Since the beginning of fall 2015, huge numbers of refugees have started to pass through our country. Refugees and immigrants from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan Morocco and many other countries enter Greece every possible way they can, and eventually end up at the Greek-Fyrom borders in Eidomeni, Kilkis to enter in Fyrom with the hope of traveling to the rest of Europe.
“How can I stay in Syria? 5 different sides are forcing us to fight in war. Ashad’s government, the free fighters, ISIS, Al Qaeda and the Kurdish people. I didn’t have any other choice. I left in order to come to Europe and save my family and myself” says a young Syrian man.
The situation that exists in the Greek-Fyrom borders is very difficult. Men, women, elderly, young children and even babies are forced to become refugees. There is no government infrastructure. Everything that has been provided till now, has been given from UN, Red Cross, Doctors without Borders, other different non-profit organizations, ordinary people’s donations and from the Church.
The needs of those people are huge. Food, water, clothes, shoes, medicine are the most important as well as children’s milk, pampers etc.
The Free Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Berea, by the grace and power of God, until the middle of November 2015, has already visited the Greek-Fyrom borders several times, where the transit of refugees is taking place and God’s willing, we will keep on going there, at least once a week during winter time. We offer bottles of water, food, clothes, jackets, shoes and blankets.
This is something that the Bible teaches us to do: "For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me. Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25, 42-46
During our visits there, we have the amazing opportunity to talk with these refugees and immigrants, most of whom speak Arabic, and at least a little English, are Muslim and have never heard the Gospel.
In a remarkable way, the Lord brings these people close to us for a reason: To learn about the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Frankly, it is a Mission, taking place right on our doorstep, in our own country, not in a far country of Africa or the Pacific Ocean. As believers, we are called to reach these people, in order to spread the Word of God, to Muslim groups.
Our brother, Peter Pilon from The Netherlands ( who has already made the New Testament of Berea ), has already printed more than 100.000 Arabic New Testaments and the 30.000 of them, have arrived recently in Greece and will be distributed in Eidomeni, as well as other entry points into Greece like Lesbos, Mytilene, Chios, Kos and Samos.
So, our Mission to those refugees is primarily to show them the love of Jesus Christ, through our concern and our testimony for Him. We say to them that we are Christians and that we are there to help because this is the Will of God. We also tell them that we too were sinners, but Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came in our life and changed us. We ask them, if they want us to pray together, for the Lord to bless them, take control of their lives, protect them on their immigration way to Europe and of course to reveal Himself in their lives. At the end, we offer them a personal copy of the Arabic New Testament to read and keep.
We ask you all to participate by praying for this important Mission that our Lord, Jesus Christ has given us to do, for His glory.
You can also see some pictures at "Our photos" as well.
