Refugees: Tipping the Scales

For the past two years we’ve shared a simple request: Would you join us in ministering to refugees overseas by taking good care of their children and families in the name of Jesus?

We started in August of 2017 with 10 refugee children and now have 624 in Iraq alone, and at our present level of ministry, 224 are waiting for sponsors. The outpouring of love and support we have received from our Indigenous Ministries Friends and Family has been wonderful!  Thank you for the compassion that we have received that we area able to translate and pass on to real, tangible help for the children!  

So what are their real needs? Since poverty is triggered by many things, the top four are: war leading to homelessness, loss of life, loss of job and loss of health. Just for a minute, imagine facing one of these issues with your entire family, (and you probably have faced one or more), but now imagine all four hitting you at once.  Making a sustainable recovery has just become significantly more difficult, especially if you fled your home town and are living in a very different city or country. When the breadwinner of a refugee family is disabled or has died, the family faces a higher level of need and economic recovery is almost impossible alone.

The initial trauma may have passed but most refugee families cannot afford daily food, let alone food for their Christmas dinner. 

What does it look like to tip the scales and help an entire family get back on their feet?  The food, prayers, visits and food they receive through Indigenous Ministries’ Child Sponsorship Program are often the only ray of hope many hold on to and this can actually give them enough stability to grab on to small opportunities which all add up. We have a window of opportunity to help these families now! Timing is everything. Yes, sponsorships absolutely make a difference! And one by one, helped families get off the IM program making room for those in desperate need. 

In these photos below, some of our IM staff (they too are refugees) are visiting these families.  Besides checking on the family, especially the children, they share Scripture, share the gospel and pray with the families. The reactions are varied (see below) but all are grateful and happy for the help and visits. They know that we’ve chosen to help because of Jesus’ love we’ve received. 

Refugees: Tipping the ScalesRefugees: Tipping the ScalesYousif (bottom left) and his sister’s unbelievable story are featured this month in this YouTube video:  https://youtu.be/5WIBoyS23yo.

I am angry and feel hurt, I don’t know why.

This family came from Syria to Iraq in 2014; their home was destroyed. The father doesn’t have a job, they live in a refugee camp IM ministers in. They are very grateful for the food they receive because their daughter (center) is sponsored.

I’m Yousif, and I have a new jacket that is warm and beautiful!

I can’t believe my sponsor sent me a letter!!

Sometimes I feel sad, but I just got this letter from my sponsor and I’ve never gotten a letter
from anyone before.

The dramatic difference in Bashar & Angelina lives (left) reflects in the face of their mother, far left. In this photo, they share updates with our staff who faithfully visit families in IM’s program.

Thank you for sending me this letter!