LEBANON — When Ruba* first accepted Christ into her life while living in Syria, her life was under threat from a terrorist group along with her family. They quickly fled to start a new life in Iraq, but at first they had nothing. However thanks to support from Christian ministry Help The Persecuted and their…
LEBANON — After facing extreme persecution for his Christian faith, when Issa* fled his home in Syria to start a new life in Iraq, the mechanic lost everything. All his possessions and his livelihood had been taken from him. But all that changed when Christian charity Help The Persecuted invested in his business to repair…
IRAQ — When she became a Christian, Sara* experienced a miraculous escape after her father put her under house arrest and arranged a forced marriage to a Muslim man for her. Thanks to support from Open Doors, Sara knows her true value in Christ as she serves others. Open Doors’ vision is that every persecuted…
PLAINS OF NINEVEH, IRAQ — Melody is a group of young Christians in Iraq who praise God and, through their music, share the message of the Gospel with those who do not know Christ. However, their lives have not been easy: nine years ago, they had to flee from their homes due to the advance…
IRAQ — When she became a Christian, Sara* experienced a miraculous escape after her father put her under house arrest and arranged a forced marriage to a Muslim man for her. Thanks to support from Open Doors, Sara knows her true value in Christ as she serves others. Open Doors’ vision is that every persecuted…
LEBANON — Often when someone converts to Christianity in Iraq particularly from a Muslim background it can mean a death sentence even threats to your life from your own family. That was the case for two Iraqi brothers who were forced to flee for their lives. But Christian charity Help The Persecuted was able to…
IRAQ — Young believers in Iraq are discovering how to apply the Bible in their everyday lives – through a fun, interactive Bible competition run by Open Doors local partners. Wiam: We have an activity today in the Holy Bible. the Gospel of John. We read it and prepare for upcoming questions. The contest will…
IRAQ — Bishop Daniel has known persecution all his life, and despite many opportunities to flee, he chose to stay and support his church and those in his community who could not leave the country. Bishop Daniel: On my 16th birthday, my family got a gun threat from the radical groups in Baghdad. The threat…
IRAQ — Logos Hope community experienced many things in Basra, Iraq: rich history, delicious food and intriguing architecture. But it was the warmth, kindness and welcoming nature of the Iraqi people that captured the hearts of crewmembers. Edward and Heather David: We are here beside Shat al-Arab river at the junction of the Euphrates and…
NORTHERN IRAQ — Sharo and Alex Ahmedi with Hope For Communities share how they are helping some of the most marginalized people and children in the Kurdish region of Northern Iraq. In partnership with the Christian children’s charity CRY they are teaching young people English and empowering them with life skills. Sharo & Alexis Ahmedi:…
NORTHERN IRAQ — In 2014 when ISIS entered Mosul persecuted Iraqi Christian Namir was forced to flee the city with his family and seek safety in Northern Iraq in Erbil. But he struggled to earn a living to feed his family until he received help from Christian charity Help The Persecuted to start up his…
NORTHERN IRAQ — Samaritan’s Purse is helping internally displaced families in Iraq heal from the ongoing wounds of trauma caused by ISIS’ reign of terror. They’re addressing these painful realities by sponsoring trauma recovery classes for men, women, and children in multiple locations across Iraq. From Mosul Family Center on the central Nineveh Plains, to…
IRAQ — Mimi (12) was very young when she fled her home in Bartella with her grandparents after so-called Islamic State invaded the Nineveh Plains. Until recently, Mimi’s parents were considering leaving Iraq – until they received a microloan to set up a farm through Open Doors partners. Mimi: “I love Iraq, because it is…
IRAQ — As a young boy living in Baghdad, Fadi experienced a lot of trauma when the Iraq war broke out in 2003. But Fadi has stayed to serve as a lay leader in his church. Fadi: “During the period of 2006 and 2007 there would be 15 or 16 explosions in just one day…
QARAQOSH, IRAQ — With a history of work in Iraq that dates back to 1991, Samaritan’s Purse continues to minister to the needs of the hurting in this rugged, war-torn land. ISIS’ takeover of parts of the country from 2014-2017 left lasting scars on the hearts and lives of its people. Many lost loved ones…
QARAQOSH, IRAQ — When Islamic State captured the Christian-majority city of Qaraqosh, Iraq, Sana and her family were trapped in their home for almost three weeks. When they were discovered, Sana and her daughter were separated from Sana’s husband and two sons. Sana never saw them again. But Sana has not given up on God….
IRAQ – This Christmas, there will be an empty chair at the table for Rafif’s family in Iraq. Everything Rafif knows about her dad she has heard from her mum, and other people who knew him. Because when Raddif ran towards that bus filled with Christian students, warning them of the planned bombing, he saved…
IRAQ — Iraqi law forbids a person from changing their religion from ‘Muslim’ to ‘Christian on their official ID. Believers who find themselves in this situation can be extremely isolated, treated with suspicion by the Christian community while also rejected by Muslims. Mr Youhanna* gives legal counsel to Christians like Matti* who suffers this discrimination….
QARAQOSH, IRAQ — When the so-called Islamic State (IS) took over their town, Qaraqosh in northern Iraq, Mathi and his family had no choice but to flee. He, his wife Nazik and their six children fled to safety – they knew that their Christian faith made them extremely vulnerable. Five years later, thanks to support…
IRAQ — Dalia is a woman of remarkable spiritual strength and fortitude. Her life was threatened by so-called Islamic State and her home in the Ninevah plains was ransacked, but with support from Open Doors she has overcome these difficulties to become a leading figure in her local church. In 2014 the so-called Islamic State…
IRAQ – Growing insecurity in Iraq and on its border could lead to a fresh exodus of Christians from the country, warns Jamal Liddawi, a partner of Release International, which is supporting refugees in the country. The Turkish invasion of Syria and growing protests in Baghdad could drive even more Christians out of the country,…
AMMAN – Leading the Way, the ministry founded by Dr. Michael Youssef, has been partnering with ministries to Iraqi refugees in Jordan. Leading the Way is supplying local pastors with Navigator audio bibles pre-loaded with an Arabic New Testament as well as dual language Arabic and English Leading the Way sermons. One local pastor said,…
QARAQOSH, Iraq – If home is where the heart is, what happens when you are forced to leave your home, then return to find it destroyed? That is what has happened to Christians under siege in Iraq returning to their homes in Qaraqosh on the Plains of Nineveh in the aftermath of the conflict with…
QARAQOSH, Iraq – The names of Asian cities are often unknown to most people in the western world. Qaraqosh is one such city. Its connection to Biblical accounts of history dates to hundreds and even thousands of years before Christ as it lies within the Nineveh Governate and close to the ruins of both Nineveh…
BEIRUT, Lebanon, Dec. 15, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ — More than 40 religious leaders from Iraq gathered in Beirut, Lebanon under the auspices of the World Council of Churches for three days of constructive interfaith dialogue to identify and analyse opportunities and challenges related to cohesion and highlight the role of religious leaders in restoring inclusive…
On Nov. 12, the deadliest earthquake of 2017, reaching a magnitude of 7.3, hit the border of Iran and Iraq. The death toll has topped 530, while 8,000 more people have been injured. “On Tuesday, Iranian officials called off rescue operations on the grounds there was little chance of finding more survivors from the quake,”…
Photo by Tasnim News In February, Iraqi troops were working to clean Mosul of ISIS so refugees could return home. Per CNN, “The commander of Iraq’s Federal Police has said ISIS militant in Western Mosul are looking to cut and run from their defense of the group’s last remaining stronghold in the country.” Their goal…
Photo by James (Jim) Gordon At the end of last October, Iraqi forces were advancing to fight ISIS in an Iraqi village, known as Mosul. According to CNN, “Kurdish Peshmerga forces are within five miles (eight kilometers) of Mosul, commanders said Sunday, after days of fighting and sweeping territorial gains in the operation to free…
Photo by Christiaan Briggs Iraqi refugees have returned to their homes in the Nineveh region. Yet, what they discovered deeply grieved them. According to Fox News, “There were gasps, followed by tears at a small church in northern Iraq as a group of Christians returned to their parish Sunday to find that everything had been…
As coalition forces back Iraqi military efforts to regain ISIS-controlled cities, the resulting victories in Fallujah and elsewhere leave cause for concern, according to FBI Director James Comey. Comey believes the defeated ISIS militants in Iraq will take their fight to Western Europe and the United States. Minorities, particularly Christians, in Muslim-majority Iraq believe that…
More than 84,000 Iraqis left their possessions, businesses and schools to live without shelter in 115-degree desert heat and sandstorms as ISIS assaulted Fallujah. ISIS forces controlling Fallujah defended their siege with bullets, bombs and children as coalition backed Iraqi forces fought to regain the city. The Islamic extremists used the estimated 20,000 Iraqi children…
With the backing of a U.S.-led coalition, Iraq’s military has battled back the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Mosul, that nation’s second largest city, in an initiative called “Operation Conquest.” Mosul had been a major victory for ISIS in June 2014 as they captured the city of more than 2 million people…
WASHINGTON —Coptic Solidarity hosted its 12th Annual Conference The Coptic Problem: Hate Based on Religion in Washington, D.C., June 13-14. This leading policy event unites legislators, academics, policy professionals, and activists to discuss the situation of human rights and democracy for Copts in Egypt as well as other indigenous minorities in the region. The Policy…
BARTLESVILLE, OK — Christians around the world will observe Day of the Christian Martyr on June 29, 2024, which according to church tradition, marks the anniversary of the Apostle Paul’s beheading in Rome. VOM is honoring Christians persecuted in Mosul, Iraq for Day of the Christian Martyr on June 29. In the summer of 2014,…
WILLS POINT, TX — A global mission organization is lifting the veil on the incredible suffering of millions of “invisible” widows around the world — many even cast off by their own families. In many places, widows face extreme hardships, abuse, exploitation and sexual violence. Even their own families show them “little or no mercy,”…
NAMPA, IDAHO — Global Catalytic Ministries (GCM). As tensions escalate between Israel and Iran and protests intensify globally condemning Israel and supporting Hamas, GCM’s CEO Mike Patino called for a closed meeting with its underground coaches worldwide. The purpose was to understand their unique perspectives on the unfolding situation and determine a collective response by…
CALGARY, AB — On Tuesday, March 19, Samaritan’s Purse transported one of its Emergency Field Hospitals to Calgary to increase Samaritan’s Purse Canada’s capacity to launch international, life-saving medical responses. The tent facility arrived at the Calgary International Airport onboard the Christian relief organization’s DC-8 and 757 Cargo planes. The hospital will be strategically positioned…
BARTLESVILLE, OK — “Persecution is real, and it is biblical, and Jesus told us we will face persecution in this world,” said Pastor Hassan Abduraheem during The Voice of the Martyrs’ “I Am N” Virtual Event earlier this month. During the online event, Hassan and two other survivors of Muslim extremism shared their inspiring stories…
BOONE, NC — Samaritan’s Purse President and CEO Franklin Graham will dedicate the organization’s new Greensboro Airlift Response Center on Tuesday, Sept. 26. This facility was built to support the organization’s two largest cargo aircraft—a Douglas DC-8 and a newly acquired Boeing 757. The more than 62,000-square-foot response center includes a 55,000-square-foot hangar, office space,…
IRAQ — Farah was just one of around 70,000 Christians who fled to Erbil to escape the advancement of so-called Islamic State in 2014. When she returned, Open Doors partners helped her to restore her home and business in Nineveh Plains. Farah can well recall the day in 2014 when her family fled their home…
NIGERIA — More Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than in the rest of the world combined. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces a vast humanitarian catastrophe, as a wave of religiously motivated violence nurtured in Nigeria has swept across the region, targeting Christian populations at an alarming rate in countries like Burkina Faso, Cameroon,…
ALASKA — As the world marked the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks earlier this month, Samaritan’s Purse continues to strengthen the marriages of wounded military veterans and spouses who’ve sacrificed so much to defend the freedoms we enjoy. The September 11 attacks are what led many to armed service, which included combat deployments…
EASTON, MD — A Christian media network in the Middle East is highlighting the value of women’s lives after a 17-year-old Iranian girl was beheaded by her husband in a so-called “honor killing,” one of hundreds every year. According to SAT-7 (www.sat7usa.org), Mona Heydari, a child bride at age 13, was beheaded by her husband,…
Noel Yeatts, President of World Help, an international, Christian humanitarian organization serving the needs of the impoverished around the world, discusses the suffering that Christians face, even by those who use social media as a tool to fan the flames of persecution. When you look at lists of the most dangerous places to be a…
EASTON, MD — Isolated Christians in the Middle East, including many struggling to survive, are using their smartphones to connect with other believers on the region’s first-ever faith-based video-on-demand service. Since launching a year ago, SAT-7 PLUS — a Netflix-type service of faith-based programs 24/7 in Arabic, Farsi and Turkish across the Middle East and…
WILLS POINT, TX – GFA World (Gospel for Asia) founded by K.P. Yohannan, whose heart to love and help the poor has inspired numerous charities like GFA World Canada, to serve the deprived and downcast worldwide, issued this special report on fresh water: an increasingly scarce resource more vital than oil or gold. Increasing demand…
EASTON, MD — Thousands of soul-searching youth in the Middle East, including many from Muslim families, are using their smartphones to watch the first-ever Christian video-on-demand streaming service in the vast desert region. Since launching a year ago, SAT-7 PLUS — a Netflix-type service that streams faith-based programs 24/7 in Arabic, Farsi and Turkish across…
SYRIA — How do children of the persecuted church celebrate Christmas? Despite conflict and persecution, children around the world are determined to celebrate Christmas. What are you doing for Christmas this year? It’s a question many of us are asking around the world. For children living in countries where believers are persecuted, it’s a question…
NASHVILLE – Lifeway Films, Deidox Films and Fathom Events have announced an encore presentation of the award-winning film “Free Burma Rangers” in theaters September 13. The encore presentation features an exclusive update from the Eubank family. The documentary film won Best Feature Film at the The Justice Film Festival in 2019, while the subject of…
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – “There are times that bad stuff is going to happen, no matter how much you try and prevent it. It’s what you do afterward that makes a difference.” – excerpt from the opening of the documentary movie, “Triggered.” All Things Possible is a unique faith-based organization founded by Victor Marx. Marx…
