The last few months have been full of transitions.  In our area, two refugee centers were opened providing new ministry opportunities.  I quickly made friends with the refugees, the volunteers and the administration.  Over the last few months, I have been on call as camp chaplain and God gave many opportunities to witness to the refugees and staff.  So many doors have been opened.  Due to the refugees’ needs, our church’s name has been associated with caring, helping and most importantly the Gospel. The Government had made plans to close the camp. Today (12.12.15), I went out to the camp and with tears and passed out the newly arrived NTs to all the men there.  They received them happily with hugs and many thanks. The NTs have the plan of salvation in the fly leaf.  I have truly enjoyed praying, ministering, discipling, and working with these men.  May God’s Spirit continue grow the seed of salvation in each heart!  I can’t wait to see the harvest of the seeds sown!  UPDATE - Thankfully, the officials relented and the camp is going to stay open!

This morning, at six, I received a “Whatsapp” from one of the workers at the Refugee camp.  One of the men that I have befriended and to whom I have been sharing my faith, was taken to the hospital.  He was in pain with low blood pressure, bleeding and severe abdominal distress.

This young father of three, left Syria to follow the promise of a new beginning in Germany.  His decision to leave was his family was based on the dangers of crossing the often treacherous Mediterranean in a rubber boat and his belief that he could quickly set up housing and the send money for his family to make a safer trip.

His family is trapped in Raqqa, where the French have been bombing ISIS strongholds and training camps.  He is beside himself with worry.  Please pray as I minister to my friend.  May God make a way to safety so that the whole family may come to know the Lord Jesus!  God is still a miracle worker.

With all that has transpired in the last weeks, there are many untold stories.  The older I become, the more I recognizes the depth of the fact that ALL men are evil and as Jesus clearly stated, “only God is good,".  Anytime, any man believes he is justified in taking the free will of another, he has made himself into a god.  This was the very intent of Satan in the garden. It is still his M.O.S. and it will be his undoing in the end.  God will have all in derision. 

 “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” Ro 3:4

I was once confronted by one who rejected Christ.  He stated, “God would never come to earth, become a man, and die on a cross for us.  He is God.  He would never do such a thing.” 

Unfortunately, this man’s knowledge of God is incomplete and barring a change of heart, he will spend all of eternity existing in dying separated from God(life).

The refugee that has been helping me consistently this week with the rebuild of Festival stand stated, “We Muslims believe that Jesus was a prophet.  How is it that you believe him to be more?”   He had waited the last few weeks to find a time when we were alone to spring the question.

I told him it is not important what I think, or what another “religious” leader thinks.  What is important is what God says.  I then explained that I read God’s Word and believe what it says.  I do not interpret it. 

When we arrived at the church, we started with Moses, the Ten Commandments, man’s guilt and then the name that God gave Moses to give to Pharaoh, “I am”.  We then went to Jesus’ statement concerning Abraham, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” Joh 8:58 

Afterwards, we went to John 1:1.  As we went through it verse by verse, he became increasingly overwhelmed.  At verse 8, he stated that he needed to take a break.  It was just too much to take in at once. 

Please pray that God’s Spirit will rehearse these verses in his heart and mind.  He took a picture of the verses in John and translated them with google so that he could study them in Arabic. 

It is so neat to have him consider me a “great friend”!  As we finished up work on the stand, he said, “I like the way you think”.  I am on pins and needles with anticipation to see God work.

We had our second Bible study with the refugees who claim Christ.  The three men have a keen understanding that Jesus is man and God.  It is exciting to minister to such who have risk life to stand for faith.  May God use this as a launching of evangelism.

Please pray that the other men who have been helping me work on our stand will be moved by God’s Spirit towards salvation. 

 

Sawing

Some of the guys from the Refugee Center gave me a hand rebuilding our Stand for the City Festival.  Later they invited me to stay for an authentic Syrian meal.  It was very tasty, with the side benefit that no self-respecting vampire would come within a mile of me. They made a very good garlic yogurt cucumber sauce to go with curry rice and roasted Chicken!  Please pray that God will bless my witness.

I went to the refugee center earlier than usual.  All the men were asleep, so I enjoyed coffee with the security and the administrator.  Afterwards, the men began to awake and I moved on to conversing with them.  After a while, one of the men with whom I have had the most contact asked to have some time alone.  “I have many questions”, he said.  I intend to meet with him tomorrow or Wednesday.  Please pray that this is a door of opportunity toward salvation.

Had a great time with the three professing Christian Refugees.  It was quite the adventure to get it together.   I had limited time today and 5 different groups needed me all at the same time.  One young man had a letter frome the police that he was worried about.  One teacher needed help translating the meaning of a German song she was trying to teach, another teacher was trying to set up appointments for German field trips to the Mall and another young man was conscered about hurting his treachers fealings by taking a break from her class.   He is destracted about his familie's safety in Syria and can't concentrate.  Comunicating in English, German and Arabic often all at the same time can be a mental challenge.   Thanks to Bible apps and smart phones we can all study the same text in all three languages.

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