Report: thousands of Syrian refugees converting to Christianity
January 31, 2014
Christian Aid Mission, a Protestant organization based in Virginia, is reporting that thousands of Syrian refugees are converting to Christianity in Turkey, Lebanon, and Iraq.
“Literally thousands of Syrians from traditional Muslim backgrounds are turning to Jesus Christ,” the organization stated. “It’s not an inflating of the numbers, nor is it an optimistic estimate.”
A contact in Turkey was quoted as saying, “What would indicate to us that a Syrian Muslim had become a Christian would be: women taking their scarves off. Letting their kids join the Bible lessons. People don’t let their kids learn a belief they don’t accept, since kids are ready to learn easily.”
A contact in Iraq added, “We determine they are Christians by professions of faith -- the decision to follow Christ in these circumstances means the person has sentenced himself to death and makes himself likely to be killed at any moment. So they know very well the consequences.”
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Further information:
- Christian conversions in the midst of Syrian civil war (Christian Today)
- Thousands of Syrians are Coming to Christ (Christian Aid Mission)
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Posted by: jg23753479 -
Feb. 01, 2014 7:39 AM ET USA
Why am I extremely suspicious of the assertions made in this article? Here is what really raises my doubts: “We determine they are Christians by professions of faith -- the decision to follow Christ...." What exactly for this organization is a "profession of faith"? Remember that Muslims honor Jesus and his mother, not as they really were but rather as a prophet and his highly respected mother. Who knows what is really going on in Turkey, Lebanon, and Iraq?
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Posted by: Contrary1995 -
Feb. 01, 2014 12:52 AM ET USA
2 reasons to be skeptical of the authenticity of these conversions. First, claiming you are a persecuted Christian fleeing radical Muslims is a good way to get a visa to the USA, Canada, or Italy. Secondly, there are many Christian relief agencies active on the Syrian border and to paraphrase Henry IV, food and shelter are worth a Bible class.
