Ministering to Refugees in Europe

A number of our AGWM/Europe personnel are responding to the need of the refugees which are flooding into Europe. An example of this activity is what is being done in Italy. In November, with cold weather arriving, distribution of blankets was done in a center which housed about 200 refugees. These refugees came from Somalia, Eritrea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kurdistan, and other countries. A team of nine who went on this visit displayed genuine love and friendliness.

Besides the blankets, these refugees were given New Testaments, each in their own language, which were gladly received. One gave a big thumbs up when he saw what it was, and another said, “I want to know more about Jesus Christ.”

image001.jpgA number of our AGWM/Europe personnel are responding to the need of the refugees which are flooding into Europe. An example of this activity is what is being done in Italy.

In November, with cold weather arriving, distribution of blankets was done in a center which housed about 200 refugees. These refugees came from Somalia, Eritrea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kurdistan, and other countries. A team of nine who went on this visit displayed genuine love and friendliness.

image002.jpgBesides the blankets, these refugees were given New Testaments, each in their own language, which were gladly received. One gave a big thumbs up when he saw what it was, and another said, “I want to know more about Jesus Christ.”

The director eventually asked the team to stop giving out the NTs but that they could do so outside the center. A few days later, when returning to the center with winter clothes, a refugee couple came outside and asked, “Why didn’t you give us a New Testament when you came last time?” So, of course, they were each given one. Many of these refugees from countries where access to the Good News is very limited, are obviously open, curious, and hungry to learn about Jesus.

At another center, the refugees were invited to come to church the next day, so eight of them were ready to be picked up by the van. Six of them went forward at the end of the service for prayer.

The refugee crisis is an unprecedented opportunity for the spread of the Gospel.