As Christians flee war and persecution in Syria, a Christian from Aleppo says new believers are coming to faith in the country's churches.
Rami (whose name has been changed for security reasons) co-ordinates 'Hope for the Middle East', a seven-year advocacy campaign from charity Open Doors which works with the persecuted church. He hopes to gain a million signatures backing the Christian church remaining in the Middle East.
Though people are coming to know God in the midst of extreme hardship, he says the Syrian church needs the support of Christians around the world if it is to stay.
He told World Watch Monitor (WWM): "I'm originally from Aleppo. About five years ago I moved to the UK to study. In the summer of 2012 I finished my Masters and planned to go back. At the same time, the protests against the Assad regime started to escalate. Flights were cancelled and borders were closed. I had my heart set on returning, but suddenly I couldn't go back. My family and friends still lived in Aleppo. I felt so disconnected. Whenever I read about something that had taken place, I asked myself: 'Where did this happen? How does this affect the people I know?'"
He went on: "Some have left [Aleppo], but many remain in the government-controlled Western part of the city. My parents too. They don't want me to worry and usually talk about general things. If I want to know specific things such as: 'Do you have enough food and water?' I need to ask them specific questions. I think that's only natural."
But though hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing Syria, its churches remain full, Rami said. "God has been very faithful. Newcomers fill the gap. Some are Christians from other churches, others are new believers with a Muslim background. The way the church functions has changed drastically of course. It's not secure to travel at night. That's why all evening services and activities have been cancelled or changed to earlier during the day."
Rami says that while Christians are leaving the Middle East en masse, those who remain are "God's ambassadors". He told WWM: "We see something in the Middle East that is probably unprecedented: the enormous exodus of Christians. At the same time the global Church recognises how important it is that the Christians' presence is preserved in the Middle East. We are God's ambassadors. If the Christians leave the Middle East it's like God's presence is leaving the Middle East. The presence of the Church is vitally important. People are desperate and see very little hope. The fact that there still is a Church gives them encouragement and hope."
Describing the campaign, he said: "We call it the One Million Voices petition and we want to present it to the new UN Secretary General on 20 June 2017, World Refugee Day. The petition aims to underline the three points about discrimination, dignity and recognition. Open Doors is just one relatively small organisation. Why would the UN listen to us? Our voice is soft among the thousands of other organisations which try to influence them. Our voice will only be heard if it's louder – that's why we need at least one million signatures. The second reason is that it encourages Christians in the Middle East. They also participate in the One Million Voices. Let's follow their example, come alongside them and show them they are not alone."
