And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him . . .” (Acts 17:26-27)

      This past month I had the opportunity to assist in training local church leaders in Duhok, Iraq. While there, I got to experience firsthand the serious problem of human displacement in this region. The number of refugees just in Iraq is heartbreaking, but the number worldwide is staggering. Agencies like the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimate the number of forcibly displaced people due to wars, conflict, persecution, and political instability, is approaching 120 million around the world. The World Bank claims that if you include in the displaced number those impacted by environmental disasters, food, and water shortages, it nears 300 million people—more than any other time since WW II.

‘But God,’ (perhaps my two favorite words), has a way of turning our messes into opportunities and from His perspective, the displacement of people can be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them to hear the Good News of Jesus. In Acts 17:26-27, Paul speaks to the fact that God knows everything about us–when, where, and why we live: “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.“

What people mean for evil, God often means for good (Genesis 50:20). In His perfect timing, He can relocate entire people groups from where they had no opportunities to hear the gospel, to places where His church is faithfully sharing and demonstrating it. Yes, despite the many tragedies, God is re-purposing the power of human displacement and migration to draw people to Himself. Where there is suffering, God is often at work through His people, bringing healing, comfort, and reconciliation to the lost and broken.

 The local church throughout the world is ready and strategically positioned to reach the unreached in every nation and people group. – Neil Cole

Many of the churches in Duhok, Iraq are working toward this end. But they need our prayers and support. Faithful ministries are working to establish an indigenous gospel presence within the refugee camps in this region. You can join M3 Global as we partner with Iraqi churches and organizations in this important work. Simply go to our secure page on the M3 website to give now. You can also connect with us on social media through the links at the bottom of this page.

We all must be global Christians with a global vision because our God is a global God. ― John R.W. Stott

For His Global Glory!