Journey To Life

• A 90-year-old woman who has a broken ankle after making it all the way across Turkey.

• A soaking wet father holding his infant daughter, asking nothing for himself, only hoping for some dry and warm socks for his baby girl's bare feet.

• A 15-year-old boy who was sent away by his family so that he would not be forced by the Syrian army to be a boy-soldier, and forced to commit atrocities against the young men and women he has grown up with.

• A pregnant Yazidi woman with her sons and daughters, from the infamous Sinjar Mountain where young men were beheaded and young women were raped and tortured before a brutal death at the hands of ISIS.

These are some of the many refugees who arrive daily on the shores of Lesvos Greece -- EACH ONE – A LIFE -- desperate, afraid, grieving, helpless, hopeful.

Forced to flee their homes and their homeland because of war and persecution they trusted life jackets, floaties, and inner-tubes to preserve their lives during the dangerous water journey from Turkey.

But these refugees are involved in another battle, not so much political, economic, or militaristic as it is first and foremost spiritual. There is a war going on for the souls of each of these lives whom Jesus died to save. From this humanitarian disaster comes the greatest opportunity to impact the Muslim world for Christ that the Church has ever known. More Muslims have turned to Christ in the last 15 years than at any time in history.

Deeply moved by Christians’ genuine love and care for refugees in the camp, one aged Muslim man told our interpreter in front of a handful of other younger Muslim men, "You see all these infidels who are serving us in this camp?  The soles of their shoes are worth a million of our Muslims." 

God is softening the hearts of uprooted people who have risked everything to find hope out of incredible tragedy and loss. Their stories present an overwhelming need and incredible opportunity for which I am more convinced than ever that we must respond to from a Kingdom perspective above all else.

I BELIEVE

They were afraid for their lives as they revealed to us the Bibles that people had somehow given them while they were in Turkey, being smuggled to Europe. As they read the word of God for themselves, they knew that Islam did not have the answers they needed for eternal life. This precious Kingdom moment is one I will never forget. While explaining the gospel through an interpreter, heads nodding in agreement, one of the men exclaimed,

"I Believe...God sent Jesus....He died....on Cross...He is Alive...FOR ME!"

It is hard to put such a joyous occasion into words, but their difficult road ahead became all the more real as we led them secretly to the bus, avoiding detection by the checkpoints at the other end of the camp. A man pulled me aside to whisper in my ear that he has a Bible, and is only able to say, "secret! secret!". That takes what we believe and why we believe it to a whole new level of real. 

Pray for David, Darius, Joseph, and Sinai (their English name equivalents) and others who are turning to Christ amidst the refugee crisis. Pray for the necessary connection points on their journey to keep discipling such men and women, and for God to bring a spiritual awakening to the hearts of Muslims everywhere. 

IS THIS YOUR HOME?

As the refugees awaited the bus, we had set up an area for the children to play, draw and just be kids. I sat with one little girl for about twenty minutes while she drew a very detailed drawing of a house and yard. I asked her, "Is this your home?"  She nodded her head yes. This child is keeping the memory of a place dear to her heart alive in the best way she knows how, for she will likely never see it again. As she left with her family, she gave me the picture, which I will always cherish. 

Pray for the children, whose war this isn't, whose choices these were not, yet who stand most affected by the refugee crisis. Pray for the now estimated 10,000 missing children across Europe, many of whom were separated from their families and ended up traveling alone. Pray for the relief efforts in motion to reunite such, and for the gospel to get to these tender hearts.

WE JUST HAVE FIVE

As we entered the camp for a morning shift, we were told that there were only five men in the camp who came ashore late in the night, and apparently swam ashore, their boat sinking somewhere along the way across. This was exciting, as it meant the potential to spend time with such a small group, and possibly share the gospel. As we sat together in their shelter, I asked them for help in knowing what the books were in my hand, and what language they were in. I knew they were God's word, but I didn't know if they were only New Testaments and if they were in Farsi or Arabic or some other language...honest!

They were all curious and very open. As they discovered what they were, several of them kept saying as if surprised, "Injeel Isa" (Bible, Jesus). When interrupted by a UNHCR worker, I quickly asked them if they wished to keep the books, and all five said no rather quickly. I waited until they were about to leave, having left the books in the shelter. I just prayed.

As they left, one of them ran back. I asked him if he wished to take the book- and because he was alone, he said yes. As I watched him get on the bus, along with the other four, he quickly opened the Bible, and the other men gathered around. We simply cannot underestimate the cultural pressures coming against these precious people turning to Christ. Pray for the Word of God to go out unhindered in the Muslim world.

The privilege of sharing the gospel with refugees presents an important question the Church should be asking:

"What is God doing in the midst of the refugee crisis and how is He inviting us to respond?"

If you are interested in a short-term trip to minister to refugees… let us know.

Rob C with GoSendMe Global (GlobalGrace’s partner org) has led multiple teams into Greece, from which these stories are complied.