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New Petition for Iraqi Christians


Since 2003, half of the estimated one million Iraqi Christians have left their homes because of the relentless attacks they have been facing from Islamic extremists. Many Christians have been killed in Iraq, including Christian leaders such as Chaldean Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho. The body of the archbishop was found in the city of Mosul after his abduction in February 2008.

Most recently, over 2,000 Christian families fled from the city of Mosul and more than a dozen were killed between September and November 2008. Christian homes and properties were destroyed. This latest wave of attacks took place following a demonstration that Christians staged opposing the removal of Article 50 from the Iraqi constitution. Article 50 provided a quota that allowed the Iraqi Christians to be represented in the country's parliament. Less than a third of these families had returned to their homes by November 20.

The perpetrators of the attacks warned the Christians to convert to Islam or pay the jizya tax which allows non-Muslims to live in Muslim countries, or leave the city or face death. This shows the Islamists' clear intention to either kill or expel Christians from the city of Mosul.

Despite such widespread and systematic attacks against Iraqi Christians, their plight has largely gone unnoticed by the international community.

Here's How You Can Help

#1 Pray: The first thing you can do to help is stop right now and ask the Lord to intervene.

#2 Next, review our petition. Iraqi officials are concerned about their relationship with the United States and other Western countries, so when the people shout, they will listen. We have also found that evil prefers to stay hidden and when we shine the light on it, it flees.

#3 Electronically sign the petition by clicking here.

#4 Print out the petition and take it to your church and have everyone you know sign it. Send it back to us so we can present it to Secretary Rice. Feel free to print out extra signature pages for large numbers of sign ups. When you have collected all your signatures, please mail the signature pages to :

ICC
PO Box 10277
Silver Spring, MD 20914-0277

or fax them to us (301-989-1709).

Please get them back to us by January 10.

#5 Forward this email to all your email contacts and ask them to do the same.

Sincerely in Christ,

Jeff King
President, ICC

International Christian Concern
P.O. Box 10277
Silver Spring, MD 20914-0277
Phone: (800) ICC-5441
Fax: (301) 989-1709

Thanks and praise to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The official position of Secretary Condoleezza Rice is that there is no religious persecution of Christians in Iraq.

That may be her "official" position, whatever that means. But the truth of the matter is totally the opposite. As you can see below there is a lot of Christian persecution going on.

The stories below are only a few of many and that does not include the stories that are not told to us.

Keep Iraq in your prayers, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.
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10,000 Iraqi Christians Flee Mosul As Killings Continue
Added: Oct 20th, 2008 4:46 AM

By BosNewsLife Senior Correspondents Stefan J. Bos and Eric Leijenaar

MOSUL, IRAQ (BosNewsLife) -- Aid workers rushed Friday, October 17, to assist at least 10,000 Christians who so far fled Mosul amid fresh reports that Islamic extremists are trying to eradicate the Christian population in this northern Iraqi town.

Netherlands-based Open Doors, an organization assisting Christians persecuted for their faith, told BosNewsLife it is distributing food, cooking equipment and blankets among some 200 displaced families from Mosul, where up to 40 Christians were killed by militants in recent days.
For full story go HERE.


Four Christians Killed In Iraq
Added: Sep 25th, 2008 3:10 AM


By BosNewsLife News Center

MOSUL, IRAQ (BosNewsLife) -- Authorities were under pressure Wednesday, September 24, to investigate the death of at least four Christians in the Iraqi town of Mosul, amid signs of a fresh wave of anti-Christian violence in Iraq.

In one of the latest incidents, a Syrian Catholic man, Rayan Nafei Jamooa, was shot and killed September 10 by suspected Muslim militants, Iraqi Christians confirmed. The murder came just two weeks after his father, Nassar Jamooa, was reportedly kidnapped and killed.
Full story HERE.


MEDIA ADVISORY, Dec. 8 /Christian Newswire/ -- On Mike Huckabee's new Fox News program, former Governor David Beasley, who has worked on numerous humanitarian projects in the Middle East since leaving politics, claimed the United Stateshad failed in its responsibility to the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Christians who have been forced to flee religious persecution in Iraq.
Full story HERE.


WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA (ANS) — Religious persecution continues in Iraq as nine Christian houses of worship were bombed this week. [1/11/2008]
Full story HERE.


Revelation 7:9-17
9: After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
10: And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
11: And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
12: Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
13: And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14: And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15: Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
16: They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
17: For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Thanks and praise to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
You hear about Sunni and Shia Muslims fighting it out in Iraq but there is another group of people, about one million Christians, that are in Iraq and are having a very difficult time. They are prisoners in their own country. There is no freedom for them only persecution by Sunni and Shia militias. I do not see this on main stream media television stations here in America. Just as we do not hear of any of the other Christians being persecuted in any of the other countries. But that is another story. Christians in Iraq need our prayers. There is no one else that can help them but Christ. Below are a couple of articles about Iraqi Christians and some of their problems.

Some Iraqi Christians celebrated Christmas at a church in the Karradah neighborhood in Baghdad. But their numbers were fewer this year due to deterioration of the overall security situation in Iraq, and persecution of Christians by Sunni and Shia militias. This from www.voanews.com


Mosul (AsiaNews) – A crusade is under way to impose Islamic law in Mosul in northern Iraq, a city where threats and violence against Christians have reached the level of real persecution for ideological and political ends. As Christmas draws near, Christians are confined to their homes that have become like “prison” which they dare not leave for fear of kidnappings and killings. It is difficult for them to emigrate because Arab and European countries have decided to close their doors.
This is from www.asianews.it

They also say:
Violence against Christians in Mosul escalated after the fall of Saddam Hussein. Many churches and convents were immediately attacked or bombed. Bishops and priests started to be kidnapped. The most horrible event of all was the killing of the Syro-Orthodox priest Paulos Eskandar, whose beheaded body was found on 11 October in the eastern area of Mosul after two days of captivity.

Christian persecution is in full force in Iraq. Just because we don't see it does not mean it is not happening. It is not only the Sunni and Shia. The Christians are being killed also.

Christ says below in John 14:14 "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." Let us all put this to our Lord and Saviour and pray that He would protect His children in Iraq and other places and to use them for His will to be done. May God give them strength through their faith in Christ that they will stand in the light and not in darkness and that the Sunni and Shia will see that light and follow it.

Paul wrote to the church in Corinth concerning a thorn in his side. That he had put it before the Lord three times and then the Lord answered him saying " And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me". 2 Corinthians 12:9

May the power of Christ rest upon those who are dealing with the messengers of Satan. If it is not of God then it is of Satan. Jesus Christ has already beaten Satan so His children have nothing to worry about. For some this is hard to grasp. But with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26 "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible".

Hebrews 2-13-15
13: And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
14: Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15: And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

John 14:1-31
1: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2: In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4: And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5: Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7: If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8: Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9: Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
10: Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11: Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
12: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13: And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14: If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15: If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16: And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17: Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18: I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19: Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20: At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21: He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
22: Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23: Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24: He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
25: These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
28: Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
29: And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
30: Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
31: But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

Thanks and praise to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
And to any other country that does not have peace today or are a part of the evil going on all around the world today.
I am not a president or government official of any kind. I am just a citizen of America who wants nothing more than the best for all of you.
Put on the armor of light and wake up. Be silent no more. Rulers exist for the benefit of society. But when rulers use their authority for evil then obey God rather than man. Love one another because he that love another has fulfilled the law.

I write this in hope that someone, that is in one of many countries with so much evil going on, will somehow read this and God would work through them to do what is needed to be done for the good of their society. It is written in the Bible that God will raise up a revenger to execute wrath upon him that do evil.

Love others as you would want them to also love you. This should be the law of the world. Peace not war. Do not offend others. Respect others and their right to live in peace just as all have that right. I am not asking anyone to convert to Christianity. It is not in my ability to do that only God knows who will come to Him. I am asking for you to do good not evil.

Why would you want your people in your country to always be at war with one another? Would it not be better if there was peace? Where there is no more killing. It is within your power, with God's help, to have that. The people must rise up above those who would do evil. You know who they are. It has been going on long enough. We are about to start a new year. Won't you do it in peace? Start the new year with hope, peace, and love for one another. Do you want war for your children or peace? A place where children can grow up with love and not hate. A place where your children can play outside without the threat of being blown up or shot. You can have this! Join together as one people. A people of love and not a people of hate. I pray that this will come to pass as we start the new year. May God Bless you all in every country on this beautiful earth.
Your Friend in the U.S.A., Michael.

John 3:14-21
14: And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18: He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19: And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20: For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21: But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Romans 13:1-14
1: Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2: Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3: For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5: Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6: For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7: Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
8: Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9: For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10: Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11: And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12: The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13: Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14: But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.