Paul Calvert spoke with Yvette Isaac from Roads of Success, about their work to empower, educate and act as advocates for persecuted Christians in the Middle East.

Syria

Yvette: I went to Syria before the war. The Syrian people are the nicest people. They are educated, gentle, classic, artists, and even the way they drive they have a culture of respect and honour.

After the war I didn't see that. The people changed and their heart changed. War does change people.

But I went to church and I saw the churches filled with people. The churches are targeted, so I said, "Where do you get this boldness to come to church, knowing that the church can be bombed at any time? And you dress nice and you look very nice." So they were making jokes, "When we go to heaven we want to look nice before Jesus." But at the same time said, "If we stay home we are going to die and they are going to say, "A bomb hit an apartment building and the people died." But if we die in the church, they will say, "The Christian people died. So we will make a statement and our blood will speak."

Paul: You are also involved in television. Tell us about the television work that you are doing.

Yvette: We do have a television ministry, with different Christian networks.

Most of our programmes air at Alkarma network. That goes around the world for Arabic speaking people.

It's an amazing opportunity to reach out to the weak and to people who are looking for God. They don't know if He exists or not. It's a way of encouraging them with the word of God. It helps them to keep their identity and to know their identity in the midst of the war. When there is war you forget your identity. Fear will take over, but when you hear the word of God you will be encouraged; you will know that you are the daughter of the King. We are His children and He will care for us. Even if we die we are making a statement and we are making history. We are making legacy for Jesus and that makes a huge difference.

Syria

When you teach them how to apply God's word in their daily suffering and in daily oppression, they find hope ad they can stand. At the same time we just don't go in front of the television so they will see us on the television, but we go with them on the front lines. We go and visit them. We stand so that they will know that Jesus is not only on television; He's not only in the pulpit, but Jesus is with them on the front lines, loving them, helping them and giving them food and water. He gives them blankets, jackets and that's what we do. We go with containers loaded with winter gear, summer gear and whatever they need, to tell them that we are here for you and we are standing with you.

Paul: You are empowering women. What do you want to see change for women in the Middle East?

Yvette: To know their identity more and to never lose their identity.

Women are strong and they hold the family, and when they know who they are, they can really encourage their children, a new generation. They can help them out and we can find a better world and better Christians, a stronger generation for Jesus.

Paul: What is your prayer for the Middle East?

Yvette: Mercy and justice to prevail and for the people to know what is happening to their brothers and sisters and to stand with them.

Paul: What is your website address for people who would like to know more about your work?

Yvette: It's www.roadsofsuccess.com.