Nazarene Compassionate Ministries: Right now, a large group of Christian families from the Middle East, 159 people in all, are stranded after fleeing their homes for fear of being killed.
In certain areas of the Middle East, thousands of families are fleeing from areas where Christians are being targeted and where militants are taking over villages.
A country in Europe has agreed to accept them, but the families are currently stuck in transit due to delays in the visa process. These delays have dramatically increased the costs of food and housing, so the Church of the Nazarene, through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, is working to raise the money needed to sustain these families until they can move on to safety.
Local Nazarene churches in the Middle East have been helping persecuted families for years through children’s education and other assistance, but this crisis is too big for them to meet alone.
“We are at a loss,” a local pastor said. “The only thing we know to do is to reach out to our Nazarene family around the world for help.”
A single mother of two boys tells how fighters frequently lobbed shells into their neighborhood to kill civilians and scare survivors. She showed pictures of the results of a bomb that went through her roof.
These families have left everything behind. They have no money, but they are hopeful for a new start in another country. One woman shared, “It is not easy to leave my country behind, but I have faith that God has opened this door, so I will walk through it.”
Will you give now to help get persecuted Christians to safety?
How You Can Help
Pray
Pray for the families who are in transit, that they would make it safely to their destination. Pray for the families still living in places of violence and terror, that they would experience God’s comfort and peace. Pray for the churches in the Middle East as they seek to meet the needs of children and families who are living as refugees in their communities.
Give
Churches and individuals around the world can help persecuted families in the Middle East by giving to the Help for Persecuted Christians fund. Donations will be used to get families to safety and to meet other urgent needs.
To send donations by mail, use these instructions:
In the U.S., make checks payable to “General Treasurer” and send them to:
Global Treasury Services
Church of the Nazarene
P.O. Box 843116
Kansas City, MO 64184-3116
Be sure to put ACM1832 in the Memo area.
In Canada, make checks payable to “Church of the Nazarene Canada” and send them to:
Church of the Nazarene Canada
20 Regan Road, Unit 9
Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3
Be sure to put ACM1832 in the Memo area.
In Germany, send your donation to Helping Hands Germany:
Helping Hands e.V. – Gelnhausen, Germany
IBAN DE56 5075 0094 0000 022394
SWIFT-BIC HELADEF1GEL
BANK: KREISSPARKASSE GELNHAUSEN
MEMO: MID-EAST REFUGEES
For any other country, give through your local church or district, designating your gift to the Help for Persecuted Christians fund.
