Greetings from Baghdad
I am pleased to be back with my church, but being
here is very sad. People are so very frightened. Frightened for
their lives. Last week's massacre is still being felt and there is
no sense of security whatsoever. Their future is
uncertain.
Many simply just want to flee. They can't see how any
sort of future is possible in Baghdad. Some do want to remain but a
dwindling number. In the last few weeks many have left St. George's
Church - perhaps up to 500 people. A large proportion of these have
gone to Syria, where there is an Anglican church, and have expected
support such as we give.
We have tried to make clear to them we cannot
continue to support them once they have moved on. I have also had
to explain to the priest in Syria that we cannot support his church
via the Foundation. I have sent him a one off donation as a gift,
but that's all we can afford.
Some very serious prayer
requests
1. Security. There are threats from Al Qaida to
attack and kill more Christians - myself in particular. So please
pray for our protection.
2. For the immense fear of the Christians. All are so
afraid; they need a sense of Divine protection, their fear removed
and for the Aagels of our Lord to protect them.
Yesterday I spoke on Romans 8:18ff:
Present Suffering and Future
Glory
18
I consider that our
present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will
be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in
eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
20 For the creation was
subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of
the one who subjected it, in hope 21
that the creation itself will be
liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom
and glory of the children of God.
The question from the young people on Friday was
simply, "Why has all this happened to us, why has G-d not stopped
it?" There are not simple answers to these questions but this
passage on suffering and glory is the nearest thing we have to an
answer. We really do suffer with Christ and we really do see his
glory. He will sustain us and help us through any difficulties
because we know that "that the Lord as here and His Spirit is with
us".
On Sunday afternoon we have our major service of the
week. We did not even know if people would turn up today after the
threats to attack Christians again in Church. People did come. We
were about 200 down but at least 300 were present. I preached on
the above passage and then listened to what the people had to
say.
We heard stories of what had happened last week. The
resounding message was that people would not be threatened or
scared by what had been said to them because Jesus was still with
them. They were not happy with those who said that Iraqi Christians
should leave Iraq, nor the French government for offering asylum
for 150 families.
So despite the terrible things that have happened
there will be some who'll not leave - and we do not want them to.
As I said to them again today even though I do not have to be here
and despite knowing the danger, I will not leave.
These are our biggest needs at this time. Your prayer
would be much appreciated.
With every blessing,
The Rev'd
Canon Andrew White
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