At this very moment, traumatized Syrian children are attempting to resettle in refugee camps after fleeing their war-torn homeland. To make matters worse, winter storms and frigid temperatures are just weeks away from plunging the region into hopelessness and despair.
Today, for just $10, I’m asking you to bring the Gospel to 40 children through the gift of an illustrated Bible storybook.
The U.N. estimates that nearly 12,000 children have been killed in the Syrian crisis with millions more internally displaced because of the fighting. Children who were fortunate enough to escape are scattered across bordering nations — Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon, and Iraq — living in crowded communities with little to call their own.
Perhaps even more heartbreaking is that many of these children were separated from their families when they crossed the Syrian border, and most are without their fathers, who remained in Syria to fight or were killed in combat. They have lost everything and everyone.
Traumatized and alone, most have witnessed horrific acts of violence unfold right in front of them. Some have seen their mothers and sisters brutally raped. Others have watched helplessly as their fathers are mercilessly tortured while their homes burn to the ground.
I met countless children along the Syrian border while delivering packages of humanitarian aid with World Help. Many stared blankly ahead, unable to speak or even lift their heads. Their mothers told me that the nightmares haven’t stopped since they fled Syria.
The chaos has kept most children out of school for over three years now— just one more crippling consequence of this crisis. The United Nations is calling these children the “lost generation” of Syria. U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said in a recent address, “The youth of Syria are losing their homes, their family members, and their futures. Even after they have crossed a border to safety, they are traumatized, depressed, and in need of a reason for hope.”
The despair is most certainly real and the consequences of this crisis are enormous. But I believe that as long as there is a God, there is hope … and for as little as $10, you can bring this very hope right into the heart of this crisis.
We estimate 1 million young people across the region will be impacted by the Gospel as a result of sharing these storybooks with their siblings and friends. The comic-style layout is designed to be eye-catching and visually appealing to a child. The Arabic translation of the dialogue and stories is written in a way that is interesting and easy to understand.
Imagine a refugee child who has lost everything—idle, bored, with nothing to do— receiving a copy of this storybook. Imagine this child huddled in a tent, turning the pages, reading the story of Jesus for the very first time. Can you imagine the discussion? What an opportunity … what a reason for hope!
Our goal is to provide 250,000 of these illustrated children’s Bible storybooks at a cost of only $1 each for printing and distribution. I’m asking for your help today to make this vision a reality.
Every dollar you give will ensure the transformative hope of the Gospel will touch a child in need.
Think of the incredible impact you can make:
- A gift of $10 will impact 40 children with the hope of the Gospel
- A gift of $100 will impact 400 children with the hope of the Gospel
- A gift of $500 will impact 2,000 children with the hope of the Gospel
Our partners in the Middle East tell me that these storybooks are having a tremendous influence on children — even entire families. Grateful parents are marveling at how this gift has changed the lives of their children and even themselves.
These storybooks also are a wonderful educational tool for children who have not been able to set foot inside a classroom for years. Picture a child being taught how to read his or her first words from God’s Word —what an extraordinary introduction to the Good News of Jesus!
For the children who have already become Christ-followers, this gift will be an invaluable investment in their spiritual growth. I can’t think of a better source of strength and comfort in times of persecution and struggle.
Today, I’m urging you to help bring hope to Syria’s “lost generation” and to families of persecuted believers in the Middle East.
God’s Word is so vital for people living in crisis situations — it’s the only thing they have to hold on to. It isn’t a backup plan; it’s a lifeline.
And today, you can share it with a child who is alone and in desperate need of hope. Your generous gift can provide a child with the best source of comfort we can offer — the good news of God’s love.
I pray you won’t miss this tremendous opportunity to make an eternal impact in the life of a child.
