ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A Christian missionary non-profit organization working with Syrian refugees in Turkey described how its work has encouraged some of the refugees to convert from Islam to Christianity “We have earned the trust of refugees, they just are very pleased to welcome us to their tents,” an unidentified Turkey-based ministry director, who works alongside the Christian Aid Mission, told the Christian Post (CP) in an article published on Tuesday. The unnamed director also claimed that, as part of his work in Turkey, he has seen 120 Syrian refugees accepting Jesus Christ as their “savior,” while at least 20 others were baptized. The Christian Aid Mission reported earlier this month that ministry workers working with refugees have also been seeing changes in how Muslims in the camps talk and think about Jesus. “There, the ministry director noted that while Muslims use the words ‘Hazreti Isa’ to refer to Jesus as a prophet, some of the refugees are starting to say ‘Jesus Christ’ like Christians, and are beginning to open their minds to the Christian message,” according to CP. "Praise God that seeds are beginning to take root. In every tent, when we talk about Jesus, we are seeing this change when we translate. They say and use these words more often," CP quoted the minister as saying. The director also said his ministry – which deals with 8,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey – has been distributing Arabic Bibles far and wide to the Syrian Muslims. They have also given coloring books based on the Bible to Syrian children who are learning Turkish. “When we go to the camps, they run to us and show the books they have read and the notebooks they have filled with pictures – this brings us joy, seeing these things used,” he said. Those refugees the director said converted have faced problems as a result. “They have to hide it from others and live their religion secretly,” he said. “Islam,” he also charged, “is not a religion of tolerance and love.”
