One such light is the fire burning in front of the pastor's house in Antakya. Immediately after the quake, someone had lit it to keep warm at night. More and more people come. Day and night. They sit around the fire and share their suffering. Sometimes, when cries are heard again somewhere because buried people have been found, they jump up and run to the place of recovery, but usually they come back crying because the missing person could only be recovered dead. Then they sit by the fire again, silent, exhausted, and yet grateful for this point of light in the misery of Antakya.

The fire in front of Pastor Hamdullah's house is a place where the Christians of the Antakya church serve those who can't go on. Those sitting here by the fire need someone who listens, who cries with them, who serves tea, who gives a hug, who is simply there. Those sitting here feel the love of the Christians. The love of God. Those sitting here are grateful for the Word of God the Christians share with them - the Word of Life in a place of death. That is why the fire in this street is a fire of hope. And as long as there are Christians here, serving the people, this fire will keep burning.

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The pastor's house - first contact point

Pastor Hamdullah and his wife Elmas live in the center of Antakya. When the two of them ran outside after the quake, the row of houses across the street was no longer there. All that remained of the high-rise buildings was a huge pile of rubble. The houses to the right and left in the neighborhood have also been destroyed. But Hamdullah and Elmas' house is still standing and became the first port of call for people who ran for their lives in shock, injured and lost.

Elmas reports:

The earth shook for a minute and a half. We were thrown against the walls and could not get out. When the violent shocks stopped, we ran out into the street. A woman came up to me completely soaked because it was raining. She had no shoes and it was so cold. I gave her dry clothes and shoes. There were people everywhere, screaming, injured. It was terrible.

During the day we saw the extent of destruction. 340 people were buried under the crashed apartment buildings across the street. People who were our neighbors, whom we knew and had good contact with. Knowing they are no longer alive makes me so sad.
Since it is dangerous to sleep in our house, we still sleep in the car. We can't find sleep for more than four hours a night. It is very cold.
But God doesn't make any mistakes. I am convinced He has a plan. He will still work mightily in our region. And we want to be here and let ourselves be used. We want to see God work.

Love in word and deed

For Hamdullah and Elmas it was clear that their house should be open to all who need help. Above all, blankets, clothing and hygiene articles are passed on here. Since there are so many people living on the streets, sleeping in cars without a possibility to return to their homes, the Christians offer warm meals in front of the pastor's house.‍

‍Our worker on the ground reports from Antakya:‍I participated in distributing soup and rice yesterday. I don't have the words to describe the gratitude of the people. These looks, these grateful looks. They say so much that words are no longer necessary.
In the Hope Tent right next door, the stove is burning. Many come here to warm up a little. There is a hot meal for them, too.
The devotion of the Christians of Antakya overwhelms me. They serve and serve and serve. Even before the disaster, Hamdullah and Elmas were respected in their neighborhood. Everyone knew them. Everyone knew they said good things and did good things. But now it's as if people are reaching out especially for that good, for God's love.
And so we walk through the streets of Antakya, and everyone recognises the pastor and his wife. Everyone raises their hand in greeting, even from the end of the street. Some throw them a kissing hand symbolically - out of gratitude. The two are salt and light in their city. Their love for the people carries the message of the Gospel to Antakya and beyond. I become witness of this simple love when we meet a friend of Hamdullah on the street, with a bandaged arm, marked by the suffering of the past days. When he sees Hamdullah, he rushes toward him, simply embraces him. For a while, the two remain in this embrace and cry.
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Shared sorrow, shared hope, without any need for words. Just like around the fire place on the street in front of Hamdullah's and Elmas' house.
Thank you, dear friends, for praying and helping to keep this fire burning!

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Helping with Hope Tents for Families

‍Together with our local contacts on the ground and with the local churches, we want to set up tents to provide simple but safe living conditions for mothers, children, families. By helping people in their need, we want to share Living Hope in the Living God. This is why we call these tents: Hope Tents.

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1 Hope Tent will include:

1 Tent $500
1 Stove $100
10 Mattrasses $250
10 Blankets $100
Food for 10 people / 1 month $450
Toilet and washing facility $250
Clothes (for women / children) $400
Hygiene supplies $100
‍Total cost per Hope Tent: $2.200

1 Hope Tent with equipment will serve 10 people.
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Every contribution helps to provide people with a place of refuge and warmth.

Send your donation with the project code # 82 37 00

Thank you for your prayers and help!