Patrick, a Frontiers field worker, lives just miles from the Syrian border. He recently related what it was like to hear nearby explosions and feel the earth move under his feet. Sometimes the bombings persisted throughout the day—like when the Syrian government was blowing up every building, block by block, in the border city of Deraa.
Refugees flocked across the border. Frontiers teams met them and began ministering to them.
Many of these teams are among those that had to leave Syria years ago due to the growing severity of war. Not content to return to America, the teams moved to the countries refugees were streaming into. This decision has led to extraordinary opportunities. My friend Patrick and his team are now visiting refugee families in their homes every week.
Patrick finds that many Syrians are eager to spend time with his teammates—growing in friendship, healing mind and soul, and spending time together in God’s Word. Just the other day, Patrick sat with a family as they read through Genesis 12:1-3, in which God calls Abraham to leave his father and mother and go to a place that He would show them.
In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (Genesis 12:3b)
The families they meet have such a hunger for God’s Word that they often discuss the passage until they’ve memorized it, despite being illiterate.
Take heart dear friends; our teams that were once forced to leave Syria are now serving Syrian men, women, and children like never before. One Frontiers team leader estimated that he and his team members are visiting 60 homes a month. “In one year we have visited more Syrian families now than we ever did in ten years of living in Syria,” he said.
And the refugees keep coming.
Jesus Christ loves Syrian families, and He cares for those fleeing into neighboring countries. Providentially, He has prepared our teams to continue their great work. They press on by reminding one another to “not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
Read how Frontiers worker Cassie and her teammates are loving the least of these by clicking the button below.
Original article: www.frontiersusa.org/blog/article/syrian-refugee-crisis-update
