Since Islamic State's initial attack on Mosul and then subsequently on the Christians and Yezidis of the surrounding area of Sinjar Province -- which precipitated the initial refugee crisis last August into northern Iraq -- IS has turned its sights on the Kurds of Syria. Media attention for about three weeks in October and November focused on the battle for Kobani in northern Syria, right on the border with Turkey, not far from Urfa and close to the Haran of Abraham in Genesis 12. 

As the battle for Kobani continued, many of the area's Kurdish residents fled. After initially crossing over to Turkey, most are either now in northern Iraq or still in Syria but living in refugee camps near the northeast border with Iraq. All this as recent UN statistics put the total number of refugees, or displaced people, at more than 7 million, nearly half of the total population of Syria. (Photo of refugee shanty in Erbil, Iraq.) 

Recently, the Middle East saw one of the most severe winter storms of 2014/15. Snow has been 

falling since Jan. 8 at higher elevations and even at some places lower than 1,000 meters above sea level, like in Jerusalem. As a result, the situation for many of the refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, southeast Turkey, Syria and northern Iraq has become quite difficult and even serious. 

 In our desire to continue to support many of our partners along the Isaiah 19 Highway who are working with refugees, we want to continue to ask you to support relief efforts in the region. One of our main partners in Erbil, Iraq has had the unique privilege of welcoming refugees from the Kobani area into his church. Most, if not all, of these Kurds are Muslims, so please pray that the mercy shown them by Muslim-background believers will breakdown barriers to the gospel message. (Photo of a ministry partner with a Kobani refugee in Iraq.) 

In addition, many of those who are serving have told us that the need is at times so overwhelming that they are struggling with both physical and spiritual fatigue. We would ask that you continue to lift up in prayer both national and international workers as they pour out their lives in service for these Kurds, Yezidis, Muslims and Assyrian Christians who are spending their first winter displaced and struggling to understand how their lives have changed so suddenly and drastically. 

Finally, our team of young Israelis that went to serve in southeast Turkey and northern Iraq this last fall are planning to return in the next few months with the vision of establishing a base in the area both for prayer and practical service. Please be in prayer for this initiative, that God would put the right team together, provide for this trip, and guide us as we seek our part in being a "light to the nations."

 These tarp shanties in Erbil, Iraq, are what many Syrian refugees are calling home.