Ministry Opportunity

From Tom and Leslie Johnson

We would like your help with an unusual need. Last year, before the virus interrupted travel, I (Tom) visited a refugee center in another country to interview an Iranian family who had converted to Christianity from Islam. They were fleeing for their lives because of a realistic possibility they would be forced to return to their country of origin to be executed for apostacy.  A door has opened for them in Ontario, where they could move legally and get a new start. Remember Ministries (https://www.rememberministries.com/), near Toronto, has agreed to coordinate the transition, and a church in southern Ontario has agreed to receive them and assist their transition, which this church has done with other refugee families. We are arranging the financial support.

The deacons have very kindly arranged for Cross Creek PCA to receive and disperse funds for this need. Remember Ministries set the budget for this family at CAD $32,000, which is about USD $27,000. Since we mentioned this need in our ministry newsletter, at least $17,750 has been sent to CCPC, some from families, some from churches. It looks like we are facing a deadline in early June to have the funding in place for a prompt transition. Donations should mention “refugee ministry.”

About us: Tom is a PCA minister in Heartland Presbytery. From 1987 to 1993 he was a church planter in Iowa. Since 1994 we have been foreign missionaries under Global Scholars, which has its US office in Kansas, spending 25 years in educational ministries in eastern Europe. For many years Tom was a professor of ethics and philosophy in secular universities, while also filling in as needed in evangelical seminaries. Since 2012 he has been the senior theological advisor to the World Evangelical Alliance, with 600 million members in 140 countries. Leslie served as Director of the Christian International School of Prague. She is now an educational consultant for the Association of Christian Schools International. They have three adult children and five grandchildren.