Hello,
I fly back to visit
the Syrian refugees in
Lebanon tomorrow. Though I was there just a month ago, it is such a
strategic time and there is so much happening, I feel I must go back. I have
been invited to encourage and train local Middle Eastern believers how to share
Jesus and start simple churches among the Syrian refugees.
The good news is
there is an incredible spiritual openness amongst the refugees right now. The not
so good news is many followers of Jesus in the Middle East
avoid, fear, and have extreme dislike for Muslims.
There are some
understandable reasons:
Believers in Jesus in the
Middle East have been harassed by Muslims, and in many instances, harshly
persecuted by them. Christians
of all persuasions make up about 5% of the population of the Middle East (there
are 18 Middle Eastern nations with a total population of 394 million
people). The percentage of 5% has gone down from 20% in the early 20th
century due to low birth-rates (compared to Muslims), extensive immigration,
and ethnic and religious persecution.
It is tough if you are
Christian in the Middle East. Because of the above factors, the remaining
Christians in the Middle East have often retreated into a closed “Christian
culture” of fear and mistrust. I would find it really hard to respond in the
right way if I lived in the Middle East, wouldn’t you?
Speaking to Jews living in
a similar political situation 2000 years ago, Jesus said, “Love your enemies.” Even
more sharply He said, “If they ask something unfair of you, do more than what
they ask!”
Browbeaten by the
occupying Roman armies, the Jews were never-the-less challenged by Jesus to
respond with radical love:
“You have heard the saying, ‘An eye for an eye and
a tooth for a tooth.’ Well, I tell you not to resist evil people... whoever
slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone takes
advantage of you in your business, don’t fight back... carry on living the way
I have taught you to live.
“You have also heard it said, ‘Love your neighbor
and hate your enemy.’ But I say, ‘Love your enemies! Pray for those who curse
you, do good to those who hate you, and forgive those extremists who oppress
and persecute you” (Matthew
5).
There
are three voices crying out from the Syrian refugees. I heard these voices from the refugees when I was in Lebanon and Jordan a month
ago:
• There
is the voice of a desperate mother who said to me, “Please,
pray for my son, Sultan. He is sick and we don’t know what is wrong with him.
Maybe it was the chemicals from the bombs dropped on us.” Half of the 9
million Syrian refugees are
children! Pray for Sultan, won't you?
• There
is the voice of a new Syrian believer who said, “I am going back to Syria to tell my people about Jesus.” He
has gone back and is now discipling 80 new followers of Jesus! Many Syrians are responding to Jesus. It is a
time of harvest.
• There
is the voice of a Muslim man who had
read the four Gospels, and said to me, “I want to know more. Please, come back and
tell me more.” The Syrian refugees
want to know God has not forgotten them. Because Muslims are fighting Muslims,
there is a hunger to know a better way. The way of Jesus is deeply appealing to
many refugees.
The
spiritual openness of the Syrian refugees
has an expiry date! Life will normalize at some point. It is urgent for us to
respond now.
I am amazed
and deeply encouraged by the response of many people to the Syrian crisis. Many volunteers are
preparing to go to Jordan and Lebanon to get involved. Some of our All Nations
workers are making plans to be ready to enter Syria when the war is over. Other people are making their
way into Syria in spite
of the danger
involved.
People who
can’t go can give financially.
I have
precious friends and co-workers in Lebanon and Jordan who are rearranging their
lives to make the Syrian refugees
a priority - right now.
But
there is so much more that needs to be done! Winter is coming and there
is a massive need for blankets and heating oil. Children need toys and
educational materials. Food packets for the families are an ongoing need. And
Arabic speaking translators are needed to assist short-term volunteers.
And, as I
mentioned at the outset of this letter, local Middle Eastern believers need
encouragement to love, speak of Jesus, and start simple churches in the
apartments and tents of the Syrian refugees.
That is one of the roles God has given me... to equip workers for the harvest
and to serve and support our All Nations teams that are on the ground, reaching
out and serving the refugees.
One thing
you could do that will make a huge difference is to form aSyrian prayer group. Please –
don’t discount the power of prayer! God is using the Syrian refugee crisis and the Arab
Spring to re-shape the spiritual landscape of the Middle East. As you pray
for Syria, pray for Egypt and the
other nations of North Africa and the Middle East that are in turmoil.
What
happens in Syria and Egypt
and Saudi Arabia today will impact what happens in America and Africa and Asia
tomorrow! God
is using this crisis to stir faith and prayer for Muslims - and to reshape
history forever in the Muslim world.
I can’t
clearly see the future of Middle East. I am not one of those who prophesies
about what will happen when and to whom. But I can prophesy this: God
has a plan and He is unfolding it! His kingdom is forever. Kingdoms
come and kingdoms go, but God reigns! His plans are for good.
Biblical
prophecies are not given for us to speculate about what will happen in the
future, but to confirm what is happening in the present.
What God is
doing right now around the world: He is pouring out his Spirit on millions of
Muslims! Every fifteen seconds a Muslims comes to faith in Jesus in Indonesia!
It is not an exaggeration to say that millions of Muslims are discovering
Jesus. God is fulfilling his promise this prophecy in our day:
“And
it shall come to pass...
I
will pour out My Spirit on all flesh”
God loves all
the people of the Middle East - Muslims, Christians and Jews. God doesn't take
sides - He is for every single person! He wants everyone to have an opportunity
to experience forgiveness through His son Jesus.
Though I
may not be a prophet, I can say with certainty, something big is happening in
Middle Eastern history right now, and we must not ignore it. Courageous leadership is
needed. It is the time to take risks.
What
happens now in Syria in the
next 6-12 months will affect the course of many nations for years to
come. Prayer
is God’s way of inviting us to partner with Him as He realigns the nations and
reshapes the future.
Thank you for
standing with Sally and me as we respond to the Syriancrisis. Your encouragement, your prayer, your finances
are needed. This is not something Sally and I planned on being involved in, and
it is affecting our lives in a major way - but we don’t want to miss
out on what God is doing.
With deep
gratitude for your love and prayers,
Floyd and
Sally McClung
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