The Strong One

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July 1, 2021

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The Strong One
by Impact Middle East leader

Em-Elias asked me to have a meeting at her home and speak about love and forgiveness. Just days later, I held the meeting and spoke about the importance of forgiveness in the Christian faith. Em-Elias was listening carefully. After a while she asked me to repeat what I had been saying. I did not know why she asked me to do so. As I started again, I noticed Em-Elias was gazing at Umaima, her daughter-in-law. Umaima was listening carefully.

I concluded my thoughts by telling the women that God loves us and therefore He forgave us. We should forgive others if we truly experience God’s forgiveness. A forgiving spirit forms and shapes us after God’s character.

Most of the women left after the coffee time. Then Umaima asked me to stay longer because she wanted to speak to me. So, the three of us were alone (Em-Alias, Umaima and I). Then Umaima shared with me that she and her husband had a big problem with her brother-in-law Alaa’. Many times Alaa' had borrowed money from Umaima’s husband until the total he owed was a huge sum of money. When Umaima’s husband asked his brother to return the money he owed, Alaa’ refused saying, “I do not have any money to reimburse you. Even if I had the money, I would not pay you back.” Thus the two brothers and their families became estranged, although they live in the same building. (One brother lives on the second floor and the other on the third. Their mother lives on the first floor.)

Alaa’ also planned a big engagement celebration for his son but did not invite his brother. This type of slight is a big issue in our culture.

Umaiam confessed to us that whenever she sensed her husband was willing to reconcile with his brother, she would discourage him from doing so. She would tell him, “He was the one who did you wrong. He is the mistaken one. He is the bad person. I did not want you to forgive your brother and be a weak person.”

As our conversation ended, Umaiam told me, “From what you have shared with us this morning, I have come to understand that the one who forgives is the strong one. God forgives us because He is a mighty God. I promise you that I am going to speak with my husband and things will go well.”

New Children's Resources

Five short videos and reproducible handouts
Perfect for VBS or Children's Ministries

Meet Nisaf, a winsome twelve-year-old girl in Kurdistan (northern Iraq). She lives with her family in a refugee camp, along with 8,000 other children and their families, after they fled from ISIS terrorists. Through five short videos Nisaf shows us where she lives and other special places in the camp, including the Noor Center. Established by Impact Middle East, the Noor Center creates ways for children to laugh, play, and feel safe again after all the trauma they have experienced in their lives. Reproducible handouts provide activities and additional information for each of the videos. Project options provide ways for children’s groups to help children like Nisaf.

Click here to access "Children Like These" materials and Agreement of Use form.

Sample video - "Children Like These: Meet Nisaf"

Sample Reproducible Handout Page

Other 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

Video Resources

We encourage churches to use these resources. Due to security concerns regarding these materials, please follow these guidelines:

Videos are for live broadcast only.
Videos or reproducible handouts may not be stored for public viewing on any web or social media platforms.
These materials are the property of Impact Middle East (IME). Any use beyond those stipulated above requires written permissions by IME.
IME reserves the right to revoke authorization of use any of the materials.

Click here for Agreement of Use form. After review of your form, you may receive the link to these password protected pages.

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.

Opportunities

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

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 has tote bags for your business ... journals for your church's volunteer appreciation gifts ... and many more products helping our churches be more sustainable as they work with refugees in the Middle East. Click here for products made by refugees.

AmazonSmile has donated over $200 million to charities worldwide! You can help increase AmazonSmile donations to Impact Middle East by shopping at
smile.amazon.com/ch/26-4657639

or with AmazonSmile ON in the Amazon Shopping app.