IYC Students Underwrite Christian Camp Costs for Muslim Refugees
Photo: Refugee teen having a blast at camp.
By Carl Stagner
“You accepted us like family. Here we weren’t the foreigners—the refugees. We were part of the group. Thank you.” When the Church of God is willing to work together to advance the kingdom, people notice. Lives are touched. Hearts are softened. Seeds are planted. History tells us many of these seeds not only germinate, but bear fruit and spread more seeds. This summer, moved by the refugee crisis in our world today, Church of God leaders in Germany committed to invest in six refugees from Afghanistan. Each one separated from family and friends after fleeing dangerous living conditions, these refugee youth with a background in Islam would not only hear the gospel, but feel sincere love and grace from peers who humbly bear the name of Christ. IYC students helped make it all possible.
Teenfreizeit. That’s what they call the Church of God youth camp in Germany. For ten days, about eighty students participated in an experience not unlike church camping in the United States. This year’s theme, “All I Need” spoke to the sufficiency of Christ in multiple areas of life particularly relevant to teens. Imagine such a message penetrating the long-held beliefs and worldviews of students not only looking for hope in the midst of chaos, but those also unfamiliar with the gospel. At first, the refugee youth were a bit shy. But sensing the warmth of the German Christian teens, they soon felt at ease. One refugee reported that he’d been in Germany for a year, and that the ten days at the camp were his best days yet. Through a partnership between the German Church of God and Spread the Word, the camp experiences for these refugees were paid in full.
Photo: Teenfreizeit 2016!
Since IYC2002, more than $800,000 has been raised for Spread the Word. The Church of God initiative directly supports evangelism efforts around the world. Thank you, students, for your faithful giving at the International Youth Convention, state and district camps and conferences, and at your home church. Just a small part of what you’ve given went to sponsor these six Muslim refugees so they could attend a Christian camp and hear about Jesus.
“As you know, there is a large influx of refugees here,” Josh Weiger explains, “and the German church is stepping up in some very specific ways to meet the needs of people.” The Global Strategy missionary to Germany continues, “Also the church realizes this is an incredible opportunity to share the hope and good news of the gospel of Jesus.
The Spread the Word partnership reminds the Church of God in Germany that they are not alone in the response of believers to the refugee crisis. It also set an example for German students, who did a tremendous job at welcoming the refugees. Last, but not least, Spread the Word donations went to work across religious divides. “This was the first time these students have ever been in community with Jesus-followers, and the first time most of them had heard the Good News presented,” Josh reflects. “All of them were visibly moved by this experience and gospel seeds were planted that will hopefully bear fruit in their lives.”
Look for more resources on immigration and the refugee crisis, as a product of this year’s CHOG Tables, coming in 2017. Learn more about Spread the Word at www.chogy.org/spread-the-word.
