Since 2014, Danish European Mission donors have been supporting local Christians in Syria. I interviewed the leader of our project to get an overview of the current situation and find out how the aid is becoming a tool to reach Muslims with the Gospel.
How has the Turkish attack in northern Syria affected Christians?
"It's hard to say what the long-term impact will be. During the civil war, many Christians and other minorities fled to the Kurdish area in northern Syria, where they have had extensive freedom to practice their faith. But they fear the consequences of the Turkish invasion. When Turkey invaded Afrin (in northwestern Syria) in early 2018, the Turks brought with them many jihadists who, with Turkish support, imposed Sharia rule in the city. All the Christians had to flee, and donors from the Danish European Mission helped them survive the flight. Now there are fears that something similar will happen throughout the Kurdish region," says the project manager.
"The attack has also created a general uncertainty in the country. The civil war was almost over and people were starting to think about rebuilding the country. Now many fear that it will take a long time. The whole of Syria is suffering because its economy has been destroyed. The Syrian currency has plummeted in value, so everything is expensive and income is low. For example, a senior doctor only earns around €1,500 a month, but the cost of living for a family of five is around €3,300. How can they survive? Even a senior doctor has to work multiple jobs to support his family. And a regular salary earner only earns between 200 and 500 DKK per month. It's a huge problem"
Has the church grown during the Syrian civil war?
"Yes, evangelical churches have grown rapidly. Some churches have even started to expand their buildings because they don't have enough space. In the camps (for internally displaced people) they have also had to expand the tents where they hold services. I've heard of people walking for five hours to get to a church service on a Friday morning. They had left home at four in the morning! Why would they do that? Because they had heard rumors that Christians take care of people and pray for them and that God heals the sick."
Before the civil war began in Syria, there were an estimated 1.7 million Christians in Syria, but during the civil war that number may have dropped below 450,000. The thousands of Muslims and others from non-Christian backgrounds coming to faith in Jesus cannot offset the high number of Christians from traditional ethnic Christian minorities who have left the country, but the trend is remarkable as it has occurred during war and persecution.
Why are many Muslims turning to Jesus?
"Christians have brought hope to their communities. They have helped the poor and made no distinction between Christians and non-Christians when distributing relief aid with your support. They make no conditions. Muslims see that Christians are helping despite the persecution they themselves face. They often ask: 'Why are you helping us Muslims? We kill you, yet you help us.' It's about the credibility and authenticity of their faith. Through Christians, Muslims encounter God's love. They then ask: 'Where is your church? Can we come and visit you?' The churches have a very good reputation in the country. Christians are seen as peaceful people to whom those in need can seek help."
Danish European Mission donors have been supporting Christians in Syria since 2014. What difference has it made for the Christians?
"You have simply helped them to survive. Many get no other help than what they get through the church. I pass on a greeting to the donors of the Danish European Mission. The Syrian Christians are very grateful that you have supported them through the most difficult times and that you continue to help and stand with them. You have persevered even though Syria is no longer in the media. But the suffering continues. People are starving, and the Syrian Christians even tell us that the current situation, due to the poor economy, is even worse than at the height of the civil war," concludes the project manager.
