Image: A church in Aleppo that has been converted into a relief center.
The Danish European Mission's strategy for helping the Christians of Syria and Iraq is completely in line with what Syrian church leaders want. That it is difficult for Christians to stay in the country is beyond doubt. Yet they still believe it is worthwhile to stay.
"Turkey supports ISIS in attacking us Christians"
Archbishop Antoine Audo illustrates the problem vividly. He is the archbishop of the heavily besieged city of Aleppo. In an interview in the Italian newspaper Il Giornale, he says: "We have survived a ruthless siege for four years. Ankara (i.e. the Turkish government) shelters the rebels, finances them and pressures them to attack us, and two thirds of the Christians have left the city."
"Fight for us to stay in Syria"
His call to Christians in Europe is clear: "You Christians in Europe should be fighting to prevent us from leaving our country. But you are abandoning us."
Supporting Christians in Syria means church growth!
At the Danish European Mission, we are fighting with our Christian brothers and sisters in Syria and Iraq so that the Christians in Syria and Iraq can remain in their own country. Our partner churches do not hide the fact that it is difficult. But they see God's plan in the midst of the chaos and violence that unfolds daily before the eyes of the global community. They see how God can create newness in the midst of destruction. Churches that have seen more than half of their members flee to other countries see that their church buildings are still full on Sundays. That's because the empty seats are taken by former Muslims who have become Christians. They have converted to Jesus under the influence of the witness of the Christians who have stayed in the country to help.
Support for Syria's Christians is not necessarily support for Assad
Some might say that if we support Christians, we are also indirectly supporting a cruel dictator, Bashar al-Assad, but Archbishop Audo clearly states: "Being against Islamic extremism does not mean standing with the Assad regime. But we know the ideology of those who threaten us. We are free, not slaves to power."
On average, it costs around DKK 652 to provide a refugee family with water, food and medicine for a month.
On average, it costs around 1086 DKK to ensure a refugee family has warm clothes, shoes, mattresses, blankets and fuel this winter.
