During a prayer journey to pre-war Syria, in the city of Aleppo, I captured photos of a number of unforgettable people. One of those was of a young school-girl we called Miriam. We prayed for her. It was as if she represented all Syrians for us, even though she was one anonymous little girl.
Four years later, as Team Expansion full-timers began to arrive in the region, I led a second prayer journey to Syria. While there, we decided one day that we would try to find her. All we had to go on was one snapshot — in a city of 2 million people. After many hours, one local informant recognized a sign on a wall in the background of the photo. Thirty minutes later, we were drinking tea with “Miriam” and her family. She was a shy, dark-eyed 12-year-old with bright hopes in a promising future. She didn’t have email — and messages to her uncle haven’t been answered since. No one knows now if she’s even still alive. But Miriam still matters. She matters to us — and she matters to God. We hope she matters to you. Do you have a story about a “Miriam” in Syria or another country torn by war, also producing a flood of refugees? If so, would you strip it of anything “secure” and share it in a “comment” box following the web version of this item? If so, thank you in advance for sharing.
In fall 2015 about 400 to 500 refugees arrive in Germany’s second largest city, Hamburg, every day. In many parts of the city accommodation for these refugees is being arranged, including in the district of Wilhelmsburg, where an OM team works. Here, the team leader Jochen* shares about meeting two young refugees who hunger to know the truth.
On 1 October there was an open council with the leader of the district exchange office in Wilhelmsburg, Hamburg, about the refugee policy. My wife, Marlene*, and I attended.
When a group of refugees arrived, we were asked to translate for them from German to English. Marlene translated for a group of women, and I translated for two young men. When we were introduced, and the two learnt that I am a pastor, they became very excited and said they wanted to meet with me. I told them I was about to leave the next morning for 11 days on a trip to Turkey.
On 13 October I was at the airport in Hamburg after my trip waiting for our luggage to arrive when my mobile phone rang. One of the men was calling me. They wanted to meet, saying it was urgent.
When we met the next day in our office and finished the obligatory small talk, they said they’d come to change their religion. I learnt a bit more about the background of the two brothers.
While in their country they started to search the Internet about information about Christianity in their language. A friend of theirs, who also was interested, was found out and killed by radical Islamists. After consultation with their father, wife and children, they fled to Germany.
We were some of the first Germans they had met outside of those processing them, and they used this opportunity to ask us questions. I invited them to come to our house two days later so we could watch the Jesus film in their language. Our two interns were there as well, and Marlene prepared a nice meal.
After the film we talked about some of the scenes in the movie, about the term “Son of God” and that changing religions is a question of the heart and not a formality. They clearly were touched.
After being asked if they wanted to receive Jesus, they said yes, and we ended with a time of prayer. The younger one said, “I believe I have become a son of God now!” We hugged each other and affirmed one another that we are brothers now.
On Sunday they came to our Church service. Before this, I had gotten literature in their language, and I found someone who lives close to Hamburg and speaks this language. He also came to church that Sunday and translated parts of the service to them. Now we meet regularly for Bible study.
So many refugees have seen and experienced the true face of Islam. They are fed up with it and long for a real relationship with God. We don’t want this opportunity to go by without doing something.
Wow PB. Exciting story! I’m guessing the asterisks mean, “*Name changed for security’s sake.” Thanks for taking time to share.