Through the Eyes of a Child: Encounters with God in the Middle East
Intrinsic to every child’s life is a sense of innocence, a promise of hope and possibility. But in light of the traumatic hardships within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), children who grow up there struggle to find hope. The MENA region has the highest number of children living in conflict zones in the world. Their lives unfold amid war, extreme poverty, displacement, economic collapse, and various forms of persecution, all set against the backdrop of an honor-shame culture.
When thinking of the joys of childhood, it remains difficult to imagine children living day-to-day in such extreme conditions. But through their decades of serving the MENA region, Ananias House has glimpsed a consistent thread of hope woven through these children’s stories that converges on one inarguable truth: God has not left them.
Among the thousands of children’s stories that go untold across the war-torn MENA region, Ananias House has captured ten in this book — ten stories of children deeply impacted by the culture and region in which they live, by the circumstances they endure, and, ultimately, by transformative encounters with the love of Jesus Christ. Through the local church, through a Christian school, through another believer, these children who experience deep darkness learn that, through it, God’s light always shines.
Proceeds from each purchase will help fulfill our mission through projects in the field.
$15.00
Reviews
"This book touched my heart. I cried reading Amir's story. The book is a very easy read. I sat down and read till story 6 or 7 and could hardly put the book down, even though it was late and time to go to bed. I plan on getting at least 10 more books for now and giving them out. I got 3 originally and all I have left now is my own copy. This book needs to be in as many hands as possible."
“This touching book looks inside the hearts and thoughts of Muslim children, refugee children whose families have no hope, no future, and no education. Families that have experienced war and terror. The settings are heartbreaking and hopeless… but God. These stories share what shining His light into these darkest of places does. The hope and future His Light provides! This is what Ananias House exists to do. They are the hands and feet of Jesus, and they help eradicate the prison of darkness and fear the enemy had these precious children and their families in. Knowing Jesus sets them free!" Also, as I read this book, this scripture came to me again and again....Matthew 19:14 (New International Version): Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
“Child-like faith. It’s an expression we use in a variety of situations, not just regarding religion. Yet Through the Eyes of a Child, real children come to real faith because of the work Jesus is doing in the Middle East and North Africa. The book introduces us to nine different young people (children) who illustrate the traumas of growing up in a region marred by war, disaster, and radicalism. In each of their stories, the pain of life for a child in the MENA region is recounted. I have some knowledge of the harsh realities for families because of my familiarity with the work of Ananias House, but the descriptions of each child’s circumstances further develop my understanding of the plight of Middle Eastern refugee children. This book brings into focus: discrimination faced by Christians, radicalization of the youth, extreme poverty, kidnappings, devaluation of women and girls, lack of opportunity for refugee children. Children grow up in fear, which robs them of their childhood. Through the Eyes of a Child informs the reader of the cultural expectations placed on children at an early age, explaining in particular the culture of honor/shame. The narratives will touch the reader with stories of how Christians shine His light into the lives of children who have faced unspeakable atrocities. In a place that can feel hopeless, there is hope, and His name is Jesus Christ. The children of this book can teach adults how child-like faith can and does make a significant difference. Their stories are worthy of being heard. And shared.”
