From Death To Life
In a short while, I will be on my way to a refugee camp named Grand Hotel. There’s nothing grand about it, other than its name. All of the residents of this camp are here by choice – sort of. They have fled conflict, persecution, poverty, and chaos in their home countries to seek asylum and freedom in our European country. While a ‘walled’ refugee camp would not be their ideal choice for housing, it does provide some amount of security and care. Unless they are wealthy, living in a refugee camp is their only option for survival since their status does not legally allow a refugee to work for income in this country.
Today I am picking up a refugee to participate in our weekly Bible study. David*, in his mid-20s, is a fairly new arrival, and a faithful participant in Bible study. Every Thursday afternoon, he is standing by the road outside the camp, looking for my car and eager to go. But attending Bible study hasn’t always been so easy for David. He risked his life to be in this country – and nearly lost his life after he arrived. He was raised as a Muslim, in a Muslim family, living in a Muslim country. He was forced to flee his country after being persecuted for a ‘crime’…. knowing Jesus!
David learned about Jesus after accepting a friend’s invitation to participate in an underground Bible study in his hometown. His consequent decision to follow Jesus was not an easy one. He was aware that openly expressing his newfound faith was a punishable offense in this country, and being ‘found out’ would also put him at great risk.
It wasn’t long before David’s parents discovered his secret, but the Guidance Patrol or ‘religious police’ also found out about David’s faith in Jesus and began to search for him. In order to protect his family and save his own life, David fled his country to seek security and asylum elsewhere. That long and risky journey eventually led him to Europe and this refugee camp.
But that wasn’t the end of the story. David’s parents were continually questioned by religious authorities wanting to know David’s whereabouts. His father was arrested, tortured, beaten, and eventually killed because he would not reveal information about his son. News of his father’s death was too much for David. His new-found freedom was haunted by the fact that his father gave up his own life to protect his son. Overcome with guilt, David attempted to take his own life by jumping from a 3 story building outside of the refugee camp.
God spared David’s life, but he sustained multiple injuries from the fall, resulting in a lengthy stay in a local hospital. Finally able to stand without crutches, David told his story and shared his testimony a couple of weeks ago. He shared that God gave him special nurses in that hospital, who were sensitive to his story and took very good care of him.
David has a very positive outlook right now. He is in therapy and taking several medications. He continues to work through the lengthy process of seeking legal asylum in his new country while dealing with painful memories of his family and life in his home country. On a very positive note, David recently got married – ONLINE – and is hoping his new wife can join him soon in Europe. And he is always out on the street waiting to be picked up for Bible study every Thursday.
God is providing many opportunities for ministry to the millions of refugees like David, who have fled their countries in search of freedom. But in David’s case – it was his freedom that caused him to flee his country. Freedom in Jesus Christ was the beginning of David’s journey – a journey from death to life.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
John 5:24 ESV
*Name changed for security
B and A serve with GlobalGrace in Europe