Iraq: The Church in Hard Places
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The Vacation Bible Club is so popular that family's book up one year in advance. The Community Services and Women's Ministries departments are appreciated by the community. |
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Around 90 percent of the members have fled Iraq for greater security elsewhere, said Basim Fargo, secretary-treasurer of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Iraq. [Photo: Kelly Butler Coe]
The church bells ring out on Saturday morning across the city. The Vacation Bible Club is so popular that families book up one year in advance. The Community Services and Women's Ministries departments are appreciated by the community. Each Christmas a personal letter of congratulations comes from the country's president.
That may sound an idyllic picture but, according to Basim Fargo, secretary-treasurer of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Iraq, that was the Adventist Church in Baghdad before 2003.
The 500-member church in Iraq was one of 13 Christian denominations that were recognized by the government and had considerable religious freedom in the context of the Middle East, and in a country where Christians make up just 3 percent of the population.
Today the story is different. Perhaps as many as 90 percent of the members have fled Iraq for greater security elsewhere. About 40 members remain in Baghdad with a further 10 in Mos?l. Security is the main issue.
In September 2003 a car bomb exploded near the front of the Baghdad church causing U.S. $150,000 of damage. Thankfully there were no casualties and the church has been partially repaired. Fargo told ANN that there is still freedom of worship but evangelism is limited to church services only. Due to the security situation the church only meets on Sabbath, or Saturday, morning. The pastor and members of the Women's Ministries department do their best to visit and encourage the remaining families. "The situation is not normal. There are no evangelistic meetings. We cannot expose ourselves to the public."
But for all the challenges of being Adventist in Iraq Fargo is not without hope. While things are difficult now he believes that, with the reorganization of the government in Iraq, within a couple of years the church may be able to resume more of its activities.
As Fargo sits in the indoor stadium during the 58th business session of the world church, he rejoices in the reports of growth he hears from around the world, but is quick to point out that it is very different working in a country where Muslims who convert to Christianity would fear for their lives, and where the Christian community is mainly comprised of a very traditional form of inherited religion.
Basim pleads, "Pray for us. We are living in very difficult times. We hope things will settle down and we can resume our work so that we can give our message of hope to the people of Iraq."
Why does Basim stay there? "It is my responsibility that keeps me there. It is God's work. I cannot leave and go outside the country."
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ANN World News Bulletin is a review of news and information issued by the Communication department from the Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters and released as part of the service of Adventist News Network. It is made available primarily to religious news editors. Our news includes dispatches from the church's international offices and the world headquarters.
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Staff:
Rajmund Dabrowski, director; Ansel Oliver, assistant director; Elizabeth Lechleitner, editorial coordinator; Megan Brauner, editorial assistant. Portuguese translation by Azenilto Brito, Spanish translation by Marcos Paseggi, Italian translation by Vincenzo Annunziata and Lina Ferrara and French translations by Stephanie Elofer.
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