Please be an Epaphroditus to a Middle East pastor
Five years after 9/11, one thousand Christian pastors labor in the Middle East, bringing the light of the Good News to people of many nations and tongues.In Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria these pastors may be poor in the things of this world, but they are rich in the things of God.
These men of God are a thousand points of spiritual light that shine in the midst of lands enslaved by the spiritual darkness of Islam. Ancient Egypt in the time of Moses was covered in darkness so great it could even be felt. Yet, during the same three days that millions of Egyptians were enslaved by such great darkness, God's people had light in their dwellings.
These pastors long with all their hearts to share the gospel, so that many others in their communities may also dwell in the light of Jesus Christ, and experience the love of God in their hearts.
Yet, daily, they, like the Apostle Paul, face the grim realities of pastoring churches in an area of the world where Christians are treated with utter contempt. Whether in cities or in the wilderness, they face danger from their own countrymen, and sometimes, even danger from their own brethren, who reject them when they dare to witness to hostile neighbors. They labor in weariness. They go without sleep, and, sometimes, they feel the pain of hunger. (2 Cor. 11:26-27)
Like Paul, even in the midst of their own afflictions, these pastors also have deep concern for the churches in the Middle East. They ask themselves, like Paul did, "who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?" (2 Cor. 11:29)
Network of pastors key to transformation of Arabia
David Joseph, founder of The Last Harvest, Inc., believes God will stir the hearts of His people to provide the provision necessary to bless each of these thousand pastors with a Christmas gift of $100.
"Perhaps you are called to offer encouragement this Christmas to a Middle-Eastern pastor who risks his life to share the Good News with his people," says Joseph. "These pastors are very poor and have difficulty obtaining the necessities of life. A one-time gift like this will make a huge difference in their ministries."
Joseph asks Christians to prayerfully consider the words of Paul in Phil. 4:11-18. "These pastors have learned to be content in all circumstances, yet we do well when we share in their distress endured for the sake of the gospel," says Joseph. (Phil. 4:14) "Paul tells the Philippians, 'I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.'" (Phil. 4:18.)
In 2 Kings 4:42-44, one man brought the man of God, Elisha, twenty loaves of barley bread baked from the first ripe grain. Elisha said to give it to a hundred men, who were in the wilderness, proclaiming the Word of God in a difficult place and in a difficult time. God multiplied these loaves at least five-fold, feeding these hundred men of God with bread left over.
"Helping these native pastors will also give a five-fold return," said Joseph. "They, too, live in perilous times, but have many around them who are genuinely hungry for spiritual bread."
There has never been a time when our support of gospel-sharing Middle Eastern churches was more urgent. Because of long-standing discrimination and overt persecution, many believers live in abject poverty.
"It has been said that Egyptian Christians do not merely live with isolated incidents of persecution; they live within an environment of persecution," said Joseph.
Your partnership in this ministry is needed, because, truly, the fields are white unto harvest in this ancient and spiritually strategic land.
To help provide a Christmas gift for a Middle-Eastern pastor, see our donation form, or call The Last Harvest at 1-877-571-5673.
For more information about The Last Harvest, Inc., visit our main website.
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Pastors in Iraq distribute Christian literature to Iraqis. This Iraqi man is grateful to have a Christian book. Distribution of literature in places like Iraq strengthen our brothers at a crucial time. |
