2017 Worship Guide

Page 8 2017 WORSHIP GUIDE Wednesday, December 6, 2017 LINCOLN DAILY NEWS PUBLICATION Declaration of Independence. Unless you are one hundred percent Native American, you are descendants of immigrants! I would like to share with you several stories of families who were forced into immigration. The first, a friend of mine, his name is Michael and his wife is Mary. They are Sudanese refugees, they had to flee Sudan, so they fled on foot with their children. They took nothing with them, their lives were all that mattered to them. They crossed a desert, on foot mind you, into a neighboring country. It was there, they were put into a camp, this was not a KOA campground with all the goodies such as a swimming pool, game room, store, this was a refugee camp with barbwire surrounding it. They were given food, but it was hardly enough for his family. They were able to apply for a visa to the United States on a refugee hardship/wartime status. The church I belonged to at the time, sponsored Michael and Mary and their children, we paid for them to come to the Quad Cities, set up housing for them, bought them food and clothing. Helped them to purchase a car, and helped Michael find employment. Michael holds several college degrees, he served as a Pastor of a Church in Sudan. Michael was able to go right to work. This family may not have had a good life until now, but you won’t find them without a smile on their face. They might not be rich in money, but you can ask Michael if he is rich, and he will answer you that they are rich in the goodness of Christ. The second family, was a couple and a newborn, they were forced to flee their homeland by a vicious ruler. They fled by night, crossed a rugged terrain, and then they also crossed a desert. Here, they lived as refugees for several years, until it was safe for them to return to their homeland. When you are forced to leave your homeland because of eminent danger to your family, you will leave your homes, cars, possessions behind. They no longer are important to you, only the safety and the lives of your family matters. This second family, had to flee, because of the king ordering the killing of all sons, two years and younger. Do you know who it is? Think about these two families this Christmas Season and the New Year. If it happened to them, could it not happen to us as well? Merry Christmas, God Bless you for all you do and who you are, See you in church, Pastor Bill and Wendy Ramsdale and family