For part two of our five-part Advent series, Pastor Jon Odom reflects on the second candle of Advent: the candle of preparation. Using examples from his recent trip to Lebanon, he shines a light on what it means to prepare for the work that God has called us to. By Jon Odom It was an unwanted … Read More
“What is the aim of this Congress? And what will happen for us next?” asked 19-year-old Hameed to a captive audience in the U.S. Capitol building. Over live video stream from the Harsham IDP (Internally Displaced People) and refugee camp in Iraq, Hameed (19), Yasmeen (13), and Mohamed (16), shared the hardships they experienced when … Read More
By Andrew Olson I looked down the barrel of the long gun inches from the bus window, jolted into alertness from the hazy slumber of our bus trip to the Za’atari Refugee Camp, located just South of the Syria-Jordan border. The tank was a slightly ironic sight outside a camp filled with people who had … Read More
Globally, there are more than 25 million refugees in the world, about half of whom are children. What does this mean for these children, their childhoods, and their futures? Learn about the hope, protection, and opportunity that education can bring a child refugee and how one bill currently in Congress can help — especially for … Read More
This week headlines filled with news of a deadly chemical attack in Northern Syria. Many media outlets named it the “worst chemical event in years” and it was labeled “reprehensible” and “atrocious.” The problem is that these labels make the tragedy seem unusual. The truth is that every day lives are lost in Syria — in schools, … Read More
Written by Stephanie Hammond, Policy Advisor for Conflicts and Disasters and Julie Stewart, Humanitarian Policy Intern As the battle to retake Mosul continues, urgent action is needed to allow children to resume their educations. Take action by sending an email to Congress now [action expired]. Information about the ongoing military campaign to retake the city of … Read More
Read six Syrian refugee stories that demonstrate how Syrians are finding hope for the future even as they mourn lost family members and lost homes.
By Patricia Mouamar “I don’t have dreams here [in Lebanon]; all my dreams are in Syria. I wish to return to Syria, to my school, to my house, and I wish the war stops in Syria and we have peace again. I wish they [decision makers] would change my house here [in Lebanon] because I … Read More
On this World Refugee Day, we must protect education for all refugee children. Last week, Linda Hiebert, World Vision International’s partnership leader of education and life skills, testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee about the barriers to girls’ education around the world. Linda focused on children affected by conflict and the difficulties that adolescent … Read More
Gracious Lord, awaken us to the needs of Syrian children and their mothers and fathers. Let us not grow weary in doing what is right and good in Your eyes. Remind us to engage on their behalf as we would if it were our own families who were suffering. Help us be advocates for peace … Read More