For Syrians, the world has been crumbling for years, and this February’s earthquake added mounds to the prevailing literal and figurative rubble of a nation torn aside by the interior strife of civil struggle.

“The individuals of Syria have been so damaged by struggle and the determined scenario there for over a decade now,” mentioned Raleigh Clements, who has served with the Worldwide Mission Board for 13 years. “This simply compounded on an already determined scenario.”

Evie Tucker, who additionally serves with the IMB, mentioned many Syrians say the earthquake was worse than the struggle. They knew the struggle was coming, and whereas they didn’t have lengthy to arrange, most had the choice of deciding whether or not to remain or go away and will take a few of their possessions. The earthquake struck with no warning and in the midst of the night time. Tucker mentioned males, ladies and youngsters poured out of condo buildings of their pajamas — within the pouring rain. Many, if not most, needed to go away with out their ID playing cards.

Going through hopelessness

Tucker mentioned her Syrian refugee mates face hopelessness.

Some have been displaced from their homeland for 10 years and battle to construct a life for themselves. The considered having to maneuver and begin over but once more is daunting. Syrians who reside in cities farther away from the earthquake’s epicenter have welcomed into their houses members of the family who needed to relocate. Receiving their members of the family was emotionally tough.

“You’ve obtained traumatized individuals receiving traumatized individuals, and all people is being retraumatized,” Tucker mentioned. “How far more can these individuals take?”

In Syria, with out the right infrastructure or equipment, many individuals dig by means of the rubble with their naked palms — the concrete, glass and particles wedging underneath their fingernails. Political sanctions additionally complicate aid efforts in addition to bans on bringing and utilizing U.S. {dollars} within the nation.

An estimated 4 million Syrians reside in Turkey — the place the earthquake toppled buildings and lives. Devastation in Turkey was extra intensive, however extra worldwide aid organizations are responding. The convenience of entry into Turkey and the developed infrastructure makes restoration and aid efforts a lot simpler for worldwide aid organizations. In Syria, this has not been the case.

Ship Reduction tasks, made doable by means of the generosity of Southern Baptists, are underway and are ongoing throughout the area. Clements and Ship Reduction workers estimate round 500,000 Syrians have been displaced due to the earthquake.

Along with assembly bodily wants, Clements hopes to institute a long-term psychological well being program that can assist individuals address their trauma and work by means of the struggling they’ve skilled. The hope is for Christians in Syria to obtain coaching on-line or by touring to a extra open nation.

About 300,000 Syrian refugees reside within the space the place the Clements reside. This statistic displays pre-war numbers. The couple has an energetic ministry among the many refugees, they usually wish to make use of related methods within the earthquake space and use current connections.

Clements met with Syrian Christians when he visited a metropolis devastated by the earthquake. Shock was nonetheless written on everybody’s faces, however testimonies of God’s faithfulness have been written on their hearts.

Clements asks for prayers for Syrians as they grapple with one more tragedy. He requested Southern Baptists to wish God can be near Syrians and luxury them.

Gideon second

Tucker mentioned a go to to the area reminded her of a struggle zone. She’s from Tennessee and is accustomed to the destruction tornadoes carry, however she was moved by the big swath of destruction that extends far previous conventional twister radiuses.

She walked previous her favourite espresso store to search out it in shambles. The falafel store she had loved earlier than is gone. She visited one metropolis the place 80% of the buildings shall be leveled and rebuilt.

“What’s the factor that the Lord is desirous to see occur amongst Syrians and the way is He asking us to be part of that?” Tucker is asking herself.

Tucker has made a number of journeys to a closely hit area to evaluate and meet wants. One of many journeys was with a Ship Reduction staff, and one other with a Southern Baptist Catastrophe Response staff. Her staff works with nationwide believers and native church buildings to help households and communities affected by the earthquake. Their support is available in a wide range of varieties, together with supplying meals and tents and internet hosting volunteer groups who present medical evaluation and water filtration techniques.

Her native associate is investing in distant villages that haven’t acquired a lot support. The inhabitants of certainly one of these villages is predominantly widows and their kids.

Tucker mentioned she and different Christians have had extra significant religious conversations at a quicker fee than standard.

Lots of their conversations are punctuated by questions: “Why do you suppose God let this earthquake occur?” and “Is God punishing individuals?” and “Is He indignant?” and “There are such a lot of individuals who didn’t know the Lord earlier than they died. Why did God let that occur?”

Deeper conversations

Tucker anticipates that, as they proceed to observe up on the brand new relationships, they may transfer into deeper conversations.

Tucker met an aged girl staying in a tent within the courtyard of a church. The girl was afraid to sleep as a result of she feared there is likely to be one other aftershock. She misplaced her husband within the earthquake. Her kids reside overseas, and since she has no paperwork or IDs, she is unable to journey to them. Filled with emotion, she advised Tucker she felt alone. Tucker shared how God guarantees He won’t ever go away or forsake her, and He loves her and sees her, although she feels alone. The ladies prayed collectively and the lady left feeling inspired.

She’s heard tales of Syrian Christians who acquired members of the family who evacuated from the earthquake zone and have shared the gospel with their non-Christian family members.

Tucker mentioned her staff is experiencing a Gideon-like season the place, like Gideon within the Bible, God decreased their numbers. In Judges 7, God instructed Gideon to cut back the variety of males in his military.

“Our staff has gotten actually small on this season the place the work round us is nearly limitless, and in order that has been an actual testing level for our staff to belief the Lord,” Tucker mentioned.

She’s cried out to the Lord, saying, “You knew that this earthquake was going to occur, and You knew that our staff goes be the scale that it’s proper now.”

The night time earlier than the earthquake, Tucker re-read by means of a Bible examine for a management coaching program. She learn a piece encouraging the reader to “pray to the Lord, ask Him to point out you the place He’s working and the place He’s calling you to hitch Him within the work.”

The following morning, she acquired phrase of the earthquake. Whereas it has been overwhelming, this assurance from the Lord helped carry her by means of this season. A discount in her staff led to a deeper partnership with native believers.

Tucker mentioned she is aware of God has her precisely the place He desires her. Her want is that her staff would serve Him and share hope and fact to those that are hurting and in want of a Savior.

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Tessa Sanchez and initially revealed by the Worldwide Mission Board.

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