Let's Love Our Brother

For those of you who know our good friend Joran* you know the last three years have been challenging for him. For those who don't, we want to share a little about him and his journey with the hope that this trial in his life can be purposed for good by allowing the body of Christ to show him the love of Christ by supporting and coming alongside him in his suffering and struggles.

Joran came to the United States a little over 3 years ago as an Asylum Seeker from the Middle East. He was a journalist reporting against his government. Other journalists were being murdered in his country and Joran began receiving death threats, and so he left his family and came to the United States. Joran originally arrived with $10,000 thinking this could hold him over while his asylum case was being processed. He had no idea that THREE YEARS later he would still be waiting for his work permit - which means he is neither allowed to work or eligible for any government aid.

For the past year he has been a part of the DASH family- living in the men’s group apartment, volunteering as the men’s group representative and organizer of the food bank, and regularly attending all DASH events including our celebrations and our Sunday nightTHRIVE Leadership Academy classes. Though a self-identifying Muslim, Joran has also been very curious and open to embracing the community he has found through DASH and the City Church. He attends our Sunday morningservices regularly and has joined the City Group and is very active in engaging in conversation and dialogues about faith and different world views.

Joran has a huge heart and it has been hard for all of those who care about him to see him go through such a rough journey. It’s easy for someone to find their identity in their work or their family and as this has been stripped of Joran for the last three years he as at time found himself very depressed, lonely, anxious, and isolated. Most recently, a huge stressor has been that he borrowed $6,000 from some friends and family before entering DASH to avoid becoming homeless and to pay for immigration related expenses. These friends and family are now regularly insisting that he pay them back although he still has no source of income or ability to work. This has caused him so much anxiety he has seriously considered just giving up on his asylum case and returning to his country to certain death to make this all go away. We have seen Joran love and care for so many of the men and women that have come in and out of DASH- often visiting the other families in the program, coming to events to help set up, texting volunteers when they are going through a hard time, and just being such a good friend to others.

We would love to take this opportunity to come together as the body of Christ to bless our brother, Joran, by taking care of this debt he owes and explaining to him the unbelievable love and mercy of Christ who pays our debt on our behalf so that we can taste and experience freedom. Anything you feel stirred to give would be a blessing and we would also cherish your prayers on his behalf.