"We praised God and prayed that the souls of the Syrian refugees here would be able to experience the love of God at the cross at Calvary, and receive salvation. We've witnessed the doors of heaven being opened as we proclaimed the gospel to the Muslim refugees, and prayed on behalf of them in the name of Jesus."
Pastor Sung-Kyu Park from Junimseun Church, located in Torrance, CA, has been sharing updates from his time in the refugee camp in Turkey, a location to which many Syrian refugees flee in escape from the persecution of the Islamic State. Pastor Park and the relief team from Junimseun Church has been at the refugee camp in Turkey since Jan. 13 and will remain there until Jan. 28. During their stay, they have been giving refugee families care packages worth $300, which include bread, drinking water, and blankets enough to last them one month.
"In these camps, we've seen overwhelming sorrow from the refugees, but through the love of the church, we've been able to give them joy and hope," Pastor Park wrote in his letter, "A Letter from the Turkey Refugee Camps." He shared that he was able to listen to, cry with, and pray for those who lost their families to the Islamic State, those whose loved ones starved to death, and those whose daughters were sold as slaves.
"When Korea was under Japanese rule, some 200,000 Korean women were sold as slaves to Japan, but now Korea has grown into one of the top 10 countries of economic advancement after many of us in the country accepted the gospel," he shared. "It was because I was a Korean that I was able to relate with their pain, and it was because I'm a Christian that I was able to show them the source of hope, and courage to live by the name of Jesus. I'm thankful for God's sovereign plans."
The team was able to experience several miracles during their stay at the refugee camps as well. A woman who was demon-possessed was able to become healed by prayer, and accepted the gospel. Many of those with disease were able to receive comfort as the team shared the gospel with them.
"As we met each refugee family, we felt that what was more significant than simply giving them the care packages was to pray with them, and through our prayers we saw the Spirit bring comfort to their hearts," Pastor Park shared.
Pastor Park was also able to preach at "Jireh School," a school run by Antioch Protestant Church for the children of refugee families. He shared that during his time there, 13 Syrian students and four staff decided to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. He also was able to baptize refugees and share in communion with them.
"This place has about 300,000 refugees, but only 15,000 receive benefits from the government, and the rest are simply abandoned. This is the perfect opportunity to share the gospel with them," Pastor Park shared, and encouraged recipients of the letter to give $100 for the refugee orphans. He further encouraged each church in the U.S. to give survival needs to the refugees in Turkey through Antioch Protestant Church, and for each pair of Christians to spiritually adopt one refugee orphan to pray for them and give $100 per month to them.
"After the war is over and these children grow and return to their home lands, I pray that they will be powerful messengers of the gospel," he said.
"I believe that if we take action together in this hope given to us by the Lord, that powerful miracles will occur in this dark land."
