{"id":53050,"date":"2025-02-25T14:00:54","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T05:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=53050"},"modified":"2025-02-25T14:26:58","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T05:26:58","slug":"vomk-report-337","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2025\/02\/25\/vomk-report-337\/","title":{"rendered":"SYRIA: AMIDST UPHEAVAL, THREE CHRISTIAN ORPHAN SISTERS HOPE IN THE LORD"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”53054″ img_size=”full” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”Three orphaned Christian sisters whose parents were beheaded by ISIS ten years ago are facing a new challenge: Syria\u2019s longtime dictator has been overthrown, and while citizens are cautiously optimistic about their country\u2019s future, Christians\u2014especially in rural areas and especially women\u2014are already facing harassment and demands to convert to Islam. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left|color:%23111111″ google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”” el_class=”headline”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Voice of the Martyrs Korea provides financial support for the sisters, ages <\/span>14, 17, and 25 (names and location withheld for security reasons).\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201cThe family lives in a rural village where Sunni Muslims are the majority,\u201d says Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr<\/span>.<\/span> Hyun Sook Foley. \u201cTen years ago, the family heard shots outside the house. <\/span>The father went outside to see what <\/span>was going on, <\/span>and the mother followed him <\/span>in order to<\/span> try to drag him <\/span>back <\/span>to the house<\/span>.<\/span> Unfortunately, before she could do so, they were spotted by ISIS fighters. They were beheaded and buried in a mass grave, along with others who were killed.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]At the time of the tragedy, <\/span>says Representative Foley, <\/span>the two older daughters<\/span>, who are mentally handicapped,<\/span> were staying with their relatives, and the youngest daughter, then 5 years old, was at home. She was later found sleeping under the bed.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Representative Foley says that the three sisters <\/span>now live with their grandmother and uncle<\/span>, with the older two requiring constant care from the grandmother with support from a visiting Christian nurse<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201cO<\/span>nly the youngest<\/span> sister<\/span> is healthy, active, and <\/span>capable of normal living,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201c<\/span>The two older girls do not attend school because they <\/span>are unable to <\/span>communicate appropriately. The middle <\/span>sister <\/span>could <\/span>go to <\/span>the daycare <\/span>center <\/span>in the <\/span>village, but <\/span>the mental condition of her older sister is so bad that she is not able to function without <\/span>the middle sister being around<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span> The daycare center refused to admit the oldest girl due to her severe condition. Thus, both girls stay home and are cared for by their grandmother.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201cThey call the grandmother a \u2018<\/span>warrior<\/span>\u2019 because she can barely walk and only has one functioning kidney,<\/span> but she continues to care for their girls,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cThe two younger girls help her with <\/span>cooking, cleaning, <\/span>and <\/span>doing laundry<\/span>, but they still need an adult woman at home to direct them.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”53059″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Representative Foley says that during the recent fighting, the region where the sisters live was transformed from the <\/span>home of peaceful demonstrations <\/span>to <\/span>a center of attacks from many sides: governmental, anti-governmental,<\/span> IS, and international military forces.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> <\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>During the civil war<\/span>, <\/span>it was challenging to be a Christian in every respect, as Christians experienced persecution from Muslim extremists<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201cNow w<\/span>ith the current situation in Syria<\/span>\u2014the <\/span>fall of the Assad regime<\/span> and the <\/span>rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)<\/span>\u2014in <\/span>control of the country<\/span>, no <\/span>one knows what the future holds for Syrian Christians.<\/span>\u201d The girls\u2019 pastor told Voice of the Martyrs that while the situation looks frightening, \u201c<\/span>Christians are waiting to see what God will be doing in the background.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Voice of the Martyrs Korea became involved in supporting the family <\/span>last year <\/span>through its Polish sister mission. \u201cThe brother of the girls\u2019 pastor is a Syrian refugee living in Poland<\/span> who now pastors an Arabic church there<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201c<\/span>He told our sister Voice of the Martyrs mission about the situation of Christians in the area, and about the sisters.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Representative Foley says that Voice of the Martyrs volunteers <\/span>who visited <\/span>the family were shocked <\/span>by the <\/span>day-to-day <\/span>reality <\/span>of life for Christians in the region.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>The<\/span> volunteers <\/span>reported that access to everyday necessities is highly restricted. Electricity gets turned on for two hours per day and two hours per night, and tap water is available only three days a week but only after midnight<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Petrol and gas are also <\/span>very limited<\/span>. Medicine is hard to <\/span>acquire<\/span>, and all basic products are costly. Local people always seem nervous and stressed by these exhausting living <\/span>conditions.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]What concerned the Voice of the Martyrs<\/span> volunteers the most, however, was that believers in the region felt <\/span>left alone and forgotten by the global church.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why o<\/span>ur project focuse<\/span>s<\/span> not only on giving practical aid to <\/span>the girls but <\/span>also on bringing very personal and spiritual support to<\/span> them,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”53056″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”VOM Korea provides assistance for 3 orphaned Christian sisters from Syria whose parents were beheaded by ISIS, in partnership with its Polish sister mission. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0101|line_height:1.45em” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]The local pastor <\/span>personally <\/span>purchase<\/span>s<\/span> the groceries for the family each month, transports them to the <\/span>grandmother\u2019s home, and coordinates the help of the nurse. <\/span>He told Voice of the Martyrs that although most Syrians are optimistic about the future under new leadership, Christians are facing serious difficulties in the present.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Some of our church members have already been beaten, just because they are Christians<\/span>,\u201d the pastor said<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>All the MBBs<\/span> [Muslim background believers\u2014those who converted to Christianity from Islam]<\/span> left our church because of fear <\/span>[that]<\/span> they will be <\/span>immediately<\/span> killed once someone discovers they are born again. Christians are being harassed on the streets in <\/span>[the village]<\/span>, including me and some of the church members.<\/span> We <\/span>don\u2019t<\/span> know what to do but to stay and wait for God’s intervention.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]The local pastor said that not only did police not help when he approached them, they took the side of the harassers.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Even the police, when I reported the incident, said: <\/span>\u2018<\/span>We are trying to convert you, and you are free to refuse but we <\/span>won’t<\/span> stop preaching Islam in your <\/span>neighborhood<\/span>\u2019<\/span>,\u201d the pastor told Voice of the Martyrs.<\/span> \u201c<\/span>They send preachers wearing Afghani clothing from before the <\/span>M<\/span>iddle <\/span>A<\/span>ges and shout to us to convert. Some of the ladies from our church started wearing a veil on the streets to avoid harassment, which we <\/span>can\u2019t<\/span> oppose, but we <\/span>don\u2019t<\/span> know what would happen in the future.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]The local pastor told Voice of the Martyrs that m<\/span>any church members <\/span>had already been <\/span>dismissed from their jobs and replaced by <\/span>unskilled <\/span>jihadists. <\/span>Girls are still <\/span>permitted<\/span> to attend school, he says, but students are separated by gender and girls <\/span>are required to<\/span> cover themselves with special clothing.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]As regards the three sisters and their family, they are thankful to the Lord for stability in the aftermath of the civil war. But as their pastor notes, \u201c<\/span>Stability today does not mean stability tomorrow<\/span>.\u201d <\/span>The nurse<\/span> who cares for the older sisters notes that the communication skills of the eldest sister were improving until the most intense local fighting of the civil war<\/span> recently<\/span>, when she began to experience panic attacks.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]As for the youngest sister, she is thankful to the Voice of the Martyrs ministries in Korea and Poland, and to her local pastor. \u201c<\/span>Thank you for your help. <\/span>It’s <\/span>really beneficial<\/span> to our family.<\/span> May God bless you.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Representative Foley says that Voice of the Martyrs provides assistance to family members of martyrs and families of Christians imprisoned because of their faith. Individuals interested in contributing to Voice of the Martyrs Korea\u2019s Families of Martyrs\/Families of Prisoners (FOM\/FOP) fund can do so at <\/span>www.vomkorea.com\/en\/donate<\/span><\/a> or via electronic transfer to:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uad6d\ubbfc\uc740\ud589<\/span> 463501-01-243303<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uc608\uae08\uc8fc<\/span>: (<\/span>\uc0ac<\/span>)<\/span>\uc21c\uad50\uc790\uc758\uc18c\ub9ac<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Please include the name \u201cFOM\/FOP\u201d on the donation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”53054″ img_size=”full” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”Three orphaned Christian sisters whose parents were beheaded by ISIS ten years ago are facing a new challenge: Syria\u2019s longtime dictator has been overthrown, and while …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":53053,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53050","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vomk-report"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["ko","en","zh","ru"],"languages":{"ko":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53050","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53050"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53050\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53063,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53050\/revisions\/53063"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53053"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53050"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53050"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53050"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}