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BECAUSE RELATIONSHIPS MATTER

10.12.15 PM
Forum Session
Speakers: Arto Sadeaho, Jim Neely, Voulu Antouan, Terry Hoggard

Arto Sädeaho

Arto shared two videos: one about his work and life in missions and the second about his passion for international church ministry.

Jim Neely

Started an international church in Tehran in the 1970s.  Had many people from India and Phillipines at that time.

We now focus working with immigrants, primarily with Iranians.  15-20 Iranians have been Baptist at Brussels Christian Center the last year. Showed short clip about new Bible translated into Farsi and the poetic style of the language.

The Iranian new year – helped provide 500 Bibles for VCC at the last Iranian new year. Good quality New Testaments. Lots of different ideas to reach Muslims but you don’t reach them without the power of God. If you have the spirit of Christ on you today you can reach them.

Lots of Iranians are coming to Turkey. One lady said she didn’t want a Bible because ‘everyone who reads it becomes a Christian’.

Contact: James Neely: [email protected]

Global Initiative has podcasts on Islam

http://globalinitiativeinfo.com/global-initiative-coffee-break

Migrant crisis: Migration to Europe explained in graphics

http://www.bbc.com/new/world-europe-34131911

#1: Syria

#2: Afghanistan

#3: Kosovo

Iranians are some of the most educated people coming out of the Middle East. Majority coming to Brussels are college-educated.

Talked about book: ’20 Questions Muslims Ask’

Larry: Talked about refugees – by showing love to them we’re seeing hearts opened.

Voula Antouan from Athens

Felt like God was calling us to start a ministry to Syrians: Humanitarian Initiative Bridges. To be a bridge to Europe, churches, and make them the next resource to go out and reach their people.

  • 140,000 Syrians fled Syria to Turkey after the airstrikes.

Target is not to make them Christians but to share the Living Jesus with them.  You don’t try to convert or ask them if they want to be a Christian; watch our terms; but we ask if we can pray for them, etc. They say ‘yes’. If we let them go with a good taste of Greece they are going to look for the same taste.

Important to disciple them, 95% of our volunteers are the Syrians. Now you have to take care of them. Building bridges isn’t about numbers, but about people. Greece is a transit country and they move by waves. It’s important to build bridges to their hearts.

How do we build bridges?

  • 95% of our workers are Syrians
  • Be in touch with the community and the authorities
  • Walk with the Syrians on an everyday base
  • Help with their needs without creating dependent people
  • Plant a church

We spend a lot of time building relationships – sitting with them while on a hunger strike, brought tea and guitar; bringing a quadriplegic to a house; sowing seeds. Have to open churches, houses and hearts.

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