Top image: A church in Aleppo transformed into a relief center, helping to create hope for a positive future for Syria.
The priest blessed her and said he was grateful for her words. She added: "Tell all your Christian contributors that we are so grateful for all your support and that you also help us Muslims, even if we don't always treat you nicely". These are big words and show that it gives Syrian Christians prestige when they help not only Christians but also other groups in need.
Image: Amidst the devastation of war, many inhabitants experience the church as a house of peace.
One of the goals of the relief project in Iraq and Syria is to give Christians a platform in the Middle East through their charitable work, so that other inhabitants can see their positive contribution to society in a very tangible way. This can help ensure that the Christian church is not wiped out, as the Islamic groups want, but can thrive and grow in the Middle East. In Syria, around 40 % of aid recipients are Christian, while 60 % are from other backgrounds.
"I hope there will be more churches in our city when the war is over, because Christians make our city better" Muslim woman to Christian pastor
The church creates reconciliation
Another of our partners, Pastor Rassan from Aleppo, was asked by the authorities to help with the reconciliation process. He was even asked to spearhead efforts to reconcile and bring the various divided communities and other groups in the war-torn city back together and create a normal life.
Image: Children from a village in Aleppo province
He told us just a few days ago that the internally displaced families and residents of the badly damaged houses in the city are very grateful that they can receive help here in the church and that their children are supported to continue their schooling and education. The church is seen as a place of peace in the midst of the hell of war, and the Christian relief teams that go out to distribute aid to those most in need in the city are seen as life-saving angels.
"The church is seen as a place of peace in the midst of the hell of war, and the Christian relief teams that go out to distribute aid among those most in need in the city are seen as life-saving angels" Priest Rassan in Aleppo
Pastor Rassan says: "Many residents of Aleppo and recipients of the aid you provide have expressed their gratitude to us. You cannot imagine how much it helps us survive in this city and how much hope and reconciliation it creates across cultural and ethnic barriers. That's why the authorities asked me to play a leading role in the work of reconciliation - bringing enemies back together - hopefully not just in the western parts of Aleppo, but in the whole city. Thank you so much for your help and keep praying for us."
On average, it costs around 150 DKK to provide a refugee family with water, food, kitchenware, hygiene items, clothing and medicine for a week.
