from living out the gospel and
caring for people with desperate
needs. The presenters and those
of us present were moved to tears
throughout the presentations and
our discussions as we heard about
the compassionate ministry of
our Baptist brothers and sisters,
and the incredible response of the
refugees to the gospel. One church
grew some much they had to build
a new building. The members say
this is not a “crisis.” It is a
blessing and an opportunity.
What many Americans do not
realize is that only about 10
percent of the refugees from the
Syrian conflict had made their
way to Europe. The other 90 percent
are either refugees or internally
displaced people in Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, and Turkey. Turkey has approximately 2 million refugees. Lebanon and Jordan (relatively small countries) have received hundreds of thousands of refugees. We heard stories of Lebanese Baptists reaching out to care for Muslim refugees from Syria. This is particularly incredible when just over 10 years ago Syria had an extended and sometimes bloody occupation of Lebanon. Lives are being saved and many are coming to know Christ because of the sacrifice and compassion of these believers.
I was deeply moved and humbled as I listened to the representatives from Europe and the Middle East share about their ministries. I was ashamed of the sometimes hateful rhetoric about refugees which is much to0 common in our country, and sometimes even in our churches. Our country has received only about 1,100 Syrian refugees this year, and many are opposed to the government’s goal of receiving 10,000 this year. Yet, Lebanon, a country with a population of only about 4.5 million people has received more than a million refugees. Jordan has received more than a half million refugees, and Turkey has received almost 2 million. Most of these people are just desperately trying to stay alive. We have been called to welcome the stranger—immigrants and refugees. We are commanded to live with compassion and love. May God give us the courage to live out the gospel as our brothers and sisters in Europe and the Middle East are today.
Jim Hill speaking at North American
Baptist Fellowship meeting.