Jordanian missionaries rescue and restore refugees

Indigenous missionaries in Jordan have witnessed heartbreaking stories among refugees from neighbouring countries who are trying to restore their lives back together again. With help from the Lord and prayer and gifts from prayer partners, Intercede International’s partner mission Manara Outreach Ministries has been rescuing these refugees and ministering to them in vital ways. 

“We don’t know why the world is filled with such suffering, but we know why we are here on earth and specifically in Jordan at this time,” explains Manara leader Rev. Isam Ghattas. “It is our responsibility as Christians to care for those Christ died to redeem; to minister to them as we would to Jesus himself. We at Manara are working on various projects that aim to comfort and support as many Christian refugees as possible.”

Manara’s relief efforts include micro-economic develpment projects through which financially struggling women from Muslim backgrounds have a chance to become economically self-sufficient. Manara also provides food, clothing, blankets, heaters and medical assistance to needy Christian families – including Syrian, Palestinian and Iraqi refugees. “We feed at least 4,000 or 5,000 families a month,” explains Ghattas. In the Jordan region, which has seen many wars, Manara helps victims of war, providing food and other needs. Manara also does some relief work in Iraq, such as providing clothes and blankets for needy people.

Syrian refugees not forgotten

Jordan has been overwhelmed with a flood of millions of refugees from Syria over the last few years, as the civil war has been raging in Syria. The Syrian Civil War is now in its 11th year, “and it seems to be barely newsworthy anymore,” reports Ghattas. “But the fact is that the fighting and bloodshed continue every day, with innocent civilians, many of these children, losing their lives from aerial and artillery bombardments. Only major battles receive any attention from the international media because so many people are being killed, and hundreds of thousands are being directly impacted by the constant fighting.

“Innocent children are the ones who suffer the most, and sadly, the world does not know what is happening to these people,” asserts Ghattas. “Sources reveal that among those fleeing are approximately 100,000 Christians. For them, the situation is especially dangerous as they are forced to flee to areas often dominated by extremist Muslim factions. Food, water and medicine are scarce.

“Through no fault of their own, people who only want to live peaceably in their homes are enduring incredible suffering. I believe that we, as Christians, need to do something. We need to be moved with compassion to help those who cannot help themselves – people who are feeling desperate, hopeless and forgotten. We need to demonstrate that, while the world seems to have forgotten them, we have not.”

Christians in Syria are suffering from not only the violence of civil war but also as targets by extremist Islamist rebel groups. An estimated 600,000 Christians have already fled the country or died. Those remaining face threats of kidnapping, torture, sexual assault and other persecution. Hundreds of thousands of Christians have become internal refugees, forced to flee from their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs, only to take shelter in refugee areas lacking food, water, medicine, electricity and gasoline.

“We constantly receive heartbreaking pleas for help,” reports Manara leader Isam Ghattas. “But we can only do what friends like you enable us to do through your compassionate gifts and persistent prayers. Satan appears to be trying to purge the Middle East of all of Christians. May God forbid it!” he declares.

“With so many desperate refugees, there is not nearly enough medical care,” says Ghattas. “We were able to buy, refurnish, and supply a mobile clinic to provide free medical services.” Manara has also provided housing in apartments for many refugees. 

“Manara is thankful to the Lord, who has enabled us to assist and provide for our suffering brothers and sisters – distributing basic life supplies such as food packages, heaters,” writes Ghattas.”

Manara is striving to help thousands of Syrian refugee families, by supporting and providing emergency distribution food and non-food items to them – such as rent costs, mattresses, clothes and medicine. With caution and discernment, Manara also supplies Christian literature to those in need. “It’s an extreme need: support for the refugees,” writes Ghattas. “Thank you for standing with us and for comforting and strengthening our persecuted Syrian brothers and sisters. As a Jordanian organization that has been working in refugee aid for years, one of Manara’s strengths is that we have relationships of trust with contacts across the country.”

 (INS- Intercede International, Fort Erie, ON)