AN update on our Syrian ministry
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Reading time three minutes. Please read to the end; you will never forget this.
On December 14, I wrote an email regarding the impact of the fall of the Syrian government. Since then, conditions have worsened, and the protection we felt was available has begun faltering. Already, we have learned of ten families that have been entirely slaughtered: husband, wife, and children. Every day, their numbers grow. In the first few days, while travel was still possible, our numbers grew to 550+ families, representing over 6,000 Christians who have come to us from our churches. They have grown in number from 3,000 to 5,000 to 6,000. We felt that we could handle their needs with $36,000 monthly. Imagine if, overnight, your budget jumped by that amount! (That is only $6 per month, per person, to survive on or 20¢ a day.) Our first request was for $145,000 (four months @ $36,000), which was used for relief and to bring as many Believers to our "secure area" as possible. We bought food, water, blankets, general medical supplies, etc. We knew we would need more and acknowledged that in the first email, but we did not know how much more. On February 7, I wrote again with a brief update. With prices rising and stragglers arriving, it became apparent this situation would last far beyond four months. So, we asked for $216,000 to carry us for six more months. Other issues arose that we had hoped would not, and we began to spend funds on emergency medical needs. In one case alone, we spent $25,000 of those funds on medical care, including surgeries. (bullet wounds, fractured bones split by rifle butts and bullets, head injuries, etc. – even among children) Transporting people to a clinic or hospital is no easy task. Snipers watch the roads, so you must pay a premium for a driver brave enough to take you, and most vehicles are destroyed. Three of our families were machine-gunned while using taxis. They even killed the taxi drivers. Gasoline, if available, is $100 a gallon, and there are checkpoints every few miles that require payment, much like a toll road here; only our cashiers don't carry AK47s and won't shoot you if you don't pay. Currently, there is no electricity, water, heat, or money—literally no money, like in Germany after WWI; a wheelbarrow full won't buy a loaf of bread, and frankly, there's not much food anyway. To give us a buffer and hopefully not have to bring this need to you again, we are trying to raise the final funds for four months, which is $144,000. That will bring the total funding for this need to $505,000. However, we have already received $370,000 through your donations and pledges. You guys are absolutely incredible -- giving to help your brothers and sisters whom you don't even know. Don't think for a second that your love and compassion go without notice -- here or in Heaven. So, I am asking you to help us relinquish this final amount of $135,000. We are told by the enemy that our people will all perish, but we pray God's protection will leave a large remnant as a witness to Syria, winning souls until our Lord comes again. Please do not think this situation to be trivial. We talk to our leaders every day. They give us first-hand reports of what is happening, how many are secure, killed, or missing, and what their needs are. I recently shared this information with those who support me personally (Jon Nelms). I want to also share it with the rest of you. About two weeks ago, we were called by a brother in Syria. His voice was shaking and intimated horror. He knew the militia was going door to door looking for the Christians they had addresses for, and he could not flee, nor did he have a place to hide. He called to tell us what was happening and to say goodbye. As he was looking out his bedroom window, he saw the persecutors coming to his building. His brief call went like this: He screamed, "They are opening the door and coming up the steps; what should I do? I can't leave my family." (five-second pause) "Oh, they just kicked the door in, dear" God (then you could hear machine gun fire and muffled sounds of pain coming from his living room as he continued weeping and screaming). (two-second pause) "They just killed my daughters." (five-second pause) "They just killed my wife; my wife is dead; they are coming,"… and the call ended. One by one, they are killing our families for the crime of turning from Islam to Christ. Please pray for us to receive the balance of their need. Out of $505,000, we still need $135,000. Please designate your gift for 550 Families. Final Frontiers complies with rules and best practices as established by OFAC per Code of Federal Regulations § 542.516 (aka) Syria NGO general license |
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