Hikmat Kashouh shared in January how the Resurrection Church in Beirut follows Jesus by serving Syrian refugees.
‘As a church we had Syrians come to us and they were totally without hope. They had lost their homes, lost their land, lost their properties. The people were traumatised and they came broken, totally in despair. They had no food, no clothes except the ones they were wearing. We had to join hands with a number of churches to be able to serve them,’ he said.
Challenge for the church
The particular challenges Hikmat and his church face in serving these refugees are huge. ‘They are spiritually hurt, they are angry with God, they are emotionally broken and traumatised. Some of them are sick physically in addition to spiritually and emotionally.
Hikmat said that church members initially complained when the refugees started attending. ‘They were a little bit suspicious, some of them were concerned. But through teaching, through listening, we helped some of our members to understand that now it’s God at work. We needed to help one another to be able to work efficiently and effectively and serve those God is bringing into our lives.
Leaders washing feet
‘It was a huge transformation in their lives, when they saw us as leaders bowing down and washing the feet of those who were once our enemies. Doing these acts of love and servanthood made a huge difference in the heart of our congregation and community.’
And how to reach Muslims with the good news of Jesus? ‘It’s always costly to love, so when you act with love there is something you might lose. Some people hate what we’re doing; I’ve even been threatened. But love is greater than life. It’s a journey with Christ, who is teaching us to love unconditionally and it’s really by doing it, not just saying it.’
‘Sharing Christ without love doesn’t help. The best way to reach out to Muslims is by really being loving, and at the same time bold, faithful, say the truth as it is, with no compromise, after you have built a relationship of love and care.’
