Recap: 'Out Of Syria' Event

On Monday night, members of Providence attended the 'Out Of Syria' event at Springwood Church of Christ.

Hosted by Open Doors, Pastor H. shared inspiring stories of the ways that God has been at work in his church in Lebanon, amidst the Syrian refugee crisis. With a population of 4 million, Lebanon has become the home to over 2 million Syrian refugees.

In the past three years, Pastor H's church has been on the ground, serving hundreds of Syrian families who have come knocking on the door for help. With limited church resources and an unfinished building, H. shared miraculous stories of God's intervention in the crisis.

Like most Lebanese people, Pastor H. had grown up with contempt for the Syrians. His daily walk to school would be littered by snipers and bombs planted by the Syrian army. He had lost many friends to war. So when the refugees started pouring into Lebanon, H. had to wrestle with mixed feelings, but God intervened and filled his heart with compassion.

God's intervention did not stop there. From providing land, finances and people, the church became a radical pit stop of gospel love and kindness.

Day after day, the church would roll out food parcels, medical aid and spiritual support to hundreds of families. Pastor H. would preach the gospel from morning till night. A school was erected in the carpark of the church, to provide an education to over 300 children, who if left uneducated, would be vulnerable to becoming a terrorist. 

H. shared a story of a Muslim woman who one day, stood outside the church with her arms folded, looking very sceptical.

H. approached her and she asked:

That night, Pastor H. wrestled with God in prayer. Where would the money come from? How could he not help this family? The conclusion was simple. He would pass everything that he received in the offering bag that Sunday to this family in need. 

When the son of the family found out about this, he trekked around the city for two hours, searching for the church that had sought to help a stranger. When he finally found Pastor H, his response was simple:

Story after story was shared of Jesus revealing himself to Muslims through visions, healings, answered prayers, but most convincing of all, through the love shown to them by the church.

While the evening news may show that evil has won, the churches in Lebanon are seeing spiritual revival. That in the midst of war, Muslim refugees are praying: "thank you God for the war! Because of the war, we now know Jesus!"

Pastor H's message to the Australian church is simple: take part in God's amazing work in the Syrian refugee crisis.

Pray specific prayers because God loves to answer.

Most importantly, passionately embrace the 12,000 refugees that will arrive on Australian shores in 2016. 

Pastor H. made it clear that the work is not easy and our kindness we will be taken advantage of, but God has called us to love the foreigner, and NOW is the time to do it. 

Open Doors is hosting a Day Of Prayer For Syria next Saturday, 17th October.

Click here to see the prayer locations or organise your own prayer meeting with your local church.

1. Pray for the safety and faith of the 250 Syrian pastors kidnapped by ISIS. 

2. Pray that God will provide more food parcels which are currently in short supply.

3. Pray for the protection of all the women who are targets for the sex trade. 

4. Pray that every weapon turned towards a Christian would be put down, and that the enemy would have compassion and see the glory of God.

5. Pray for the protection of vulnerable children who are targets for terrorism.

7. Pray that God would continue to work through Pastor H. in bringing more and more Muslim refugees into a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus. 

Open Doors supports the persecuted church and has been doing it for over sixty years.

Support their ministry by giving A Gift Of Hope.