Solidarity With Christಮಾದರಿ

Give us this day our daily bread

“...and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” Isaiah 58:10 

Scripture makes it clear that we are meant to embrace those who suffer with love, solidarity, and generosity. In doing so, we bring glory and honor to Jesus, the light of the world. It is why we care for and want to serve displaced people. People like Khalid. 

No father should have to take his family away from their home, but this is Khalid’s reality. When fierce fighting broke out in his hometown of Idlib, Syria, Khalid gathered up his wife and two children and fled, fearing for their lives.

The family just managed to escape into Turkey unharmed. But for many refugees, escaping is just the beginning of their hardships. Khalid had to spend all the money that he had on getting his family from Turkey to Greece – itself a perilous journey across the sea.

The family arrived at the Greek island of Chios with no food and no money; but there was, at least, hope. Tearfund’s local Christian partners were there on Chios, offering vital support.

When we met with Khalid, he took us away to talk in broken English about what they’d been through. He didn’t want his family to see him as he started to break down, recollecting some of the awful things they had experienced. “I just want a life for my family,” he said.

Our partners have provided food and hygiene kits for Khalid and his family. He was delighted with what he received, but his appreciation was for more than just physical things. What he appreciated most was the sentiment behind the gifts – that people actually cared.

We will never stop caring for refugees like Khalid and his family. Let us all continue to pour out our prayers on their behalf.

Prayer

Lord, you made us to know what hunger is, but also to know the goodness of your provision. We pray for those like Khalid and his family who had to flee their homes, who are doing all they can to stay safe and survive. For whom hunger is a crippling, life-threatening danger. We pray for those who have nothing and those who have too little to eat: would you provide for them and allow us to be part of the solution? Amen

Action

In solidarity with those who experience hunger, and who are dependent on emergency relief for their meals we will only eat two meals today-- each consisting of a half cup of rice and a half cup of beans.