A fire broke out Wednesday, killing at least 100 and injuring more than 150 of about 700 wedding attendees in the largely Christian town of Qaraqosh in Iraq’s Ninevah Province. The rapid spread of the blaze and collapse of the dance hall was due to highly flammable, low-cost building materials. The bride and groom are safe, but devastated.
Iraq is #18 on Open Doors’ World Watchlist of most dangerous countries for Christians. The biblical city of Ninevah, where God sent Jonah as a reluctant missionary, was located in today’s Mosul, less than 25 miles from this wedding. Although this fire most likely was set off by candles and fireworks, Christians in Iraq today face “discrimination, harassment and violent persecution, without protection from the state,” writes Open Doors.
“Iraq is home to a number of traditional Orthodox and Catholic churches, but all are seriously affected by intolerance, discrimination and persecution from local leaders, government authorities and Islamic extremist groups. In central and southern Iraq, many Christians choose not to display their faith in public to avoid harassment or discrimination at work, university or when trying to cross checkpoints. In the Nineveh Plains region, church leaders have been kidnapped in the past; those speaking out against local militias or political leaders are particularly at risk.
“Believers from Muslim backgrounds experience intense pressure from their families, clan leaders and communities, which can lead to being expelled from the family, losing the means to get married, or being forcibly divorced and losing their inheritance and access to their children. They may be arrested and prosecuted under blasphemy laws, if they are accused of trying to convert Muslims. It’s not surprising that some choose to keep their new faith a secret.”
“We have an ancient Christianity here. Our presence in this country is important.”
Fadi, church leader in Iraq, speaking about the problems of displacement and emigration (Open Doors)
Lord, please heal those who are injured and comfort those who mourn. Wrap Your loving arms around them and let them feel Your presence. Provide for them Christian counselors to help them to healing from the trauma they have experienced. Speak tenderly to the bride and groom especially. Let them feel You near. Make a way for something good by Your hand to come from this terrible tragedy. Thank You for the way You turned the hearts of the Ninevites to You thousands of years ago, and how now whole towns in that area know Jesus’ name. Please be a Shield around every Christian in Iraq. Protect them from violence, abduction, discrimination, and other persecution. For those who are trapped, please open the way for their escape and get them to safety. Protect children’s hearts and minds especially, Lord. Give every persecutor in Iraq such a hunger for You, they drop all their weapons and fall on their knees before You. Overcome all fear and oppression in that country with Your love. Make Yourself known to every heart through dreams, visions, internet, and through access to Your Word in such a way that they see You face to face and cannot look away. Make a way for an end to the violence, and increase Your church by the millions. Everywhere Christians gather to pray and worship, be so powerful in their midst that word spreads of Your love and miracles, and every lost person will be drawn into Your arms to choose You as Savior.
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