RICHARDSON—Jalil Dawood has been here before—no clothes, nowhere to live, no way to get around and no friends to help. Starting life in another country can be like living on a deserted island—lonely, isolated and helpless.
If he can help it, no one else will have to fight through that alone.
The pastor of Arabic Baptist Church, an Iraqi political refugee who came to the U.S. more than 20 years ago, is using his experience to connect with a surge of Iraqi refugees coming into the suburbs north of Dallas.
Many have come to the United States without the bare essentials for life—clothes, pots and pans, a place to live. Some don’t speak English. Most know few, if any, people in the area.
The church’s outreach means as much to these refugees for its hand extended in friendship as for its hand lifting them up, Dawood said. Church members let refugees know someone cares for them. Christians help them find a place to live, employment and a place in society.
“We are working with some of them,” he said. “We’re trying to reach out to them, help them in a spiritual way and their physical need as well.”
The church’s outreach embodies Texas Hope 2010, a Baptist General Convention of Texas initiative to share the hope of Christ with every Texan by Easter 2010. In early March, the congregation ministered to five refugee families but anticipates assisting more. It is looking for other churches in the area willing to partner with them to reach the growing Iraqi refugee population.
The church bases its ministry to refugee families on the pattern it sees in Jesus’ ministry, Dawood said. Christ met people where they were and sought to meet their physical needs. Then he used that as an opening to address their spiritual needs, he said.
“When you are out of your comfort zone, when you are in another country, when you are struggling to make ends meet, that is the best time to trust the Lord Jesus,” Dawood said. “Because when there is a need, that need can be met with the Lord Jesus.”
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The church has helped families settle in, make appointments and become accustomed to the city. Church members become a circle of friends upon whom refugees can lean. The congregation is a springboard for families coming to this country.
As a result, people’s lives are changed. They have what they need physically and some have responded to the outreach by accepting Christ as Lord. In early March, the church baptized an Iraqi refugee.
“We’re helping these people settle in and helping them start their life well,” Dawood said.
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