Our own Shindler's List
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Reading time seven minutes. Some graphic persecution is described.
If you ever saw the movie, you will know that Oscar and Emalia Shindler owned a munitions plant during WWII and employed Jewish workers, thereby freeing them from execution and internment in death camps. Though he saved 1,200 Jews, at the end of the war, as he fled the approaching Russian forces, these same Jews pulled their teeth to extract the gold fillings, giving him and his wife resources to flee with. As Schindler paused to say goodbye, he took the gold ring from his finger and the gold Nazi lapel pin which he had used to conceal his schemes and grieved that he had given so much attention to his own prosperity and comfort and so little to their survival. He groaned with regret that with those, he could have saved the life of more – one, two, perhaps ten others. That scene always makes me weep, as I think not of the thousands you have helped us save -- but of those we couldn’t. We have an opportunity to correct that. Background: I wanted to bring you news by last weekend, but I did not have all the data I needed. Just now, I have gotten off the phone and have news to share with you. Let me say that I cannot write down all I have been told, nor can I give exact names, places, or details, but the entire world knows that I am speaking of the country of Syria, which no longer exists. And what I will say, though it may be new to you, is certainly in the general news. Years ago, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi left Al Queda and started ISIS with the intent of conquering Syria and Iraq and forming an Islamic State. ISIS seemed to fade into the background but was never entirely destroyed and has since changed names and spawned other militias. Those militias and some disgruntled leaders of the Syrian National Army united to overcome the Assad regime and, having done so, are now quarreling among themselves for control over the regions of power, just as Alexander’s generals did at his death. Several days ago, as we predicted, Syria fell. We sent out an Alert telling you how these various militias had joined together, being funded by Turkey, and invaded Syria. They moved southward quickly until reaching the coastal region of Latakia, then flanked eastward and south again, quickly taking an undefended Damascus. In the meantime, President Bashir Assad fled with his family to Russia. The militias flanked Latakia because Russia has a 90+ year lease on much of Syria’s Mediterranean coast, and the militias were told not to enter that area. Turkey had agreed with Russia to protect their Air and Sea bases in Latakia and Tartus. For weeks, Israel had been bombing the area, carefully targeting the Syrian installations and avoiding any and all Russian properties and equipment. Again, an arrangement had been made. No one wants a war with Russia. Israel continues to bomb the military installations and equipment (planes, ships, warehouses, etc.) of the former regime so the next regime will not have those weapons at its disposal. Russia does not raise any opposition against their actions. Days after hinting about the situation, all we had said came to pass. Now, the entire world knows, and I can write more freely. What has happened: About a week ago, we lost our most vital contact in the region and knew that he was either dead or captured. I cannot tell you who he is, but his story is like Paul’s ride to Damascus. He has been a friend and protector, saving the lives of thousands of our people. Through well-placed contacts, we finally learned yesterday that he was alive and undergoing extreme torture. Today, we were able to secure his release. We were placed in the hands of a man with great authority whom we did not know – but he knew us and surprised us with his willingness to help. He stated, “You have planted many good seeds in my life, and it is my honor now to help you.” Our rescued friend’s wounds have made him unrecognizable, and he is in urgent need of medical care, but the cost is beyond our reach. We had to rent a car for a mere three-hour drive to move him. The cost was $700, and hundreds more were spent at each checkpoint. His life is vital to us, and we, myself included, owe him our lives many times over. What is happening now: Currently, all those with former connections to the Assad government are being hunted. Those caught are first castrated and then beheaded. One witness told me that the vengeance taken on them far exceeds what they did to others while in power. Many of the horror stories I have told you over the years were perpetrated by these men who are now reaping what they sowed. But there is more. In their efforts now to create an Islamic State, all “apostates” are being targeted as well. Their definition of apostate is anyone who left Islam and converted to another faith, which is more than 90% of our church members. (The others converted from Catholicism or Orthodoxy. If you were born Catholic, Orthodox, etc., you are protected as a minority, viewed by Islamists as merely changing your denominational identity). Still, anyone who left Islam is tortured and then beheaded, mutilated, burned, etc. - men, women, and children. The international news is not reporting this (yet). As usual, we can tell you what is happening in the region long before the international news reports it. Though our primary region of safety was eventually flanked, being protected by the Russian troops, it did not stop the militias from entering and raiding the homes of those they considered apostates. Our church families, nearly 550 of them, have lost their homes, whether owned or rented, their belongings, and their jobs, and were left only with the clothes they were wearing. Incredibly, their lives were saved by the Russian presence. Currently, Russia is renegotiating its position since the Assad regime fell. If they pull out entirely, which is doubtful, the enemy will rush in. Still, during the turmoil, six of our men were captured and killed, along with their wives and children. Two were pastors, and the other four were leaders in the churches. To save as many as we can, we are relocating some 550 families, which is more than 3,000 people who left Islam and turned to Christ (in that region alone). They are now hunted apostates. Last Friday, Syria’s new leader, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, went to the Great Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, which I have visited. He announced that he was instituting Sharia Law in Syria. Currently, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the USA are negotiating an end to the violence but without much success. (This mosque is Islam’s fourth holiest site behind the Kaaba in Mecca and the mosques in Medina and Jerusalem. Incidentally, Strait Street is only a quarter mile from this mosque, just inside the walls from which Paul was lowered in a basket to escape.) Those of the Murshid tribe whom you recently helped us evangelize have been either slaughtered or scattered. These new apostates have only come to Christ in the last year or two. Like shepherds in the desert, we gather those scattered and take them to a place of safety. What is happening next: Sharia Law is being established in Syria. The goal of ISIS has prevailed. The entire nation, apart from the terrorists and those supporting them, have lost their jobs. The entire nation is unemployed. The Syrian currency is worthless. The only currencies accepted are the Turkish Lira and the U.S. Dollar. It doesn’t matter how many million Syrian Pounds you had in the bank a week ago; today, you now have nothing. While we try to find, gather, protect, relocate, and provide for our people, they naturally have doubts and fears. One brother named Samuel has a wife and three children, ages 2, 3, and 5. He and his wife came to Christ ten years ago and refused to be married in an Islamic manner, taking a giant step into their apostasy. He is a faithful servant in and to the churches but is gravely concerned about the survival of his young family. He asked if we had forgotten them. May God have mercy on us if we do. When we make their needs known, some of you always help, but most usually don’t. In the end, all I can do is whatever I can do. My resources are limited and overly spoken for already. That’s why I appeal to you. I pray that none of us will, because of inaction, feel as Oscar Shindler did—that after giving so long and so much to help so many, in the end, when it is too late, we weep as we hold in our hands those objects, once precious but now despised, and with utter regret bemoan – with these, “I could have saved the life of one, two or perhaps ten more.” We need:
Paul saw the upcoming famine in Jerusalem, which took 13 years to arrive. For over a decade, he repeatedly asked for prayer and funds from every church he and his disciples started. The Church in Corinth gave shamefully little though possessing great wealth. In contrast, the Church in Macedonia gave surprisingly much despite their poverty. We have well over 3,000 Christians in this area needing to relocate and feed, and we must also provide shoes, medicine, warm clothes, coats, and blankets as winter snows begin to fall. We had numerous one-bedroom apartments that housed 50+ people but are now confiscated. We had homes and tents for 175 orphans, most under age eight, who are again on the streets and vulnerable. We know how Moses felt on the shores of the Red Sea—a pursuing army behind him and a tempest in front of him. Their only choices were slaughter or drowning. But Moses had a staff and served the God of the tempest. He saw a third choice – Faith. And so do we. We will know more about what we need as we survive over the next few months. Still, in the interim, there is no doubt that to care for more than 3,000 brothers and sisters and their children, we will need a minimum of $145,000. Caring for the brethren for barely $50 each will take a miracle, but we have churches in other areas of the Middle East who have already rushed to give aid. Together, we can do this. We are stretching our staff over the torrential waters and trusting the winds of God to blow us a safe, dry passage to the other side. Please stand with us through prayer and giving, or stand by and watch us fall. Please designate your gift for Middle East Turmoil. |
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