Ishmael, Omar, and Mohammed were known in the community for their work sharing the Gospel and discipling new believers – both on the Iraq side and the Persian side of Kurdistan.

However, there are questions as to whether this was a religious or political assassination. The investigation is ongoing.

(Photo courtesy of Levi Meir Clancy/Unsplash)

Peter Smith, a Mission Network News partner, says these faithful believers came from very different backgrounds – a former Kurdish military member, a government worker, and a car mechanic.

“They were just average people living out their life in Kurdistan. Yet, at the same time, what set them apart was they were willing to take a stand for Christ. They were willing to help train others to understand what the Scriptures say. I would not be surprised if they were also involved with getting Bibles to people who needed Scriptures.”

Ishmael, Omar, and Mohammed all leave behind families. Smith says, “What we’ve tried to do is to mobilize prayer and financial support for the widows and for the children.

“But also for the greater Christian community, they’re in shock because now they’re thinking, ‘If these three key leaders were killed, what will happen to me?'”

Pray comfort for the grieving Kurdish Church.

“We’re also praying that the local Christians will have a spirit of boldness that should not allow this fear of death to scare them,” Smith says, “You know, it’s easy to say that halfway around the world. If I were in that situation, what would I do? But I’m hoping your listeners will be led by the Lord to pray.”

Header photo: The Kurdish flag flies high above Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. (Caption, photo courtesy of Levi Meir Clancy/Unsplash)

Joe Willey with SAT-7 USA talks about a case from Northern Iraq. “Now these so-called honor killings can be defined as the killing of a relative, especially a girl or a woman, who is perceived to have brought dishonor to the family. One of these two women was killed after she posted a video of herself on TikTok singing Christian songs.”

“It’s suspected that her murder was in retaliation for her apparent Christian beliefs.”

This woman was the daughter of a Muslim cleric and had been married off at age 12. She had separated from her husband and had become an activist for women’s rights. Her brother and uncle killed her.

In Iran, a husband beheaded his 17-year-old wife after she returned from fleeing to Turkey. People took pictures of him parading her remains through the streets. She had also been married at 12 years old, younger than Iran’s legal limit of 13 for girls (15 for boys).

Sadly, the Iranian government’s response was to shut down the news agency that first broke the story.

Value of women

It’s an illustration of how little these societies value women. Willey says, “Iran’s civil law says that if a woman withholds her duties toward her husband, she does not receive financial support. Women face tension and challenges if they leave their home without the right kind of clothing. And I found this to be startling from my American perspective, but even riding a bicycle may subject a woman to criminal proceedings.”

SAT-7 programs work to change this culture through programs like Insiders, which airs on the Farsi language channel SAT-7 PARS. Willey says, “Viewers in Iran are presented with the biblical truth that women are made in the image of God and have intrinsic value. That’s the same value as a man. SAT-7 programming is also breaking a cultural taboo by even discussing these topics.”

 Ask God to change the cultural view of women in Iraq and Iran.

Header photo courtesy of SAT-7 USA. 

But last year, the liberation of these Christian communities along the Nineveh Plains began to gain traction. Last October, church bells rang once again in the heavily damaged towns. Today, any ISIS militants left are stragglers and many Christians (though not all) are beginning to turn home once more. But what will it take to make the region truly “home” again?

Kristin Wright of Open Doors USA says they’re continuing to work with the displaced people to figure that out.

“Open Doors is taking a very holistic approach to the situation for rebuilding. It isn’t just about homes and putting a roof over people’s heads. It’s definitely more holistic than that. We are looking at providing trauma counseling, providing practical food support, economic development support—helping people to find jobs and to be trained to start their own businesses as well as just simply cash to help people restart their lives once they move back to their newly liberated home towns along the Nineveh Plain.”

Along with damaged homes are ruined churches that Open Doors is raising support to rebuild. But the priority is to get these people a home including, as she says, a viable economy, education opportunities, health resources, and more.

Challenges remaining

Just because the extremist group has been thrown out does not mean peace has returned to the region. There are a number of challenges remaining in the area. One of the biggest challenges is he bubbling tension between the Kurdish army and the Iraqi government.

(Photo and header photo courtesy of Open Doors USA via Facebook)

“We did have some families who moved back, only to have to flee again. So this is not an ideal situation, obviously.

“Beyond that, there was just the earthquake which even impacted Kurdistan and people were injured there as well and that’s where many of the Christian [communities are].”

But, Wright explains, these are just the big challenges that are presented in the news. So what does it actually look like, on an individual level, to rebuild? What are the biggest trials to overcome? Open Doors explores this question through a video documentation of a 13 year old Christian boy named Noah, returning to his ruined home with his family.

“You can take a sort of a tour with some video footage of him returning to wreckage of his home and walking through his bedroom and the place where he used to play with his toys before his family had to flee from ISIS only a couple of years ago.”

Wright says Noah’s story is an example of how believers are responding to uncertainty and instability.

“You can see that there is such an incredible courage in the lives of these Christians who are willing and actually eager to return to their newly liberated hometowns. But there are many challenges. And so, I’m inspired by their faith, I’m inspired by their courage in spite of the obstacles. And I think that something else that can come out of this that can be good is Christians here in the west standing alongside their persecuted brothers and sisters in Iraq and Syria.”

Rebuilding a joint effort

Right now, your support in the rebuild has double the impact. Through December 7th, Open Doors USA is raising $340,000 to help at least 85 families rebuild their lives. Your gift will be doubled, up to $100,000.

“There are so many families who desire to return and there are so many challenges. We need to get moving as fast as we can,” Wright says.

To give to the rebuilding campaign, click here.

Another way you can help the future of Christians and other minorities in Syria and Iraq is to advocate for them. Check out Open Doors’ petition, A Million Voices of Hope for the Middle East. The petition calls for changes in how Christians are allowed to participate in the future of their nations. Click here to sign the petition.

Finally, be praying for believers to be a light in the darkness in this part of the world. Ask God to make his name, grace, and mercy known and that many will come to believe in his son, Jesus.

(Image courtesy of VBB)

But despite the exhaustion of country resources and especially emotions for the refugees and those bringing aid, many organizations continue to work faithfully.

Vision Beyond Borders (VBB) has been helping with humanitarian aid in countries hardest hit by an influx of refugee populations. This includes container shipments to Jordan and Northern Iraq. The containers provide basic supplies—clothing, blankets, hygiene supplies, medical supplies.

They are collecting for their next shipment and hope to continue to provide relief. We spoke with Dyann Romeijn of VBB for updates on the situation.

Access into countries

(Image courtesy of VBB)

There are often a few snafus along the way when sending supplies to other countries. While Jordan is relatively easy to reach, Northern Iraq presents a few challenges.

First, the shipments must be sent through Turkey. Then, they have a lengthy process of validation.

“Because ISIS is also working in that area, it has to go through a lot of checkpoints and be checked at each of those areas to make sure it’s not going to help terrorists, but that it’s truly humanitarian assistance.”

Romeijn says this is expensive because of the nearby danger. And, because it becomes expensive, relief agencies are not sending as much aid into Northern Iraq as other countries.

The need

It’s obvious that refugees are in need of physical aid as many of them fled home with nothing more than the clothes they were wearing. What’s not often considered is the pain they face from having to leave their home in the first place.

“It is a difficult situation. Many of them may never be able to return home, and they’re beginning to face that now. So there’s a lot of physical need, and just because of the sheer number, it’s been difficult for countries to assimilate the refugees into their countries,” Romeijn says.

(Image courtesy of VBB)

However, with these physical and emotional needs, there are spiritual needs as well. Nominal Muslims want to hear about Jesus. In many cases, refugees are coming from countries where it’s not okay to talk about Jesus at all. So in these camps, they’re hearing the Gospel for the first time.

“It is a time when we as Christians need to step up. We need to be out there, we need to be showing the love of Christ and meeting the needs of these people, and it gives us the opportunity then to speak into their lives and to show them the truth of Jesus Christ.”

Vision Beyond Borders assists with Bible printing and distribution in these countries. This project and the containers require funding. If you’d like to help with that, click here.

Another way you can help is by donating humanitarian goods. Some churches have organized hygiene pack drives, others have ordered bulk supplies sent directly to Vision Beyond Border. For information on this, click here.

Perhaps you don’t have the resources to help with either of the first two action points.

But, you can pray

“We need a lot of prayer support for the workers who are on the ground, for our contacts who are actually working there day in and day out with the refugees. They need prayer support. There are a lot of needs, and so it can become overwhelming and discouraging.”

As mentioned, this is an ongoing crisis that seems to have no end. It’s easy for all of us, those who see it firsthand and those who watch the headlines, to have compassion fatigue. Romeijn says this is why it’s crucial we remember who we are in Christ and be confident in Him.

“The burdens are too big for any person to carry, and it’s too big for anyone to solve. So, if we start looking at it from a human standpoint, it can be overwhelming.

“But yet, to understand who God is and His sovereignty and His power and that even in these most horrible things we can imagine, what we see is when people show the love of Jesus, when they show the compassion, it actually defeats and dispels the darkness.”

(Image of Iraq’s flag, courtesy Wikipedia)

In doing so, the government is telling citizens in the area to leave before the fighting starts, potentially creating more refugees in the already growing Iraqi refugee crisis. But if these people flee north, they may find some help.

Emily Fuentes, with Open Doors USA, says, “Open Doors is working with Iraqi refugees who are fleeing to the North to provide just for their basic needs. Many are continuing to live as refugees and so Open Doors is providing food kits, hygiene kits, all sorts of things to make their lives manageable.”

Open Doors partners with area churches and others who know the culture and know what the people need. And it’s through these partnerships that the Gospel is able to accompany the aid being handed out.

“So they’re using the resources we supply to reach out to Muslims and other non-Christian groups. And we’re seeing just really a rival in spite of the horrific things that are happening. It’s an amazing ministry. Open Doors is providing the resources, but really the Christians on the ground are the ones using it to reach out to their neighbors,” Fuentes explains.

Fuentes says on top of Open Doors trying to meet the immediate needs of the Iraqi people and those who will be fleeing Fallujah, it’s also preparing for the future. In Northern Iraq, Open Doors is granting micro-loans to individuals to help them start their own businesses, generate personal income, and begin building a new life. But in doing all of this, the organization could use some help.

Will you help come alongside Iraqi believers and serve refugees? If so, here are a couple ways to help.

How to Help

1. Pray: Consider signing up for prayer alerts and joining countless others in praying for those are persecuted and in great need.
2.  Advocate: Advocate on behalf of the Iraqi people and/or write letters of encouragement to both the believers in this country and the refugees.
3.  Donate: Help Open Doors provide micro-loans to help individuals start up their own businesses in Northern Iraq and try to rebuild a new normal. Will you join the cause?

Regardless, please pray for Open Doors partners as they prepare for a great influx of refugees as the fighting to take back Fallujah begins. Pray for the peoples’ hearts to be softened and for them to know the healing and restoration that comes from knowing Christ. Pray also for both the workers’ safety and for the safety of the refugees.

*Iraq is listed at #2 on the World Watch List (WWL). The WWL is a ranking of the top 50 countries where Christians face the most sever persecution for their faith

Learn more about the Iraqi Refugee Crisis HERE.

Hundreds of Yazidi men were killed, and even more men, women, and children were kidnapped and enslaved. At least 200,000 people escaped to Mount Sinjar, holding out until their seemingly inevitable massacre.

According to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, if it weren’t for a series of U.S. air strikes against ISIS forces followed by an attack by the Kurdish military forces, the trapped Yazidis would have been killed, either by ISIS militants or starvation.

(Photo courtesy Voice of the Martyrs, Canada)

Now, on the one-year anniversary, Greg Musselman of Voice of the Martyrs Canada says its still “a horrible situation.”

“We had the opportunity of meeting some of the Yizidi people when we were in Northern Iraq and Kurdistan. You hear their stories, and not only have they lost all of their material possessions but some of them had family members that were kidnapped, were killed,” he says.

According to Musselman, the Yazidis are still one of the most at-risk groups targeted by ISIS, even a year after the Mt. Sinjar attack. However, he says the attack was a memorable one because it woke the world up to the intentions of ISIS.

“It’s a situation where people really realized around the world how evil and how violent and what a problem ISIS has, not only in that part of the world but all throughout the rest of Iraq, Syria, other neighboring countries, and even beyond that.”

So now that world leaders have been alerted, what can be done? Musselman says the first priority is the refugees.

(Photo courtesy Voice of the Martyrs, Canada)

“We’re seeing in the United States bumping up the number of refugees that can come from places like we’ve been talking about here and also in Syria and Northern Iraq and all through the country.”

He also says that refugees coming in will need all the help they can get. “Not only are they gonna need to get to safety, but then you think about the counseling and the trauma that these people have faced…. They need help.”

Musselman says that’s where the Church comes in. “The body of Christ, even in their desperate situation, can be reaching out to these people with the love of Jesus–whether they’re Muslims or Yazidis, or whichever different form of Islam…. We [can’t] forget about them…. We do need to be caring about them.

“At times, we can get very overwhelmed with the number of people and the situation, but one by one we can help the. I think that that’s what we need to be as a Christian community.” Musselman wants to make sure churches are “opening up our doors and our countries to help these people and support them.”

(Photo courtesy Voice of the Martyrs, Canada)

He thinks that helping the Yazidi refugees “shows that we do have compassion and we’re not just concerned about ourselves and the situations that are going on in our own countries.”

Not only can believers help “with their very practical needs whether it be just a place to live or food,” but churches can also “make sure the Gospel of Jesus Christ continues to go forward.”

Musselman closes by saying the refugees “don’t need to know it comes from Voice of the Martyrs or whatever other ministry it is. But they need to see the love of Jesus because ultimately, that’s all that matters.”

He also asks churches to remember the missionaries that have been sent to give aid and guidance to Yazidis, fellow believers, and other groups tormented by ISIS. “We really need to lift them up in prayer and continue to give them the tools so that they can help.”

"On a recent trip with our mobile clinic…we brought
medical health care, and we had a great time," said Ronny, Open Doors'
medical co-worker in the region. "We examine patients and give them
medicines." He adds, "It is heartwarming to see the response of the people
after they have a proper exam and are given medicine."

The team starts each day with prayer, asking for God's wisdom
and protection. Along with medical care, doctors and nurses bring spiritual healing
to patients.

"We always have Bibles to hand out to the
patients," Ronny says. "The people love the Bibles and often start
reading them immediately."

You can pray for God to give the medical staff wisdom as they
minister physical and spiritual healing in northern Iraq. Open Doors also
offers basic care, food and trauma counseling in this region.

If you'd like to support the ministry of Open Doors in
northern Iraq, click here.