Christians in the Greek island of Lesbos are serving through many initiatives.

I58 is one of the groups working near the Moria Camp (the largest refugee camp in Europe). Emanuel Esh and his team started in 2015, at a time when the refugee crisis was erupting.

Through the work of teams of volunteers and their “Oasis” building, they serve hundreds of asylum seekers currently staying in Lesbos, he told Evangelical Focus.

A gathering of asylum seekers in the area outside the camp known as the jungle. / I58

The vision of I58 is “to minister to the physical needs of the refugees” being a “shining light to them and show them the love of Jesus”. They invite teams of youth from the US to come to “minister to the refugees and also be challenged and changed into the image and glory of God as they serve”.

Moria, a ‘village’ of 16,000 people

The situation in Lesbos is “somewhat stable presently”, Esh explains. “Due to the Covid-19 crisis, the numbers of new arrivals has dropped 90%”. In the last 5 months, the number of people living in the Moria Camp is “has gone from 20,000 to around 16,000”.

Moria is a place where many wait for long weeks and months. The refugee camp “has become a village with its own market. People are settled in for more long term stay”.

In a global context of coronavirus crisis, the good news is that “so far we have not heard of any Covid-19 cases here”. According to the I58 pastor, “the Greek government and NGOs have been attempting to prepare for it, but so far none reported”. But it is true that “the people are a bit fearful of it”, he adds.

Tea and conversations at Oasis

The I58 teams serve inside the Moria Camp in a number of ways, “demonstrating the love of Jesus”, with assistance in areas such as “housing and non-food items, as well as some camp maintenance and management”.

Oasis, the community centre of the ministry outside the camp is a meeting place where they serve “tea and biscuits, usually to around 500 to 700 people per day”.

Many join I58 volunteers for tea and biscuits every day in the Oasis centre. / I58

Emanuel leads times of devotion with the team every morning at 8am before the volunteers start their work. He does “prayer walking” and also leads Bible studies for new believers and whoever has questions about the Christian faith.

Conversations about the work they do happen often. “Recently, one refugee lady was exclaiming about why our volunteers would leave a good job and come here to serve without being payed. She said; ‘I know that you say it is because of that Jesus! I want to ask that Jesus why!’”

Another asylum seeker who had arrived to the ‘New Arrivals” hall, was greeted with a big smile by one of the Christian volunteers, so she asked: “Why do you care about me? Why do you love me?”. The question would later lead to more conversations about fear, hate and the love of God.

A challenge for all Christians

Esh thinks that “one of the greatest challenges for believers is taking God’s word and apply it to our lives”.

In his own life, he says, “Isaiah chapter 58 and 60 have been the foundation and standard of serving in Lesbos”. Many of the realities described in these passages of the Old Testament are very real in the actual refugee crisis and inspire their action.

How to pray for Moria

How can Christians around the world pray for refugees in the Moria Camp and elsewhere? These are some requests suggested by Emanuel.

“Pray for the Holy Spirit to be manifested in the lives of the believers. For the love of God to be shining out of the volunteer’s lives. For the Greek people whose lives have been impacted by the crisis. For the continual opportunities to share the love of God in this place. For God to send the new believers all across the world. And pray against the plague of the disease”.

Christians worldwide are joining in prayer, awareness and actionas they celebrate Refugee Sunday worship services.

Learn more about the work of i58 and how to support it by visiting the ministry’s website.