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Coronavirus. Impact Middle East Responds.
We Americans are well aware of the impact the coronavirus is having on our lives. Over the next few weeks, Impact Middle East leaders will help us understand the ministry challenges COVID-19 has brought to their region. But they will also tell us the rest of the story – how God is working in unexpected and undeniable ways for His glory.
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Not Just the Pastor's Job
One day I called to check on a lady whose husband had received Christ a short time before. When I asked her how her family was doing, she told me, “Pastor, I want to tell you that this church is a real special church because it really cares about its members, which is rare now-a-days. You really care about supporting our physical and spiritual needs. That is what caused my husband to accept Jesus as his Savior. Andre (her husband) is always encouraging us to keep going to church.”
After months of severe restrictions put in place by the Jordanian government to stop the spread of the coronavirus, most economic and in-country travel restrictions have been lifted. Schools, parks, and movie theaters remain closed, however, and festival activities and international travel are still prohibited.
Throughout the COVID pandemic, Impact Middle East leaders in Jordan have faced a very important question: What is the role of the church in hard times like these?
The Jordanian pastor who shared the above story tells of his church’s answer to that question.
Our church, settled in Marka, east of the capital Amman, is surrounded by needy families. Our church ministry groups kept in touch with these people by phone. Later, we prepared and delivered food boxes to the 44 families who are a part of the church. We also gave the children gifts, including Bibles. Our church families were thrilled and felt so supported.
COVID-19 kept us away from one another, but I am so thankful to the Lord for our church elders. They were so passionate to do the work I encouraged them to do. They were faithful to accomplish it as if I were there with them. “Doing ministry is not only the work of the pastor,” they shared with me. This declaration was the fruit of training I had earlier shared with my church team. The team members are eager to do ministry and to visit and help the church families. All the glory is to our great God!
Please thank God with us for His protection, and pray for these requests:
- Pray for the church families’ financial needs, which are still great.
- Pray for the church elders and servants to grow in their trust in the Lord and in their commitment and dedication to serve Him.
- Pray for the church to have an ever-expanding influence in the community.
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Photos should be viewed as representative only. Many are not the actual person, nor are names the actual names. This is done to maintain privacy. Any likeness to another person is not intentional.
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Special Opportunity
 Impact Middle East is looking for local churches interested in helping refugee children in Jordan and Iraq attend school where they will receive biblical and academic instruction. Connected Communities, through International Child Care Ministries (ICCM), makes a way for churches to come alongside specific schools in the Middle East.
Connected Community: dale@impactmiddleeast.org
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Children's Resources
Great for VBS or other children's missions studies
Click here for Missions Alive! Middle East and other downloads (missions curriculum for grades 1-6)
Password: 20MEeJiI20
Click here for Missions Project handout - project information, stories, activities (Offerings will enable the Noor Center in Northern Iraq help refugee children and their families)
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Video Resources
To view videos of Impact Middle East Ministry in EGYPT, click here.
To view videos of Impact Middle East Ministry in IRAQ, click here.
To view videos of Impact Middle East Ministry in ISRAEL, click here.
To view videos of Impact Middle East Ministry in JORDAN, click here.
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Other Opportunities
 Heavenly Treasures - an Impact Middle East partner organization - offers online access to hand-crafted products made by Iraqi refugee artisans. Heavenly Treasures can also provide a “pop-up” store for your church or organization.
Shop: shopwithamission.com
Pop-up Store: christina@heavenlytreasures.org
 SEED helps design innovative and high quality products for refugees from across the Middle East to make together, building inter-cultural relationships and sharing God’s love. Buy these designs - and purchase tote bags in bulk - at shopSEEDmarket.org
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When you shop at smile.amazon.com/ch/26-4657639, AmazonSmile donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to Impact Middle East.
AmazonSmile customers can now support Impact Middle East Inc in the Amazon shopping app on iOS and Android mobile phones! Simply follow these instructions to turn on AmazonSmile and start generating donations.
- Open the Amazon Shopping app on your device
- Go into the main menu of the Amazon Shopping app and tap into 'Settings'
- Tap 'AmazonSmile' and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process
If you do not have the latest version of the Amazon Shopping app, update your app. Click here for instructions.
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