Over the past several months I’ve been hearing and reading more and more about the refugee crisis in Syria. I did not realize how bad it was until very recently a statistic and call for help had me in tears. Twelve million people have been effected by the violence in Syria. TWELVE MILLION HUMAN BEINGS. This is the worst humanitarian crisis we’ve seen since World War II.
I sat through church today thinking about how to help. I can give money and will. The Masterpiece Fund is giving a substantial donation to World Vision, an organization that has so far helped two million refugees. They need our help. I know you may be thinking, “I give all the time to various charities.” Or, “I need the money for [fill in the blank].” As I sat in the hot tub at the gym after taking a nice Sunday swim I gave praise and thanks to God that my family and I are not frightened for our lives, aren’t walking a thousand miles to try to reach a country that will let us in, that we don’t live in shacks without clean water or food, and that we have amazingly blessed lives. I definitely don’t need so much of what I have and can spare some cash for human beings who have nothing and are fleeing for their lives.
Can you look around at all you have and give thanks? Can you look around at all you have and think about how you would survive without most of it? I think you could easily. I think the tiniest bit of sacrifice can make a huge difference in one person’s life.
Please pray for these people and do whatever you can to help. Here is a link to World Vision where you can donate and where they have information about the crisis that I will copy below.
http://donate.worldvision.org/ways-to-give
Fast Facts:
- Nearly 12 million Syrians have been forced from their homes by the fighting; half are children.
- At least 7.6 million have been displaced within Syria, and more than 4 million have fled as refugees in neighboring countries.
- Increasing numbers of refugees are making dangerous attempts to reach Europe. About 51 percent of them are from Syria, the UN Refugee Agency says.
- Children affected by the Syrian conflict are at risk of becoming ill, malnourished, abused, or exploited. Millions have been forced to quit school.
- Since the beginning of this crisis, World Vision has helped more than 2 million people in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq.
- In response to the migration toward Europe, we are now also providing aid in Serbia.
– See more at: http://www.worldvision.org/news-stories-videos/syria-war-refugee-crisis#sthash.VfndRQhZ.dpuf.
Mathew 25: 35-36
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
Masterpiece Fund 