Imagine you live in a country where religious extremists are trying to overthrow the government through violence and civil unrest. Mass executions are carried out by both sides, and the entire framework of the country is deteriorating to the point where people are fleeing for their lives, leaving homes, families, jobs, and everything they have ever known. Imagine being so desperate that you get into an inflatable raft, with nothing but the clothes on your back, and push out to sea, hoping that whatever shore you land on will receive you.
An average of 6,000 of these people are arriving on the shores of Greece EVERY DAY, looking for freedom and hope of a better life. Men, women, children, grandparents, mothers, and fathers. All willing to risk their lives, leaving everything behind in desperation. Between Oct 16-21, 48,000 of these refugees crossed into Greece.
They’ve just watched everything they believe in come crashing down. Leaders of their country have betrayed them. Their financial security has failed them. Their religion has tried to kill them. Over 110,000 civilians have already been killed in Syria alone.
So what do they do? What you and I would probably do in their situation. They are escaping with their lives to look for a place to live. We’ve seen it on the news. We’ve heard about the situation, but it seems so far away, it really doesnt affect us. We change the channel, shut the computer, or whatever, and we are immediately removed from the problem and distracted by life. But the problem isnt goig away for the millions of people who are living in it and cannot escape. They can’t simply close their eyes and wish it away. Its day be day, minute by minute reality.
How will we respond? What will we do? What CAN we do?
Samaritan’s Purse has been on the ground, offering food, clothing, shelter, and basic necessities. YWAM Athens has been partnering and working alongside them to help distribute those provisions. But they need more help. They have more supplies than they have people to give them out. And there are such masses of people coming in, there aren’t enough workers to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with a hopeless people.
Our School of Missions and Evangelism from YWAM Honolulu is answering the call to GO and help. On the first weekend of December, we are flying to Athens to join the work of distributing rations and showing the love of Jesus Christ to these hurting people. This is probably the first time that many of these people will ever meet a Christian. We want to show them the love of Christ in one hand by meeting their most basic needs, and give them the message of Christ on the other hand so they can begin building their lives on the solid rock foundation of Jesus Christ. We want to see these people come into a real relationship with the Lord and be saved.
Please take 5 minutes to click the link and watch the video. This is exactly what we will be doing. Meeting people on the shores as they make landfall, helping them with warmth, food, clothing, medical care, etc. My heart breaks for these people. I’m sure yours does to. I am in a position where I can actually GO and do something about it. Through your prayers and financial support, we are going in your stead. Thanks for being behind us.
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/voyage-to-a-second-life/
There should be some other videos at the Samaritan’s Purse website with more footage and interviews with the refugees. Feel free to look around and gain a heart of compassion.