Caring for Christian Refugee Children
Our 2022 Christmas for Refugees events faced some last minute obstacles in two countries causing events to be rescheduled. Riots in Jordan and a fatal pesticide accident in Bethlehem required us to take action. Learn more in this article
Most of the Christmas for Refugees events in Lebanon and Syria were reinstated. One of the Christmas programs for Syrian refugee children was held in Akkar which is in the far north of Lebanon. About one out of every three people now living in Akkar are Syrian refugees.
With all the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic this Christmas season, it was apparent that changes had to be made to our traditional Christmas programs. Here are the new guidelines for the 2020 Christmas for Refugees program.
Several Christmas events were held in Jordan in 2019. The situations the children live in as refugees are just as bad as the worst inner-city slums we have in Detroit or Baltimore. At the same time, there is a flagrant display of wealth in opulent malls, restaurants and social gathering places. This kind of opulence is nowhere to be seen in the Christian villages.
Two Christmas for Refugees events were held in the Holy Land this year. Please pray for the Christians of the West bank, particularly the children. As far as Israel is concerned, they are Palestinians and not welcome in Israel. They are unwanted by the Muslims that control the West Bank and unwanted by Israel. They are literally refugees in the land where their families lived long before the time Jesus was born there.
The Christmas program in 2019 was the third we have held at the orphanage in Nigeria. At all times we must be reminded that most of the children have lost both parents to Islamic groups such as the Boko Haram and Fulani Herdsmen. Just as was done for Christmas in 2017 all the children received shoes again in 2019. The day long Christmas celebration included puppet shows and each age group performed in a celebration of the birth of Jesus.
In Iraq our ministry partner is working on ways to better reach out to families that participate, and to provide them spiritual support. The same is true of our Diapers for Refugees program. We want to do more than just provide a service; we want to help families get connected to a local church and develop a lasting relationship with the Lord.
Our Easter event at the orphanage had to be cut short to move children out of the camp for safety. My heart was touched by how much the children truly appreciated the Christmas program we organized in December. They proudly wore the shoes we gave them for Christmas, although one younger boy apparently had…
In December of 2017 5,046 families had returned to the liberated Christian village of Qaraqosh, Iraq. There was no poser, no running water, but thanks to Christmas for Refugees the birth of Jesus was celebrated by the children.
Christmas events for Christian refugee children now in four countries! Nigeria: The first Christmas for Refugees event to be held in Nigeria was at an orphanage in the heart of the conflict zone. The orphanage is in the town of Miango in Plateau State just about 26 kilometers (16 miles) from Jos which has seen church…