Thank God for the 'pin pricks of light' in troubled Syria

by Lisa PearceAS Christmas approaches Lisa Pearce (right) of Open Doors based in Witney writes about those living in Syria and the refugees who have fled.

AS I look forward to a Christmas day of celebration, family and a table laden with good things, I know my thoughts will go to the Syrian refugees I met in Lebanon living in partly finished buildings - they and their children exposed to the bitter cold, to the mothers feeding their infants sugar-water because they can't afford baby milk; to the many others with faces blank, devoid of hope.

And I'll pray.

And I'll thank God for the pin-pricks of light right across Syria - the Church - the people of God; and for Emmanuel - God with us.

That Jesus would be born in make-shift accommodation, that he would spend his first years as a refugee in Egypt. My recent visit to Lebanon was the second this year.

With thousands of refugees arriving every day, it seems that towards the Syrian border every spare garage / shed / patch of ground is occupied by extended families, who have arrived in the country with nothing.

For so many people, life has just 'stopped'.

No jobs, no school for their children, no way to start re-building their future.

We met with Christians who had been pushed out of their towns because they were Christian, and mothers who had dressed their daughters in the hijab to avoid them being raped.

We met others who'd not been specifically targeted, but left because of the war. A light in the darkOpen Doors is working in Syria itself, with those who are desperately trying to stay, and be a light in that dark place.

Much of my time in Lebanon was spent talking with Christians who had come out of Syria to meet us.

Many of the key people we are working with have the opportunity to leave, but believe that God has called them to stay.

As a mum myself I'm in awe of the young parents I've met who are choosing to stay, and to serve, whatever the cost. By the grace of God we have been working inside Syria since before the war, which meant that when the war broke out, we were able to help very quickly because of our network of relationships throughout the country.

Thanks to our supporters, Open Doors is helping over 8,000 families - some 40,000 people - inside Syria each month with food, medicines, blankets, Bibles, baby milk - the basics they need to survive.

In some areas we're providing schooling for displaced children, and trauma counselling for both children and adults. Through the love, care and practical help that Christians are providing to those around them, people who were very antagonistic towards Christ, who'd never seen a Bible, are coming to Christ. And being able to provide food to so many families has not just stopped them going hungry, but has prevented other horrors.

Many desperate women in Syria are feeling forced into 'survival sex' - sex in return for food - as a way to feed their children.

As well as 8,000 families being helped each month, thousands of cards of encouragement to Syrian Christians have been written by Open Doors supporters at events, through our website and through appeals. For specific prayer needs and blogs from our partners inside Syria, to provide practical support and to speak up to our government on their behalf, please go to our website www. opendoorsuk. org/savesyria. Lisa Pearce is Deputy CEO of Open Doors UK and Ireland. THE Disasters Emergency Committee launched a Syria Crisis Appeal in March 2013.

Because of the scale of the conflict, the appeal, which would normally run for six months was extended as the funds were used by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, CAFOD, Save the Children and others to help deliver vital aid to Syrian people. In the run up to Christmas, Oxford based Oxfam launched its Syria Christmas Appeal to try and raise £1m in 12 days.

For more see www. oxfam. org. uk. Milton Keynes based World Vision is also working with partners in Syria.

Justin Byworth, CEO has welcomed UN peace talks on 22 January 2014.

"This is great news because these talks represent the best chance Syria's children have had in over two years for a future free from fear and violence," said Justin.

"For too long the agonies faced by Syria's children has been obscured by the complexity of the politics.

The simple fact is millions of Syrians have had their lives torn apart.

As the atrocities continue, we need leaders at the Security Council and beyond to show they are prepared to push urgently for peace and support humanitarian responses.

They need to come together to negotiate an immediate ceasefire, followed by peace talks. "The agency stated that at least 7,000 children had died in the conflict.

They quoted nine year old Syrian refugee, Abdurahman who said: "If you hear the sound of a helicopter, you have to run for your life.

But if you hear a plane, that means you are still alive, because it is very fast and you only hear it after it hits; but that also means that other people have died. "For more see www. worldvision. org. ukBishop John has written a prayer for Syria, for Open Doors:God of grace andtruth, you hold ourlives in your hand. Hold especially, wepray, your persecutedchurch in Syria wherefaith is costly, hope islow, and love is hard tofind. Give to your peoplestrength beyond theirimagining and joy thatcannot be quenched,that their witness mayprovoke others tofaith and cause yourkingdom to go forwardin peace and power. This we ask in theloving name of Jesus,Amen