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End of year, 2015
on... The Summer that Changed the Greens
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We three are people who are forever changed for having faced our fears to "go" at this time in history to the least of these in the Middle East, all to lend our meager hand to the growing Syrian global crisis. We sense we've been changed by this experience forever, hopefully in a good way. Following are six of many significant highlights and "take-aways" from our summer:
1. We were privileged to witness many Muslim Syrian refugees in Lebanon showing genuine interest to learn of Jesus as Messiah (they have some knowledge of Jesus, but little to no understanding of him as Messiah). We furthermore witnessed decisions being made by Muslims wishing to follow him as Lord and Savior of their lives. It is an incredible harvest time among the Syrian refugees in Lebanon!
2. We met, learned and experienced some of the challenges facing Muslim-background followers of Jesus from all over the Islamic world. We met and heard testimonies all summer long. Issues regarding "identity" are preeminent for them... questions like, "Who am I now as a follower of Jesus the Messiah, as a religiously-registered Muslim?" Many struggle to understand what it means to "be in Christ" and "live through him" in a Muslim context. We came to realize there are no easy answers as we listened to their stories, yet interminably struck by their faithfulness to God's mandate for their lives. Identity issues are huge for these faithful who are quickly becoming heroes of the faith.
3. Identity issues only increase as they are applied to children. All Syrian refugees to Lebanon are undocumented with no recourse for statehood, neither for adult nor child. This essentially has, and is resulting in generations of "stateless children" with virtually no future for statehood of any kind. This explains, in part why so many are flocking to the West. Imagine not having a future ever beyond your impoverished refugee camp, nor ever being able to study nor exercise any profession of any kind. God worked on our callous hearts as we became increasing aware of the plight of many.
4. We may be some of the few privileged in the world for our 25+ years of cross-cultural living and work to know just how surprisingly powerful God's love can be as expressed to people in need, even if they are quite different in their cultural reality and outlook on life. God is the Master of using the humble to accomplish great things beyond imagine. Our summer once again reminded us how privileged we are as His children commissioned to love "even our enemies," that one central teaching of Jesus that continues to transform the world and create wonderment in the minds of our Muslim friends.
5. We, as parents were amazed at how our son adjusted in his service to others by virtue of Christ working through him. JJ was impacted in ways beyond words and we continue to believe God has a special plan for this young man.
6. Finally, the political, social and spiritual climate of Lebanon is important not only for understanding the issues of the Middle East, but also for facing the ongoing challenges there are in domestic and global policymaking. One very important "take-away" is just how complicated and misunderstood the Middle East really is, a conclusion we were able to draw by virtue of deeper investigations guided by some of the world's foremost authorities on these subjects (I read many books and wrote papers while there over the summer). Suffice to say we in the West must first learn to exercise humility, patience and love, and above all pray to God for His Kingdom perspective for any and every decision related to the Middle East. Beyond the proverbial Sunnī or Shī'a realities there are those of the Druze, Alawite, Zaidi, Ismaili and Twelver to name only a few in the Islamic camp, not to forget of course the Jews and Christians of the Middle East, all vying for their own personal solidarity and interests. We hope to avail ourselves toward contributing more greatly to the understanding of these realities around the world in the coming years, as the Lord makes possible.
1. We were privileged to witness many Muslim Syrian refugees in Lebanon showing genuine interest to learn of Jesus as Messiah (they have some knowledge of Jesus, but little to no understanding of him as Messiah). We furthermore witnessed decisions being made by Muslims wishing to follow him as Lord and Savior of their lives. It is an incredible harvest time among the Syrian refugees in Lebanon!
2. We met, learned and experienced some of the challenges facing Muslim-background followers of Jesus from all over the Islamic world. We met and heard testimonies all summer long. Issues regarding "identity" are preeminent for them... questions like, "Who am I now as a follower of Jesus the Messiah, as a religiously-registered Muslim?" Many struggle to understand what it means to "be in Christ" and "live through him" in a Muslim context. We came to realize there are no easy answers as we listened to their stories, yet interminably struck by their faithfulness to God's mandate for their lives. Identity issues are huge for these faithful who are quickly becoming heroes of the faith.
3. Identity issues only increase as they are applied to children. All Syrian refugees to Lebanon are undocumented with no recourse for statehood, neither for adult nor child. This essentially has, and is resulting in generations of "stateless children" with virtually no future for statehood of any kind. This explains, in part why so many are flocking to the West. Imagine not having a future ever beyond your impoverished refugee camp, nor ever being able to study nor exercise any profession of any kind. God worked on our callous hearts as we became increasing aware of the plight of many.
4. We may be some of the few privileged in the world for our 25+ years of cross-cultural living and work to know just how surprisingly powerful God's love can be as expressed to people in need, even if they are quite different in their cultural reality and outlook on life. God is the Master of using the humble to accomplish great things beyond imagine. Our summer once again reminded us how privileged we are as His children commissioned to love "even our enemies," that one central teaching of Jesus that continues to transform the world and create wonderment in the minds of our Muslim friends.
5. We, as parents were amazed at how our son adjusted in his service to others by virtue of Christ working through him. JJ was impacted in ways beyond words and we continue to believe God has a special plan for this young man.
6. Finally, the political, social and spiritual climate of Lebanon is important not only for understanding the issues of the Middle East, but also for facing the ongoing challenges there are in domestic and global policymaking. One very important "take-away" is just how complicated and misunderstood the Middle East really is, a conclusion we were able to draw by virtue of deeper investigations guided by some of the world's foremost authorities on these subjects (I read many books and wrote papers while there over the summer). Suffice to say we in the West must first learn to exercise humility, patience and love, and above all pray to God for His Kingdom perspective for any and every decision related to the Middle East. Beyond the proverbial Sunnī or Shī'a realities there are those of the Druze, Alawite, Zaidi, Ismaili and Twelver to name only a few in the Islamic camp, not to forget of course the Jews and Christians of the Middle East, all vying for their own personal solidarity and interests. We hope to avail ourselves toward contributing more greatly to the understanding of these realities around the world in the coming years, as the Lord makes possible.
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First name: KR
Last name: G
Personal account #: 004527
Project account #: 024527
Last name: G
Personal account #: 004527
Project account #: 024527
