Praying for the Church in Iraq

Traveling for ministry in the Middle East is always accompanied by fatigue and busy schedules. It goes with the territory. But just as Jesus promised rewards for our small sacrifices, I have learned to expect God to show Himself the greatest in just such circumstances. Today was such a day.

This was the special Day Of Prayer for the persecuted church in Iraq. While sitting in the home of one of our ministry partners and his family, two of our pastors, and several visitors, the irony overwhelmed me. It was the realization that after all of the preparations for this day, when hundreds of churches and ministry partners in North America were praying and asking God to protect and prosper the church in Iraq, here I sat in Northern Iraq. Adding to the irony was the fact that we were visiting in a village believed to be the home of one of the Old Testament prophets. Who would have guessed that centuries after the coming of the Messiah about whom this man prophesied, Iraq would remain a nation in bondage to darkness, separated from God and His saving grace.

There was a tangible sense of God’s presence in the room as we visited, prayed over the sick, and discussed the challenges and persecution of even this small group of believers, two of whom had recently been baptized from a local un-reached people group. This group and their local leader (a carpenter by the way…) expressed their desire to begin an evangelical church of their own here in the village.  They talked of threats they had received, not from the local majority but (more irony) from the established local Christian denomination. One local leader who had come from this denomination, and was now following Jesus, protested that nothing could stop them from building the church here! And I couldn’t help but think how much more truth there was in his statement than he may ever know.

Jesus did promise to build His church and the gates of Hell would not prevail against it. Now, before us in this room, was proof that God the Father was always working for the good of those who trust in Him.  And through His Son Jesus, the church would prevail. Here in an ancient, distant land, rich in history yet captured by darkness, plagued with struggles, suffering, threats of terrorism, and hopelessness, the light of Jesus shines through it all. It’s moment like these that I long for and live for.

And, if not enough irony, whether they realize it or not, this group really is the church. Building or no building, they are the body of Christ that we pray for in Iraq and throughout the Middle East.  These are believers who have trusted completely in Jesus and depend on Him for the courage, wisdom, and strength to persevere.

To cap off the day, as we completed our visit, the call to prayer rang out from the local mosque, a stark reminder of the calling and privilege we have to stand in the gap for the glory of God.