Lutherans
to provide help for persecuted Christians, refugees
By Roger Drinnon
Ongoing violence in the Middle East
has led to a mass exodus of refugees — an estimated 4 million people have been
forced to leave their homes in Syria alone. Others have fled Iran, Afghanistan
and other Middle Eastern countries due to persecution by militant groups like
the Islamic State.
More than half of those fleeing the
Middle East are children, according to Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.
The most recent news headlines
report hundreds of thousands of people — mostly from the Middle East and Africa
— streaming into Europe. A large portion of these asylum-seekers look for
sanctuary in European countries like Germany. As Germany readies for as many as
800,000 more refugees in the coming year, the Selbständige
Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche (SELK), an LCMS partner church, is preparing to
respond, not only by providing for the immediate physical needs of the refugees
but also by providing for their spiritual care through the Gospel. As
they do, the LCMS will be walking alongside them.
Mercy and a new mission field
The SELK already has been caring
for refugees for some time now, and one of its congregations recently garnered
international media attention for its ministry of mercy.
“We have about 860 members; more
than 600 of them are former Muslimsbwho have become Christians during the last
[few] years,” said the Rev.Dr. Gottfried Martens, pastor of Trinity Lutheran
Church inbBerlin-Steglitz. “About 100 more people from Iran and Afghanistan are
in the process of preparation in order to receive Holy Baptism during the next
couple of months.”
In response to media reports
mentioning refugees converting to Christianity to improve chances of being
granted asylum, Martens said...
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Lutherans to provide help for persecuted Christians, refugees | LCMS News & Information
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