12 Prayers, 12 Weeks

On the Front line in Iraq

Iraqi Christian families try to live with the strain of living their lives in a war zone.

Perhaps we believe that, if the control of ISIS is broken in Iraq, the masses of scattered Iraqi refugees will happily return to the war-scarred place that was once home. Iraqi troops are inching forward in their ongoing battle to take back the city of Mosul, perhaps it will soon be safe? Reality is a little different.

Front-line workers feel that, if Mosul is freed from ISIS, few Christians will want to return there. Meanwhile, Christians in the war-torn region continue to face the threat of death, persecution, kidnap and bombings.

Wassim from the Bible Society of Iraq said, "Actually, it's very difficult for Christians. I don't think a lot of Christians will come back to his house in Mosul ...they will not trust people in their neighbourhood... they helped ISIS to take their houses; everything they have."

While World Watch Monitor recently reported Christian leaders returning to Qaraqosh, Bible Society staff from the Middle East do not believe a mass homecoming will occur for the thousands of Christian families which fled fighting.

Mike Bassous from the Bible Society in Lebannon travels regularly to Iraq and what he has witnessed is how Christianity has powerfully sustained some Iraqi people during decades of civil war. "The faith of Iraqi Christians is stronger than any other group or community of Christians all over the world," Mike says. "I've never seen stronger faith than Iraqi Christians. They've been through so much
persecution in the last 30 years. Christians in Iraq have been displaced four to five times since 1980. They have been moved around, shifted around, due to wars and that is why they are now seeking to leave the country."

Before ISIS captured Mosul, the Bible Society distributed Bibles and other materials in villages around that city. Based now in Erbil, they work with partner organisations like World Compassion and Christian Aid; working on distributing wheelchairs, food, and Scriptures, occasionally bringing doctors to visit refugee camps in Erbil. They host free events in Erbil for children, youth and adults on Fridays, along with Scripture distribution. They see around 400 people attending these events,

"That's simply one way that the Bible Society is supporting and encouraging the congregations to stay steadfast in their faith." Says Mike.

Material adapted from article by Ben McEachen, Eternity magazine

Pray that God's Word will bring freedom

Pray that Iraqi Christians will persevere during these difficult times. That they will know God's presence, courage and a strengthening of their faith through Scripture.

Pray that the Bible Society team will be able to meet the needs of local Christians who are reaching out to people of other faiths.

Remember all those who minister in Iraq, bringing not only practical help but also Spiritual encouragement and the hope of the Gospel.

Pray that our God of the impossible will make a way for peace where there does not seem to be a way.

Week 10: 6 December 2016

Powerful Faith

Wassan is a collegue of Wassim in the Bible Society in Iraq. They are based in Erbil, one hour from Mosul. Wassim translated some of Wassan's story...

Wassan lived in the town of Qaraqosh, a 15-minute drive east of embattled Mosul, in the safe Kurdistan region.

"Wassan was a student at Mosul university. She was going to her university by bus. A lot of buses - maybe, 50 buses - go every day to the university. One day, they put on the way to the university, a bomb on the street. Maybe four buses were bombed, and that's where Wassan was. Very horrible; very terrible for her. There is another case; they kidnapped five or seven Christian students from the bus. They took them out from the bus, just because they are Christian. They obligate them to cover their hair like Muslims at the university."

As Mike stated, there is powerful faith among the remaining Christian community in Iraq: "We visited a church two weeks ago. A refugee church; this is where Wassan comes from. In Qaraqosh, it is her church. There was a group of 30 young people practicing hymns to sing on Sunday. Beautiful sounds; beautiful faith. Everyone in my group was crying when they saw the strong faith these young people have.

"Yes, Wassan and Wassim do live in very dangerous places. Only a week ago, seven Christian girls in Kirkuk were almost abducted by ISIS; it was a retaliation by ISIS about a week or ten days ago. No news covered it that they miraculously escaped and now these seven girls are in Lebanon for trauma and psychological healing.

"What Wassan and Wassim would like to say is, yes, life is dangerous and difficult but there is joy in serving the church - even in these difficult persecution times."

The Bible Society team in Iraq is providing relief packages and Scriptures to Christian refugees. Refugee families have described how they had no time to pack anything. One person stated that they abandoned everything they owned and left 'with only our souls'.

Bible Society NI, 27 Howard Street, Belfast, BT1 6NB

TEL: 028 9032 6577 - www.bsni.co.uk

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