MODERATOR’S NOTE: This is from a co-worker with MUP, trusted colleague, and very =
experienced in this region of the world. As we move into celebration of =
Christ’s first coming and I consider the urgency of Betsy’s =
message below, Joseph and Mary’s flight to Egypt comes to mind. =
Please join us in praying for those like our brothers and sisters in =
Syria and elsewhere who are living under threat during this holiday =
season, even in the process of flight. Pray that God’s presence =
guides them to places of refuge and even more, that He Himself is their =
refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. =

Here’s =
Betsy’s urgent request:

Liz, I’ve written a request =
below and am debating about the whom that I send it to. This is so very =
urgent. There were several car bombs in Damascus today. Please put this =
everywhere you can to get the largest coverage. =
Thanks!!!!

I am writing this email with =
urgency just two days before Christmas. My dear friends who pastor a =
significantly influential church in Syria are in town for a few weeks. I =
have spent intense time with them trying to discern what is really =
happening on the ground in Syria. As I understand my dear friends, their =
greatest concern is that if the president is overthrown, there will be a =
huge potential for violence against Christians. The Christian community =
is ancient there and played a critical role in Christian history. The =
Christians are not participating in the protests and have actually been =
protected by the current government regime. They agree there is great =
corruption, but also know that the replacement for him would certainly =
be radical Islam. Already some of the street chants have been about =
killing the Christians. This is truly what happened in Iraq as most =
Christians there have exited that country after being tortured, killed =
and/or kidnapped. Many of them are in Syria and face grave danger again =
in becoming extinct. The Christians in Egypt did participate in the =
protests in their country and now they are sorry, because this very =
thing is happening there now after Mubarak’s ouster. =

     =
I told my friends that I =
understand their prayers for God’s intervention, but what if it gets =
really bad? Are they prepared? No, they have made no plans. I began to =
explain a “go bag” to prepare for the possibility =
that they may have to jump in the car quickly and go. I talked =
about saving food and making preparations for church members at the =
church in case it all happens while they are there at the =
church. Pastor S. finally looked at me and said, “Betsy, =
we need your help.” I am working with several people putting =
together a very simple set of 3×5 cards easily translatable =
and reproducible. Maybe we will laminate them, punch a hole and put =
them on a lanyard…not sure. I have booked a ticket to take me over =
there landing on Feb. 20th and leaving on the 29th. My goal is to train =
the core group of leaders in a very low profile meeting of 1-2 hours. I =
will send them out to assemble their “go bags” for themselves =
and their family and then a few days later have another meeting to check =
their progress. If they have done their homework, then I will guide them =
in training or preparing the rest of the congregation for =
evacuation/shelter in place. Again, I’m trying to get it down to very =
simple and very doable so that everyone will do it. I’ve had =
conversations with our military and others and they all believe the =
president’s overthrow is inevitable. I’m praying that God will hold it =
back until I can get them prepared. I would like to travel over there =
with funds enough to purchase backpacks for a significant number knowing =
that sometimes it takes a little help in getting started. =

     =
Currently there are approximately 2 =
million Christians in Syria. At the church there are several =
congregations including Syrian, Iraqi, and Sudanese. So they have =
contact with about 9,000 – 10,000 people. They continue to boldly share =
the Gospel and this dear pastor continues to hand out Bibles everywhere =
he goes. Countless people following the religion of the =
culture have become followers of Jesus through the boldness and =
love of the pastor and congregation. We must pray that the light does =
not get extinguished in that region. If you have any contacts in the =
news arena, please try to pass this information along. It seems like the =
momentum is strong to take out the President. We are praying for him and =
his family to come to Jesus! We are praying that God will intervene in =
the region and that He will give great wisdom to people that are making =
decisions. Please share this information with those who will =
really pray; with those who have influence in strategic arenas, with =
every person or group that God leads you!

Merry Christmas and may God’s =
Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven!

Betsy =
Brown

Heartsong Ministries =
Inc.

11921 Barryknoll =
Lane

Houston, TX =
77024

(713)569-6597

betsy@sr21.com =