This is from my sister-in-law, written by her, not an e-rumor. I am reminded again that I have nothing to complain about.
Hello, my friends,
If you’re anything like me, I struggle with how to pray for the war in Iraq. Even though I do believe it was a good thing to go there, it seems so far away; I don’t personally know any of the soldiers; and then you hear how all the newly liberated Iraqis are using this freedom to kill each other over religious differences. It’s hard to wrap my mind around!
So let me share with you my new information.
We had the most interesting guest speak in Church Saturday night. His name is “Gassam Tom†(I never saw it spelled, just heard him introduced), and he is the pastor of a Christian Church in Iraq…..you read it correctly, a 1,500 member strong Christian Church in Baghdad! I didn’t know there was such a thing first of all. Apparently for a hundred years or so, there’s been a few churches in Iraq. Since 2002, the coming of the Americans, this number has grown to 30.
Yes, they live in fear. Yes, there are atrocious things going on there. Why is the church growing? According to Gassam, they look around and see no peace in their country, but through Christ there is peace in their hearts.
His church members go to the long gasoline lines and pass out Bibles. He says not a single one is turned away, and the books are kissed, the givers blessed.
An Imam has turned over his life to Christ just by reading one of the these Bibles. When Gassam asked him, how do you still preach Friday nights in the Mosque? He says he teaches things that confuse his muslim “flockâ€; they come to him to clear up the confusion…he hands them a Bible and tells them to read it and they won’t be confused.
Gassam has even lead American soldiers to Christ. They watch over his church building. One night he held an all night prayer service. Because of the curfew (9:00pm to 6:00am), they started at 7:00pm to 7:00am. 400 people showed up to pray all night in the church for the church. They want to send 500 members to start a church in Kergistan (sp?) where there is more religious freedom so that if/when Americans leave and there is an ensuing blood bath, there will be a place to flee.
This man is so joyful! He only got misty eyed when asking for prayer for his family (wife and 3 children). He would like God to protect them from the atrocities terrorists are creating there. One of his church members brought his brother to church who is “abnormalâ€. He is this way because terrorists captured his son. The man sold everything to come up with the ransom, went to pay it, and was asked by the terrorists to first share a meal with them. He was afraid to say no, but kept asking about his boy. Your boy? He was told, You just ate him…we cooked him for you. Can you even imagine?
Gassam asked for nothing from us except prayer. And that, my friends, I can do. God is working His will in Iraq through changed hearts indwelt with His peace. I can wrap my mind around that!
Maybe this will help you feel closer to God’s work around the world. I know it helped me!