What do forcibly displaced individuals want greater than something?
The reply is “acceptance.”
Whereas on a visit in Greece, Highschool college students from South Carolina served forcibly displaced youngsters from Ukraine. They offered Ship Reduction Care Equipment gadgets to Ukrainian refugees in Greece that had been comforting, helpful and demonstrated real care. Presents had been ready in partnership with Ship Reduction and distributed by native believers and South Carolina Palmetto Collective pupil volunteers.
Luggage had been stuffed filled with hoodies, wi-fi headphones, electrical toothbrushes, thermoses, UNO playing cards and extra! Teenage refugees had been invited over for an exercise day the place the Palmetto Collective college students ready a full schedule of video games and enjoyable.
The Ukrainian teenagers exited the bus to smiles and cheers of celebration—their pressured expressions shortly turning into leisure and giggles. There have been massive group video games to interrupt the ice, stations with crafts, English apply, soccer and hamburgers! However most significantly, the gospel was shared, and the love of Christ was demonstrated time and again in every loving expression, present bag and act of kindness.
On a private degree, there have been two brothers who had been troublesome to influence to take part.
They stood off to the aspect and acted uninterested throughout many of the actions. The youngest volunteer did her greatest to attach with them, however finally I felt led to take a seat throughout from the brothers at lunch. Understanding a standard language, I struck up a dialog and realized they’d solely been out of Ukraine for just a few quick months and this was their first time taking part in such an occasion. They had been clearly nervous and skeptical however shortly warmed up after they realized I had not too long ago been of their house metropolis. One of many brothers, Daniel, was stunned to be taught that his identify has its roots as a Biblical hero, and his brother, Ivan, was to not be outmatched: “I feel my identify is within the Bible too!”
We reward God that these boys and plenty of others heard the gospel and skilled love in a approach that ministers to younger individuals from South Carolina to Greece to Ukraine. An enormous “thanks” to the First Baptist Faculty of Charleston—your presents had been an enormous blessing and helped to exhibit the sensible care of the Church!
Revealed September 29, 2023
