Image: Blankets on their way to people in need in Syria.
Thank you for heeding the call to pray for Aleppo and for the Christians who have remained in the city. There is no doubt that prayer is necessary after reading this news - and no one can deny that prayer works!
On Sunday, October 25, a church in Aleppo was bombed, probably by Islamist forces. It happened in the middle of a church service attended by around 400 people, and it was just as they were about to share communion. Miraculously, no one was seriously injured although there was damage to the building and the air in the church was so full of dust that people could not see each other, the priest said.
The "bomb" was actually a gas cylinder that didn't explode when it hit the roof of the church dome. If it had exploded then, the consequences would have been tragic, the priest said. According to him, this was not the first time the church had been targeted by jihadist forces. As for the reason for these attacks, the priest says it is probably because, firstly, it is the only church in the area that is still in working order and, secondly, because it wants to be an example of peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians by providing help to everyone, Christians and Muslims alike. "There are some who want to eliminate any sign of reconciliation and openness," the priest commented.
Although the churchgoers were panicking at the attack, the priest managed to maintain order after ensuring that no one was seriously injured. He invited the worshippers to continue communion in the church garden. "Some were taken aback by my reaction. But it is in the Lord that I find the strength, in union with Him, through prayer - the strength to go on, even with greater energy now that we have to repair our church," said the priest. The morning after the attack, the faithful returned for morning worship. "They were all there, and full of joy we could hear our church bells again. Let us hope that all this chaos will come to an end and that we will soon be able to talk about these things as a thing of the past, without fear that similar attacks could happen again at any time."
Relief for all those in need in Syria - regardless of background
By supporting Christians, we can cherish the light they are in the midst of civil war. And by helping them to reach out to other minorities in need, people from non-Christian backgrounds can practically and tangibly feel God's love and care, even in times like these. In the project, around 60 % of the beneficiaries are Christians, while the rest are from other backgrounds.
- On average, it costs around 652 DKK to ensure that a refugee family has water, food, kitchenware, hygiene items 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.
Thank you for extending a helping hand to people in need in Syria.
