try to imagine
being
on the run, barely escaping a violent ruler with your life. In your hurry to
escape, you are forced to leave behind life as you know it. Leaving behind
family, friends, relationships and any sense of normalcy, you now have to make your
way hundreds of miles across treacherous terrain in order to reach the border
that hopefully promises safety. Likely, you join a caravan of immigrants in
order to protect yourself on the dangerous journey from looters, thieves and
robbers. Food and water are scarce, and it is nearly impossible to escape the
natural elements because there is no shelter. As you reach your destination,
the reality sets in that you have to start all over. You are living the life of
a refugee.
Escaping oppression
and violence is not new to this world:
Moses
was a refugee
David
was a refugee.
Elijah
was a refuge
Even
Jesus was a refugee.
Today we join with
other churches across the country to observe National Refugee Sunday. The issue of refugees – and how to best
address this worldwide crisis – has become very politicized. This is a complex issue, one in which Christ
followers hold varying viewpoints about political solutions. We aren’t making a political statement today.
Instead, we want to talk about what scripture says about caring for our
neighbors and those who are oppressed and vulnerable.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to
eat,
I was thirsty and you gave me something to
drink.
I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me,
I was sick and you looked after me,
I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
Matthew 25:35-36
He defends the cause of the fatherless and the
widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and
clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners,
for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.
Since the beginning of
this conflict in 2011, more than 11 million people have been forced from their
homes; 4.8 million are refugees who have fled to other countries due
to violence and immediate dangers. More
than half of these refugees are children. Globally, one out of every 122 people
is now either a refugee, internally displaced or seeking asylum
We believe you care
about the distress the people of Syria are experiencing. We also think you may
be overwhelmed with what do…or wondering if there is any way you can really
help.
Here are three places to start:
1. Lake Forest, through
our denomination, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church is supporting Syrian
Refugee Relief Efforts through a crisis fund. If you'd like to know more about
EPC efforts and how to give directly to the fund, check this out. EPC
crisis giving
2. Contact our missio Dei
Team Leader Andy Muhich, amuhich@lakeforest.org
Globally, LFC and our
denomination partner with missionaries on the ground in the Middle East
and Europe who are in the trenches of refugee camps and helping refugees
get established. because they are already involved, they can
direct our prayers and support.
Locally, in LKN and
Charlotte, there are many refugee and foreign people, living on the margin
in our society. This is an area of growth for LFC; at present we aren't
involved in any efforts to serve the needs of refugees who quite literally are
our neighbors. If you are interested in being a leader within our own
tribe to help us discover our church’s role and help us live out this role in
God’s story, Andy would love to talk with you.
3. and ultimately, when
you see images or hear news about the refugee situation, pray.
Let’s do that together now…
Let’s do that together now…
Lord,
Psalm 46:9 declares
that You “make wars cease to the ends of the earth.” Help those in conflict
with one another to come to a peaceful solution, so that civilians may resume
their daily lives.
Lord,
Come to the aid of
families who have fled to safety. Guide them to places where they can find help
and rest. Provide host communities with the resources to assist families
arriving on their doorstep.
Lord, we trust in
You.
Lord
Have mercy on those
who have no warm place to stay. Provide desperate families with ample resources
to withstand the weather. Infuse aid organizations with extra supplies to meet
their variety of needs.
Lord, we trust in You.
Lord,
We lift to You our brothers
and sisters in Christ living in this region. Strengthen them with power through
Your Holy Spirit to be a light in this darkness. Empower to be Your hands and
feet to the many suffering around them. Give them the peace of Your Presence.
Gracious Lord,
Awaken us to the
needs of the vulnerable. Help us not grow weary in doing what is right and good
in Your eyes. Remind us to engage on the behalf of the most helpless of these
as we would if it were our own families. Give us the courage to be generous advocates
for peace in this world.
Lord we trust in You.
Amen.
0 comments:
Post a Comment