By Jeremiah Donald, UK
Tucked away in a side street in one of the worlds busiest cities is the Centre of Hope. The Centre of Hope was established to help empower Sudanese Nuba refugees by helping prepare a group of 35-40 Sudanese refugee children. Through the support of three teachers, the children are provided with free lessons in both Arabic and English and a lunch, four times a week.
Previously these children would have spent all day on the streets, often getting into trouble. The children stay at the Centre for six months to one year until they are ready to begin their school classes. Despite the children having very little material possessions, they are full of joy, always laughing and willing to share.
Over the past few weeks I had the amazing privilege of being able to serve at the Centre of Hope, teaching the children English, sharing stories from the Bible, and introducing them to some Children's praise songs. Rend Collective's "my lighthouse" was a particular hit amongst the Sudanese! Though my offering be only small in the grand scheme of eternity, I know that little is much when God is in it.
In John 17:20-22, Jesus says “I ask for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
Working together in unity as a team of people of all ages from different countries with different gifts bringing the good news of Jesus to these children was a blessing for all of us, showing love because "he first loved us." Seeing the joy of the children as we shared with them is something that I will be unable to forget.
What you can do for this forgotten Sudanese refugees, you have three options:
Firstly you can pray. James 5:16 - "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." Pray for these people's practical and emotional needs and most importantly that they will come to experience the hope of knowing Jesus.
Secondly, you can give financially. Your gifts will go a long way, helping support the three teachers, providing school supplies and food and clothes for those who have very little.
Thirdly, you can go. Hope for MENA relies on the willingness of people to answer God's call to go to the nations. In the harvest field now ripened, there is a work for ALL to do.