Syria & The Church
Syria
and the Church
In recent days, the Syrian refugee crisis has caught the
attention and heart of the western world. Although the widespread conflict has
been going on for over four years, social media has circulated tragic photos,
staggering statistics, and raised our awareness of the overwhelming needs .
Fast
Facts
12.2 million – People affected and in need in Syria
5.6 million – Children affected by the crisis in Syria
7.6 million – Internally displaced persons in Syria
4 million – Syrians displaced to neighboring countries
So what is the role of the Church?
Pray
Powerfully
The most important and impactful act we can do as a
follower of Christ is PRAY. The Syrian conflict has displaced over 7 million
people within the country and over 4 million in neighboring countries. Many
refugees are desperately trying to get to Europe, and some have tragically lost
their lives on the way.
- Pray for Syrian families who have been uprooted
from their homes, displaced in their own country, or fleeing to neighboring
countries for refuge.
- Whether in refugee camps or staying in other host
communities within Syria, we can pray for much-needed food, sanitation, healthcare,
and education for the millions of uprooted families.
- Pray for believers (both Syrians and aid workers)
to be strengthened, encouraged, and to remain faithful in spite of their harsh
realities and circumstances. Pray for many opportunities to share Hope with the
large number of people who do not know Jesus’ love.
- Pray for the surrounding countries. There are many
political, economic, and social ramifications of this long-time conflict. Pray
for wisdom in leadership, compassion, and creative solutions.
- Pray for the countries opening their borders to
refugees. These families will need housing, jobs, transportation and education.
Pray that God would bless these economies and provide for these needs.
Think
Critically
When tragedy and war strike, our hearts are engaged and
touched, but now is the time we also need to engage our minds and talents to
think critically and creatively about how to best help. It make seem that
encouraging communities to open their homes for refugees could solve the crisis.
However, when we look deeper, we recognize the overwhelming needs of
healthcare, education, housing and employment. At times like these, God can use
city planners, business entrepreneurs, engineers, educators and social workers to
help determine long-term plans and solutions. How has God uniquely wired and
gifted you? How might God be calling you to help solve some of the big issues?
Give
Generously
As a Church, we want to live a lifestyle of service and
generosity and give wisely. Agencies like World Vision (www.worldvision.org) and
World Relief (www.worldrelief.org) have
been working on the ground with Syrian refugees for a number of years. We also recommend using www.charitynavigator.org to search
through financially responsible charities.
Helpful Links
- Prayer Points: http://www.worldvision.org/news-stories-videos/syria-refugees-prayer
- Syria History: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14703995
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