Last Spring, Darrell & Cheryl Phenicie, missionaries with the C&MA, visited Eagle and shared about their upcoming ministry to Syrian refugees in Germany. Eagle was able to contribute financially to help with their start-up costs in Berlin. Below is an update on how their ministry is going so far.
We are coming toward the end of the year very encouraged by Jesus and how He has been at work here. 3 major things stand out:
- The arrival On OCT. 20 of our Syrian Pastor & then his wife & son (NOV. 19)
- On DEC. 2, our Syrian Pastor and his wife (living in our Guest Apt) were accepted by a landlord to rent an apartment. This may sound simple, but renters greatly outnumber apartments here & it takes even Germans a long time to find apartments. Alliance missionary colleagues recently spent 2 months. Then, many will not rent apartments to Syrians. Some said so right on the phone! So our Syrian Pastor & every Syrian at the Lighthouse counts it a miracle that he was accepted for an apartment at just the 5th one he looked at.
- Then on Dec. 6th, our Syrian Pastor was granted 5-YEAR RESIDENCY! No one gets this. Cheryl & I got 2 years. Four of our U.S. missionaries had to make multiple visits to get 1 & 2 years.
Along with these preparatory issues & needs being met, we were encouraged by 24 Muslims coming to our Dec. 17 "Christmas Party."
Most were first-timers and for almost all of them, this was the first Christian event they have ever been to in their lifetimes. Best of all, 2 women signed up for our "Mothers & Children" mornings starting on January 10th.
Our weekly Sunday morning Bible Study is still small but each week people comment that it is meeting needs in their lives.
On November 30th we started a "German Language Cafe" to help refugees practice & use their German. 2 German ladies help us in this & the 8 or so attendees tell us they really benefit from it.
You might be wondering about the Christmas terrorist attack on the 19th. We have been past that famous church many times & toured inside it once. Its about a 20 minute walk from The Lighthouse. I walked past it yesterday and we hear it will re-open tonight so Cheryl & I might visit it then.
Sadly, we have grown accustomed to such violence with large numbers of casualties from artillery, car bombs, & such. Back in 1983 the bombing in Beirut that killed 241 of our Marines, caused our windows to open.
At any rate, all of this emphasizes the need for a Savior who brings peace into the lives of lost people. It's a privilege to serve with Eagle Church in proclaiming Jesus Christ to the nations.
Your fellow-servants,
Darrell & Cheryl