Where would we be without refugees? Five Minutes on Friday with the LPD

Good morning friends,

Two weeks until Christmas Day!

This is the week that our first refugees from Syria and other oppressed regions arrive in Canada.

In thinking about refugees, I believe that we are all indebted to refugees. Where would we be in the faith without them?

The Exodus was a Nation of refugees, directed from slavery in Egypt to the Land that God promised them.

Throughout history, God has disciplined His people through the “teachable moment (or 70 years)” of exile and captivity.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, as a baby was taken by Joseph and Mary to Egypt to flee a vengeful and paranoid King Herod (Matthew 2).

The first church planters were refugees! Fleeing the persecution in Jerusalem after the murder of Stephen, “lay people” left Jerusalem, sharing the Good News as they went. Some of them ended up in Antioch, where they planted a church. Word of this travelled back to Jerusalem, so they sent their “District Superintendent,” Barnabas to check this out. In today’s words, “All was good!” God was at work and people were being saved! Followers of Christ were first called “Christians” in Antioch.

Thinking back a couple of years, I well remember the citizenship ceremony for Pastor Sammy Kabyemera, as he and his family become Canadians two years ago. They came as refugees from Congo via Uganda. Now, they are fellow citizens with us in Canada. The experience of witnessing their citizenship ceremony illustrated to me powerfully the still greater work of God in bringing us together in Christ. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ…

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. ²¹In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Eph. 2: 11- 13;19-22).

God can do great things in and through these current refugees to Canada. May they both see and hear the Gospel through God’s people – maybe you and me!

The task of resettlement is both exciting and a bit overwhelming! Last week, I was able to visit the Middle East Friendship Centre in North Surrey, to see first-hand the preparations being made and also to witness the generosity of our community.

I met Adel Masoud, once a Imam in Islam, and now a brother in Jesus Christ through a miracle of God’s grace. He is father to Steve Masoud, who is Youth and Young Adults Director at Johnston Heights Church.

Adel and Layla Masoud are the founders and directors of the Middle Eastern Friendship Centre, which serves and reaches out to immigrants from the Middle East. They offer English classes, and a variety of services, and while doing this share the Good News.

Adel believes that the Centre is well situated and equipped to reach out to the coming refugees, and welcomes our partnership with them. There are both ministry opportunities and financial needs. Adel invites us to join them in ministering to the refugees already coming to our region. There are opportunities for donations, for volunteers and for those who will step forward to minister to these people from afar.

Please see their website for more information, or call Adel at (604) 288-5588.

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Please see the attached Five Minutes on Friday, with news and prayer items from the LPD, and also see the attachment featuring Quadra Island Bible Church, our LPD Church of the Week.

Upcoming Events:

LPD Conference – March 4,5 – 2016 –on the theme Coaching and Mentoring. Please see the attachment!

May God bless and keep you as you look to the Lord, and trust him for his good work through the week ahead.

In Jesus,

Rob

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This year, as our Lower Pacific District assists in the birth and revitalization of churches, we also step out in faith with local churches through providing financial support and seed money. To this end, we appreciate the gifts of many district churches and also of individuals. You can participate through both cheques and online through PayPal at our website. See LPD website for more info.