Image: Emergency aid package
Let me tell you about the man Fuad*: Fuad was poor and had a large family. One day he came to visit his neighbor from church and he told him that he was having a very hard time and had nothing to feed his family.
Fuad's Christian neighbor was going to help pack food parcels for the next distribution, so he asked the relief team to make a package for Fuad as well. Two days later, he delivered the food package to Fuad, who said he never thought that as a Muslim he would receive any relief aid.
Everywhere else he had asked for help, he had only received empty promises, but never any help. Previously, Fuad had not been interested in spiritual conversations with a Christian, but now he wanted to know more about the Christian faith and asked many questions. Later, his whole family came to faith in Christ and they now attend church regularly.
You and I can help the Syrian church reach out to people like Fuad. Fuad wondered why the church was giving him emergency aid - and became curious. This year, Fuad will celebrate Christmas. We can think of Fuad as we celebrate Christmas in Danmark - and pray for the Syrian Christians who, in the midst of a war-torn country, are spreading joy, encouraging the discouraged and spreading God's love.
Let me also tell you about the man Shah*.. He is one of the many Syrians who are so poor that they cannot afford to flee, not even to Turkey. They are trapped in war-torn and impoverished Syria. Shah fled with his family to the countryside to get away from the war in the city. But on the way, his father became very ill and later died because they couldn't get medicine.
Now, as the eldest son, it was up to Shah to provide for the family. But he couldn't find work. So he was desperate and asked people for help. They told him to go to the church. Shah is very grateful for the help because there was no other way for his family to surviveand they had no money to leave the country and go to Turkey.
Another person who has received help is Ahmed. Ahmed lived in Aleppo and had to flee with his family due to the constant bombing of the part of the city where he lived. He moved to another part of Aleppo but couldn't find work and moved from Aleppo to the northern city of Afrin. Here he and his family lived in very little space with some relatives, and he took whatever work he could find to earn some money. But he only earned about 200 kroner a month - far too little to support his family.
When the relief team met him, he had nothing to feed his children. He was very grateful for the food package that the relief team brought. He had never known any Christians and when our team told him they were Kurdish Christians, he said it was impossible that there were Kurdish Christians. But later he wanted to visit the church and he loved it. Now he and his family are part of the Kurdish Christian community.
With our support, people like Shah and Ahmed can feed their children. That way, children don't go hungry, but can get the nutrients they need to grow.
Finally, let me bring greetings from Pastor Adil* Aleppo. At the time of writing, the city is being fought over. Pastor Adil says: "We are very grateful that you have stood with us, but we continue to ask you to help us here in Aleppo. Although the situation is very serious in the city, some of those who had fled are returning (...) because they don't want to give up their homes and have no money to go anywhere else." Pastor Adil quits: "If we don't help them, these people will not survive in the city."
Because of your and my support, people can put food on the table, clothes on their bodies, kitchenware and whatever else they need to survive.
- On average, it costs around 150 DKK to ensure that a refugee family has water, food and kitchen equipment,
hygiene items and medicines for a week.
- On average, it costs around 652 DKK to ensure that a refugee family has water, food, kitchen equipment,
hygiene items and medicines for one 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 helping Christians and refugees in Syria this Christmas season. We can let those in need in Syria feel the warmth of Christmas. They will feel that they are not forgotten, but that we stand with them.
