Recently a refugee asked us, "What is Jesus?"
After a recent Wednesday night Bible teaching at The Oasis, a refugee from Gambia (West Africa) asked, “What is Jesus?” The question revealed just how little he had heard about Jesus. We have such a special privilege to share about WHO Jesus is with the refugees that visit us! Praise the Lord, he took a New Testament with him after the Q & A session, as did his two friends that were with him. Again and again, we meet people who are hearing about Jesus for the first time; just this week an Afghani asked us, "I know a little bit about Jesus, can you please tell me more?" Yes! On one hand, questions like these are an exciting blessing, but on the other hand it is sad that there are not more believers already out there in these various countries, sharing the truth about Jesus. Perhaps the Lord is calling YOU to go? "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen" -Matthew 28:19.20
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An uplifting surprise
One weekend this winter, I got to visit a friend and new believer, Martin, who used to come to The Oasis all the time. He had been transferred to a town 5 hours away. From Iraq, he is here in Austria with his brother, who still suffers from trauma caused by his captivity under an Islamic militant group. When I arrived at the facility where 25 refugees are housed, we were soon joined by seven other believers, from Iran! Some fled from persecution they faced as Christians, but the others first heard about Jesus here in Austria. It is rare that someone visits them, as they live in a remote town, so it was very special for them (and for me!). During our weekend together, we had a few spontaneous Bible studies and times of prayer together as well. Jeremy, also on staff at The Oasis, joined us on Saturday, and we got to visit the church they attend on Sunday. The Pastor was off preaching elsewhere, but my new Iranian friends had been entrusted with the key to the church, and so Jeremy and I shared a short sermon and we had a time of prayer there too. It was just the ten of us, in a 300-year-old church, but God reminded me that WE are the beautiful church, not some old building with shiny, gold-plated stone statues (photo above). The church used to be a Catholic one, but in 1940 they gave it to the Lutheran church, and then they built a bigger Catholic church across the street. I am still in touch with this group of guys through What`s App, and we are going through a Bible reading plan together. Pray that they keep growing in their walk with the Lord, as they wait and wait for answers on their asylum decision from Austria (usually they are kept waiting two to three years to find out if they can stay here or not). Pray they use the time to study the Word deeply, and to keep on learning German.
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A brief family update
Franz, Michi´s dad, is two-thirds through his chemotherapy treatments. He is looking healthy, but sometimes his blood work shows weakness and he has to take a week off from the chemo. He will only be able to have further cancer tests after all the chemo is over, so at this point we don’t know how his cancer is doing. Please pray for his healing and most of all for his salvation. In other news, Michi’s job at the Christian School is going well and she will most likely be working there next year too. Less than half the students are Christians, so the school is an outreach post also. Our children, Evelyn and Oliver, are now five and three years old, respectively, and are doing great. We will visit NJ from June 14 to July 11, so we hope to see some of you then. Blessings, Ken & Michi Meyer
p.s. please pray for "Rasheed," a Muslim refugee who faithfully attends our church, to see Jesus and accept His grace, instead of trying to make it by his own good works. Also please pray for "P" who is under mental distress, depression, and in a mental facility, to find peace and healing in Jesus.
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