damascus, four or more blasts
killed and injured people, according to Syrian state media.
Both attacks were targeting minority groups. In Damascus, the
explosions took place in Sayyida Zeinab, the location of the holiest
Shia Muslim shrine.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
“It is dangerous, but we’re hearing kind of one side of the story, a
lot of times through the news media,” explains Dyann Romeijn with Vision Beyond Borders (VBB).
“Not to discount the things [ISIS is] doing to the Christians, but at
the same time, there’s this knowledge among Muslims because the Muslims
are also being persecuted. Certain Muslim groups that [ISIS doesn’t]
perceive as radical enough are being persecuted.”
Sunday’s attacks took place during ceasefire talks. This is the
second time attacks have happened in the last several weeks during the
process of ceasefire discussions. The first time, the talks were
delayed. But now, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said a
“provisional agreement” has been reached with Russia, according to the
BBC.
There is both joy for the agreement and grief for a devastating loss in the war-torn nation.
Millions of minorities and Syrians have fled their home countries
from the terror of ISIS, leaving everything behind, including family
members. In Lebanon alone, nearly one in every five people is a refugee.
Romeijn explains this crisis is different than most others. “One of
the things that’s overwhelming that we are seeing in this crisis more
than some of even the others is that the majority of these families were
actually middle class families before ISIS came in.”
The people had secure homes and jobs, but the persecution of ISIS drove them away and cost them everything.
A VBB worker relayed the story of one man who’d saved up $50,000 for
retirement. But, ISIS took it all away and left him with nothing.
(Photo courtesy of Vision Beyond Borders)
Yet despite the grief, Romeijn says God is moving. The people are
being pushed into areas that are safer from violence and safer to share
the Gospel. Because less radical Muslims are being persecuted and
fleeing, they are also witnessing the love of God.
“The Muslims are seeing the truth of Islam. They’re having their eyes
opened, and there’s a turning to the Gospel in great numbers. The
Christians are the ones who are reaching out to people. They’re the ones
who are there to help.”
A revival is taking place as Muslims turn to Christ, and VBB wants to seize the moment that God has given.
VBB has printed 20,000 Arabic New Testament Bibles and is giving them
to refugees. The Bibles have study notes in order to make it easier for
Muslims to understand.
Romeijn explains a New Testament is currently more beneficial to the
people than an entire Bible because they will likely start at the very
beginning of the book. A New Testament will immediately tell the Gospel
story, whereas an entire Bible will contain rules Muslims might get
caught up in.
But VBB knows they have more to do. “If you just tell [Muslim
refugees] that Jesus loves them and hand them a Bible when they’re
starving, they can’t even comprehend. But, we need to meet their
physical needs as well.”
VBB is meeting physical needs by providing food, clothing, hygiene
kits, and more. When they see genuine interest and care, Muslims want to
hear about the Gospel. They’re accepting the Bibles graciously, and
Romeijn says more than 1,000 have already been handed out by VBB.
(Photo courtesy of Vision Beyond Borders via Facebook)
Refugees could also use your prayers. After all, only God can bring peace.
“There are over 6 million that have fled. It’s obviously not
something that one person is going to meet the needs for or one
organization. It’s got to be the Body of Christ.”
If you’d like to provide Arabic New Testament Bibles to be distributed by VBB, click here.
Source: Mission Network
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