Image: Destroyed church in Sinjar, where ISIS killed many Yazidis. A symbol that ISIS may have been successful in killing, but contrary to ISIS' intention, many Muslims and people of other backgrounds are repenting and coming to faith in Jesus at this time.
I interview Johannes Schwab, the person responsible for the project we support in Syria, just as he has returned home after a trip to Iraq and Syria. He shares what a number of pastors are saying about the situation.
A Syrian pastor says: There are more people in the church now than before the civil war. There is no room for all the people in the church building. They sit outside the church hall, in the hallway.
He tells us: Every week Muslims come to faith in Jesus and leave Islam. We don't invite them, they just come and say they want to be Christians. Another tells: I lost 70 %, but 80 % new ones have come, so we have more now.
Every week Muslims come to faith in Jesus and leave Islam. We don't invite them, they just come and say they want to be Christians. - Syrian pastor
"Pray that we resist the temptation to flee to Europe and receive a fresh call to stay"
-A pastor said: The big challenge now is Europe's lenient refugee policy, which has drained the church of people. The temptation to leave has been too great. Pray that we will resist the temptation to flee and receive a fresh call to stay.
- There is so much openness among non-Christian groups to the gospel right now - and church workers are needed to minister to the newcomers. Pastor says: We need more mentors to train the newcomers, but many of our active leaders are tempted to leave for Europe. We are losing our leaders who can teach new believers what it means to follow Jesus.
Muslims are taught before they are baptized
I ask the project manager: But are the conversions genuine, or is it merely a rejection of Islam, rather than an embrace of the Christian faith?
Johannes Schwab answers: Christians don't baptize Muslims quickly because they want to be sure that the faith is genuine - and not just rebellion against Islam. Muslims have to go through baptismal education and attend church for several months before they are baptized so they know what the Christian faith is all about.
Fact: Many Muslims have suffered greatly under the puritanical Islam practiced by the Islamic State. Christians arouse interest because they are people of peace, who are sincere, who give love and hope - also to Muslims, including in the relief project supported by the Danish European Mission's donors.