Where Refugees Find Hope

A Costly Commitment and a New Mission

When I accepted Jesus, I lost everything: my family and my home. Forced to leave my home country, I came to Spain. I longed to be used for God and had a desire to help others, especially refugees, by meeting their physical and spiritual needs. Spain is a hub for refugees, so the need here is great. What started out as a twinkle of an idea grew into a plan to open a center where I could help those seeking asylum while also sharing the good news of Jesus with them.

Birth of Land of Hope Ministry

Over time, with the financial and prayerful assistance of others, I opened Land of Hope, a ministry for refugees and immigrants. With a staff that speaks Spanish, English, Arabic, French, and Hausa, Land of Hope has served people from 34 counties in their heart language. We provide translation assistance, language learning classes, and assist them in getting certified for employment. Most importantly, we share the gospel. Land of Hope is a platform and a theater where God’s story is on display.

The Story of Winaruz

Winaruz* came to Land of Hope through our national worker, Zahir*, who works for Land of Hope to assist me in planting a new church. Winaruz and his has been in Spain for a couple years. He went to another organization for refugee assistance, and they filed for asylum for him. After their asylum application was rejected, he and his wife began having marital problems.

The other organization asked Zahir to assist them with translating at their office for their psychologist and lawyer who were meeting with Winaruz and Shahina. Zahir quickly realized that the lawyer and psychologist were encouraging them to divorce. Following the translation meeting, Zahir pulled Winaruz aside and began witnessing to him, telling him that Jesus does not like divorces and that He has a plan for him. Winaruz listened attentively and the Lord worked in Winaruz’s heart to trust what Zahir was saying.

The next thing we knew, Winaruz was at Land of Hope asking us for help. We added him to our food distribution ministry, and we began looking for clothing for his family. One afternoon he came to me and asked for an Arabic version of the New Testament. I showed him how to download the Arabic Bible on his phone in his own dialect. He was so happy and immediately began reading it! I told Winaruz if he was interested in hearing more to come on Sunday to my apartment where we would meet and read God’s word together.

A Life Transformed

Winaruz came that Sunday and listened to Zahir preach. Winaruz had questions, which we answered, and then we prayed for him and his family. I told him that we would continue praying that Jesus would help him get his legal papers in order so he continue living in Spain. The next day, he came to the office with a smiling face and said he had slept well for the first night in a long time and he had never experienced such peace.

He had his appointment with the immigration office, and afterwards he came to Land of Hope and showed us his papers, which allowed him to stay in Spain! While we were photocopying his papers, I asked, “Winaruz, do you remember that we prayed that the Lord would help you with your legal papers?”

Winaruz's face lit up with a big smile. “Yes!”

“We prayed to the Lord and called on Him in your distress,” I said, “and the Lord has answered you to show that He, Jesus Christ, cares about you and that He wants you to experience Him and know Him. He proved Himself to you.”

Winaruz immediately replied, " I want to become a Christian." My heart almost stopped, and my mouth dropped.

I invited him to my apartment with the national worker later that afternoon. After explaining the gospel and salvation to him using God's word, I asked him if he still wanted to follow Jesus and His teaching. He said yes! We led him in prayer, and as we finished, he clasped his two hands against his chest and said, " I am so happy, I am so happy!"

I feel so unworthy, so humbled by what the Lord did in our midst. In the hardest time of my life, I’ve learned to love Him more and want to serve Him more, and that is what Land of Hope is all about.

*Pseudonym used

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