Syria (MNN) — While the conflict in Syria intensifies, it seems
as if Americans — specifically Christians — are only becoming more
apathetic.
(Photo courtesy of E3P)
According to a https://www.worldvision.org/press-release/survey-while- aleppo-and-mosul-burn-american-christians-less-likely-pray-h elp-refugees - survey by World Vision ,
38 percent of those who described themselves as committed Christians
had taken action for refugees in the past two years — a six percent drop
from 2015. In 2015, 40 percent of Christians said they prayed for
refugees, while only 19 percent of Christians said they did in 2016.
“The news nightly just pounds away with pictures and videos and new
statistics and this many killed, and this many wounded, and after a
while it really has an adverse effect on people to where they almost
just tune it out,” says Tom Doyle, Vice President of church and ministry
partnerships for https://www.mnnonline.org/mission_groups/e3-partne rs/ - e3 Partners and author of https://www.amazon.com/Killing-Christians-Living-Faith- Believe/dp/0718030680 - Killing Christians .
Fear is another reason why Christians’ willingness to support refugees has dwindled. According to a http://lifewayresearch.com/2016/02/29/churches-twice-as-like ly-to-fear-refugees-than-to-help-them/ - survey from February by LifeWay Research ,
56 percent of Baptist pastors and 50 percent of Pentecostal pastors say
their congregations fear refugees coming to the U.S. Doyle says while
many Americans’ fears of letting refugees into the country are valid,
Christians are called to look past them.
“We have to look at, ‘What is the role of the Church?’ and God has
called us to the nations to preach the Gospel, and the nations are
coming to us,” Doyle says. “The 10/40 window is now just outside our window. And so we have a great opportunity.
That’s one of the reasons we’ve tried to tell the stories. I think
people need to hear stories, not so much statistics. Statistics are just
data. They kind of fly by us, but stories can touch the heart.
“I think the refugees are almost like the lepers of the New
Testament. Nobody wants them…. There have been some bad things, so part
of the fears are founded in truth. I think it’s easy for us to just
label Syrian refugees, ‘Oh, they could be bad news, we have to be
careful because of their desperation.’ Many of them are just looking for
a way to live without being in extreme danger. They want to raise their
kids, they want to send them to a good school, they want to feed them
good food.”
(Photo courtesy of E3P)
Doyle explains just how impactful refugees could be for Christ if
they are just given a chance. He tells the story of one man and his
family who is moving from Syria to Texas. He was tortured both by the
Islamic State and Syrian government before escaping and making his way
to Jordan. There, he was embraced by a group of Christians, who led him
to Christ. Now, he and his family are passionate believers.
“He is on fire for Jesus,” Doyle says. ”He has seen the worst of
humanity, but then he has seen who Jesus is through the lives of
believers.
“Can you imagine if there was a movement among Syrian refugees, and
they became a great missionary force in the next several years? That
could happen, because they have nothing, and as they come to faith in
Christ and they experience his love, they want to tell others.”
E3 Partners is working in numerous communities throughout the Middle
East, Europe and the U.S., providing food and clothing and hosting
sports camps. You can make a difference too, whether its http://e3partners.org/donate/ - donating or http://e3partners.org/missions/upcoming-missions/ - taking a missions trip with e3 Partners.
Remember also to pray for hope for refugees as well as for an end to the violence.
Source: http://www.mnnonline.org/ -