Found an Apartment!

The Naaman’s have found an apartment. Thank you to all those who provided leads. We are grateful that Dhiyaa, Hiba and Mirna will be moving into their new apartment soon!
 

The Naaman family, have arrived safe and sound.

There were about 16 people from City Centre at the airport to greet Dhiyaa, Hiba and Mirna.  They are settling into their temporary accommodation nicely.  Over the last few days, they’ve been out and about with Pastor Drew (& Paul & Deb Laroche) to get their documents and see a few things close to home.
 
Please continue to pray for them as they adjust to their new home! Also, pray for our team that is looking for appropriate accommodations for the Naaman Family.

Brief Bio on the Naaman Family!

Dhiyaa worked for an organization called “Heart for Lebanon” which is a home visitation ministry and support for refugees.  Hiba, his wife, was a kindergarten teacher in the church supporting refugees who come to Lebanon and must catch up to academic standards. Both were enrolled in theology training at ABTS. Mirna, their teenaged daughter, is interested in photography and science.
 
The Naaman Family came to Christ through Pastor A’s ministry.
 

The Naaman Family Album (So Far)

YYZ Arrivals

Our other two Iraqi families are almost here! Their incredible journey to make Canada their new home is almost complete. Our preparations for their arrival in Toronto (YYZ) are ramping up.
 
A committee has been formed to help us organize accommodations and all the specific practical things that each family will need for everyday life. The committee will help provide our church family with direction on each family’s basic needs.
 
We are looking to provide each family with the support they need to purchase household goods (pots, pans, dishes, cutlery, lights), linens and so many more things that our sponsored families will need to start their new lives in Canada. Please drop by this page often as we will post lists and more information as things progress.
 
Please keep your eyes open for possible resources that these families can use to begin living here. If you want to help our refugees settle in smoothly, please connect with Randy in the church office or email him at randy.dejesus@citycentrebaptist.ca.

Update:

We are awaiting news on two more of our sponsored families.
 
Please continue to pray for God’s protection and provision for each of these families.

Family #1

Pastor A accepted the Lord in 1990.  Prior to coming to faith, he was a singer.  He joined the choir of a Presbyterian church in Bagdad which was the only evangelical church in the city. He ended up feeling a call to ministry and served 6 years in Youth Ministry there.
 

In 2007, he began serving in church plant ministry in Duhok, with a passion for helping churches to have vibrant and skillful worship.  Pastor A assembled and trained worship teams, teaching both spiritual and technical components.  He also taught leadership and was a trainer in the Evangelism Explosion curriculum.

After fleeing to Beirut under persecution for his faith, He resumed church planting work with a focus on evangelism and discipleship.  In his first church God grew the congregation from 15 people to over 100.  He started a Monday night ministry to Muslims which saw more than 100 put their faith is Jesus.

He also teaches in multiple other classes and programs geared toward Muslims.  His goal for the past 2 years was to see 1,000 Muslims come to Christ through his work – and God has done it!

A’s wife Z is currently studying theology at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS) in Beirut.  Their son S is a teenager who loves sports, especially soccer and basketball.

 
 
These two other Iraqi families (the Naaman family and Family #2 below) came to Christ 11 years ago under the ministry of Pastor A; he baptized both couples.
 

Family #2

N is D’s sister and is also studying at ABTS.  She is the treasurer of her local church and serves in women’s ministry as well as a Christian library.  Her husband works in packing and distribution.
 

Family #4

Our Pakistani family has been living in Malaysia since 2012 as a result of religious persecution. The father had worked as a maintenance manager for a fleet of rental cars back in India. His wife, was a stay at home mom. They have 3 children; one is already married and living in Pakistan with their own family. The remaining two sons are with their parents in Malaysia and all four applications are being processed.  We hope to have a further update soon!

Please pray for protection and provision for

all our families as they continue their journey home.

Please note:
We have not used the names of our sponsored families on our website
in order to protect the identities of these families;
and the friends and family that they had to leave behind.