The heartfelt plea of a pastor in Lebanon
The leader of a Lebanese church which has been sharing the love of Christ with refugees from Syria wrote this letter to churches in the West.
![Syrian mother and children in Lebanon informal camp](https://www.sat7uk.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Syrian-woman-refugee-and-teens-Zahle-380x214.jpg)
Dear pastors in Europe,
Greetings in Christ.
We are at a very critical period of time concerning the refugees flooding into your countries. You have a golden opportunity. You can either choose to take it or lose it.
The families arriving on your shores are broken, wounded, and needy. A warm welcome may change their perspectives and beliefs in no time. They are fleeing from a tyrannical version of Islam and are really struggling with their convictions. They grew up with the mentality that they were the best people and religion ever established upon the earth and are brainwashed into thinking that all others are lost. They were never allowed to question or doubt this. It all came from “God”.
Now is the time to act. Now is the time to wake up with new energy and armed with real spiritual weapons. Use prayer, faith, evangelism, social aid, and much love. They need someone to open their eyes and liberate them. You don’t need to send missionaries any more. They are at your doorsteps. Build relationships with them, one family at a time, not in big groups.
Let them see the true face of Christianity. The Christianity of worshipping God in spirit, not the Christianity of idols. The Christianity of families dedicated to God, not the Christianity of immoral values. The Christianity with demonstrated power of the Holy Spirit, not the Christianity of lukewarm churches. The Christianity of the Europe of revival, not the Europe of atheism. Our Lord is still on the throne.
Muslims are not our enemies. They are our beloved brothers in humanity with many wonderful Middle Eastern traditions. They are generous in hospitality, merciful to the poor, and emotionally tied to their families and communities. Hurry up and take care of them before they embrace Islam (more deeply).
History will one day witness that God in his wisdom has sent to you the hungry to give them food, the thirsty to give them a drink, the stranger to take in, and the naked to clothe. How will you respond? Some of them will take advantage of you for sure, but others will fall in love with your God.
Break the language barriers and used dedicated Arabic speaking Christians in your countries. Break the cultural barriers and try to understand a Muslim’s mind. Ask the help of some outreach teams from the Arab world for short term ministry. You have a wonderful opportunity.
I beg you to open your eyes before it becomes too late.
A burdened pastor in the Middle East.
This letter was given to Eddie Lyle, UK President of Open Doors, during a recent visit to Lebanon. It first appeared in New Wine Magazine and is reproduced with permission.
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