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This week I am in Turin, Italy, speaking at the PEM (Pentecostal European Mission) Conference on ministering the Gospel to refugees and immigrants. Key missions leaders from all across Europe are excited as never before at what is taking place. Churches had mobilised to minister to Syrian refugees, expecting it to be a purely humanitarian mission to terrified people fleeing civil war and the unspeakable brutality of ISIS.Instead it is turning out to be the most significant evangelistic event in any of our lifetimes. Missionaries are reporting that refugees, as soon as they cross the border, are lining up and asking for copies of the Bible. For many, as soon as they are no longer in an Islamic country, their first question is “How do I become a Christian?” Churches in Germany, that have been spiritually moribund for years with increasingly elderly congregations, are suddenly crying out for workers to help them disciple the new Middle Eastern converts that are coming to their services. Some of them, who normally rarely baptise any converts, are now holding baptistmal services every month. In Turkey, itself a Muslim country, Syrian churches are starting up. Many of these new believers are members of designated Unreached People Groups, those whom it is almost impossible to evangelize in their own countries.A few weeks ago I talked with a wonderful young man, a student in one of our Church of God Bible schools, who came to Europe as a refugee from the Middle East. He grew up as a Muslim, but is now a Pentecostal believer. Today he is leading a group of students who visit a local refugee camp to minister on a regular basis. Not only that, but several times a year he travels to Iraq to preach in the many new churches that are springing up there.In Ireland we now have seven Church of God pastors (three of them ex-Muslims) who came to our country as refugee/asylum seekers.I recently spoke with an evangelist working in the Middle East. He made an amazing statement, “ISIS have caused more people to turn to Christ than Billy Graham.”God is truly doing something great in our generation Senior Pastor, Solid Rock Church, DroghedaNational Overseer, Church of God, IrelandExecutive Director, Evangelical Alliance Irelandhttp://eaiseanchai.wordpress.com/

Thanks for sharing this encouraging testimony.When the refugee crisis started, my wife had a desire to go to Europe and minister to the people there. If Christians will preach and minister, this is a great opportunity. It is also better for Europe if the Syrian who aren't believers repent and believe the Gospel. Many see the refugee situation as a curse, when many good things could come out of it, in spite of the suffering it has caused.The Bible predicts a time when Yahweh will bless Assyria, calling Assyria the work of His hands. And regarding Ishmael, Abraham prayed that Ishmael might live before the LORD, and the Lord said that He had heard His prayer. There's a lot of material there to use in intercession

Nick,Then....What are we doing wrong in America?If all these Muslims are turning to Christ, we aren't seeing it here. Most stay Muslim - or at best secular (here in North Florida). I don't see a great awakening to Christ here

Maybe - but I doubt it.That's just way too simplistic Eddie... but it fits the blame America for doing everything wrong crowd - even though America has been the country that provides the most aid, blood and guts for all of the world. I guess they separate that out as well.However, we should set up a way to aid them in their own countries - and to help them rid themselves of terrorists - and preach the gospel to them.The govt has a mandate to protect its citizens first - you know, provide for the common DEFENSE - and importing folks that want to blow up your home and theater and marathon defeats that basic purpose of govt.If you know of a way to screen them out - it would be fine. About the only common theme is to find out of they adhere to the Muslim faith - or like to say Alahu Ahkbar (which seems to be the one common denominator in all of these terrorist activities). Our govt is too stupid to check this - so we are forced to keep all of them out

Thanks for a great positive post. I certainly appreciate it.It seems no stretch to understand, Eddie, coming from under the 'knife' of ISIS, to seek some relief. I doubt if your church has had any apply for help or conversion. Ours has not. Neither has there been any open invitations for Christians to enter the 'enclaves' here.There has been no such situation here in the USA, the Muslim here is ensconced in his previous life, and already has his mosque fellows. Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]://shipslog-jack.blogspot.com/

I certainly do not want to be negative about such a great post. It is a breath of fresh air after what we see on the news here concerning the Syrian refugees. Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]://shipslog-jack.blogspot.com/

Re: God Doing a Mighty Work Among Syrian Refugees

Great news!!!

Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking of Muslims as one group, which would be like lumping all 'Christians' together whether they be Church of God or Episcopalians.Certain Muslim groups are more open to Christ than others. Iranians, for example, tend to be wide open to the Gospel. I noticed recently that there are at least 12 Iranian churches in one US city (Los Angeles).Syrians are also wide open. Floyd McClung tweeted this morning: I've never experienced such openness to Jesus in 60 years of following Jesus as among Syrian refugees. It's a tipping point. A number of commentators are now seriously predicting that ISIS are causing 'the end of Islam' (Lord, how I wish that were true, but I think they're getting carried away in their enthusiasm).But I think the attitude of the churches is key as well. Do we look at world events in faith or in fear?For example, due to geography (living on an island) no refugees can walk to Ireland or arrive on a train. The only Syrian refugees that come here are by inter-governmental arrangement. Irish pastors have their congregations praying that the refugees, as they arrive, will be housed as close to our churches as possible. We are really looking forward to the opportunity to win them for Christ, and are disappointed if they are housed in another part of the country! Then I log onto Facebook, and I see Pentecostal pastors in the US demanding that their State Governors ban any refugees from coming to their State.This is puzzling since Christians in Europe and the US share the same Bible. I do notice that European Christians (the born-again kind, not nominal believers) tend to define their identity in terms of their faith, often caring little for their national identity which is seen as an accident of birth. They see themselves more as citizens of the kingdom of heaven, whereas American Christians are often more nationalistic. Also, in Europe, you don't get many Christians identifying strongly with one political party, as happens in the US. For example, when European pastors post on Facebook or Twitter about immigration they tend to quote Scripture. When American pastors post on the same subject they are much more likely to refer to political parties and politicians. That isn't intended as a criticism or a slam - just an observation on how culturally different our churches have become on either side of the Atlantic.The main thing, which I'm sure we can all rejoice about on both sides of the Atlantic, is that today more Muslims are turning to Christ that at any time in history Senior Pastor, Solid Rock Church, DroghedaNational Overseer, Church of God, IrelandExecutive Director, Evangelical Alliance Irelandhttp://eaiseanchai.wordpress.com/

Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking of Muslims as one group, which would be like lumping all 'Christians' together whether they be Church of God or Episcopalians.Certain Muslim groups are more open to Christ than others. Iranians, for example, tend to be wide open to the Gospel. I noticed recently that there are at least 12 Iranian churches in one US city (Los Angeles).Syrians are also wide open. Floyd McClung tweeted this morning: I've never experienced such openness to Jesus in 60 years of following Jesus as among Syrian refugees. It's a tipping point. A number of commentators are now seriously predicting that ISIS are causing 'the end of Islam' (Lord, how I wish that were true, but I think they're getting carried away in their enthusiasm).But I think the attitude of the churches is key as well. Do we look at world events in faith or in fear?For example, due to geography (living on an island) no refugees can walk to Ireland or arrive on a train. The only Syrian refugees that come here are by inter-governmental arrangement. Irish pastors have their congregations praying that the refugees, as they arrive, will be housed as close to our churches as possible. We are really looking forward to the opportunity to win them for Christ, and are disappointed if they are housed in another part of the country! Then I log onto Facebook, and I see Pentecostal pastors in the US demanding that their State Governors ban any refugees from coming to their State.This is puzzling since Christians in Europe and the US share the same Bible. I do notice that European Christians (the born-again kind, not nominal believers) tend to define their identity in terms of their faith, often caring little for their national identity which is seen as an accident of birth. They see themselves more as citizens of the kingdom of heaven, whereas American Christians are often more nationalistic. Also, in Europe, you don't get many Christians identifying strongly with one political party, as happens in the US. For example, when European pastors post on Facebook or Twitter about immigration they tend to quote Scripture. When American pastors post on the same subject they are much more likely to refer to political parties and politicians. That isn't intended as a criticism or a slam - just an observation on how culturally different our churches have become on either side of the Atlantic.The main thing, which I'm sure we can all rejoice about on both sides of the Atlantic, is that today more Muslims are turning to Christ that at any time in history! Thanks for the insight. This is indeed good news