According to recent statistics, the number of Syrian refugees is currently the largest in the world. I tried to figure out who is helping. The United Nations has some initiatives; I looked more at UNICEF (Children's) and UN Refugee Agency. I found a couple of Islamic non-profits and one unknown/religious neutral. While all these efforts are commendable, if a Christian wanted to help follow brothers and sisters in Christ, how would that work? In a general search for Syrian Christian refugees, the Knights of Columbus came up and rescuechristians.org. A second round of search brought up World Vision. There are probably more Christian groups involved, but that may be more of word of mouth through interested persons and churches. Yet as a Christian, I would want to help fellow believers. For me then I would look at helping the orphans and then the general population of Syrians.
According to operation world, Syria has about 6% Christians. The vast majority are Orthodox and Catholic. My understanding is that they had a stable and secure life under Assad. Syria claimed to be a secular state with religious tolerance. Maybe people do not agree with Assad or like him, but the country was stable. Now the world has blown parts of the country back to the stone age. How would they make progress if their infrastructure is destroyed? Perhaps the destruction to their normal way of life would open many more Syrians to look other directions for answers. Yes, we want to help with humanitarian aid, but seems they would be open to the gospel. The good news brings hope. How else could they make sense out of the upheaval and turbulence from the conflict?
According to operation world, Syria has about 6% Christians. The vast majority are Orthodox and Catholic. My understanding is that they had a stable and secure life under Assad. Syria claimed to be a secular state with religious tolerance. Maybe people do not agree with Assad or like him, but the country was stable. Now the world has blown parts of the country back to the stone age. How would they make progress if their infrastructure is destroyed? Perhaps the destruction to their normal way of life would open many more Syrians to look other directions for answers. Yes, we want to help with humanitarian aid, but seems they would be open to the gospel. The good news brings hope. How else could they make sense out of the upheaval and turbulence from the conflict?
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