This spring, we have the opportunity to go on an expedition that will provide food, water, and other basic necessities within a Syrian refugee camp.  Through e3 Partners, we will be joining a team that will include doctors offering free clinics, medications, and eyeglasses to refugees.  While providing for their basic physical needs, there will also be numerous opportunities to care for them spiritually.   

Over the past several weeks more and more attention has been focused on the Syrian Refugee Crisis in the Middle East, The greatest crisis since WWII.  As we started to look more and more into this crisis, we felt God’s calling to care for and to minister to these refugees. They have witnessed horrific violence.  Imagine you’re living in an area less than half the size of Texas and witnessing over 320,000 people killed, of which nearly 12,000 are children. More than 1.5 million people have been wounded or permanently disabled.  All health care, education systems, and other infrastructure have been destroyed and the economy is shattered.  Children have lost loved ones, suffered injuries, missed invaluable schooling, and witnessed violence and brutality.   Half of the 4 million refugees worldwide are children.  These children are at risk of becoming ill, and are susceptible to malnutrition and diseases brought on by poor sanitation.  Many refugee children have to work to support their families.  Often they labor in dangerous or demeaning circumstances for little pay.  They are more vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation in these unfamiliar and overcrowded conditions.  We are at risk of losing this generation of Syrian children because their lives are on hold do to this civil war.  They are normal children just like ours who want to play with their friends and to have the opportunity to experience a peaceful childhood. They can't see the future though, because they don't know if they will ever get to go back home. They have lost hope and don't see an end in sight.  Everything that they knew is gone. They have been displaced into refugee camps seeking safety and security from the sounds of bombs, waking to unending fighting and violence from terrorism, all while not having enough food, water, or any medical care.

We recently sat down over a cup of coffee and asked each other WHY? Why are we going across the world to a dangerous place to help people we don’t know, for a cause that is not ours, while creating concern for our loved ones?  Like many before us we have the chance to minister to a people group that we would not normally have the opportunity. 

We ask you, with urgency, to please consider financially supporting us on this trip. We only have two months to raise $7,400.00 jointly. That cost takes care of our travel, accommodations, meals, translators, and medical supplies for ten days. All of your donation will be tax deductible.  50% of the cost needs to be collected by 2/1, and the remaining funds by 3/15.

 Most importantly please partner with us in prayer. Prayer that the knowledge of the Gospel will come to many unreached people groups for the first time as a result of this refugee crisis.  Pray for health and safety, as well as for our wives and the families that are supporting us in this calling.

Derek Brown & Bobby Stump