The presence of Jesus in Iraq

In recent years Sara befriended a Christian woman in Iraq. This person was able to visit her whenever Sara's father was absent. Sara heard about Jesus from her friend and longed to know more; however, there was opposition. Whenever she attempted to speak the name of Jesus evil spirits would physically hinder her. Sara was given a Gospel of Luke, which she hid under her pillow. Sara read the Gospel whenever she had an opportunity; faith slowly grew in her heart. She longed to be delivered from the powers of darkness. The presence of Jesus became very real to her.

One evening in September 2003 a group of believers gathered together, and Sara was invited. While the group worshipped and prayed Sara publicly declared her faith in Jesus. During that evening Sara was completely released from demonic bondage. She came out of darkness into God's light. Sara has since been able to stay for an extended period with her Christian friends and is being discipled to grow daily in her love for Jesus.

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Map of Iraq

Not an isolated story

In response to the prayers of many people God is active in the lives of Muslims throughout Iraq. Happily, Sara's story is not an isolated or totally unique experience. Despite war and destruction, the Spirit of God is active in the most unexpected places. While it is still small and in great difficulties, the Church of Jesus Christ in Iraq is multiplying and growing and in faith and boldness.

Prayer for Iraq:

* Pray that the believers in Iraq's many churches will see God's harvest field among the Muslims of Iraq (Matt 9:35-38; 10:1). Pray that the fear of Muslims which often grips the hearts and minds of Iraqi Christians will diminish as they rely on the Lord.

* Pray that the historic Iraqi churches will be encouraged and revived. Pray that the young people in these churches will discover afresh the riches that they have in Christ Jesus.

* Pray for relative peace and stability in Iraq. Pray that the new government will permit the freedom of religion.

* Pray for God to continue His work among the Iraqi people, and that many may experience the same new life that Sara has discovered.

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Many people have been impressed with the dignity of the Iraqi people who have risen to rebuild much of the damage that has occurred in their country. The Iraqis have shown themselves to be courageous and ingenious in their coping.

Oil in Iraq

The oil boom of the 1970s brought increased wealth Iraq and to Baghdad (capital and largest city of Iraq, pop. 5 million). Baghdad began to develop on a much more impressive scale, with the construction of middle-class residential areas. A network of super-highways was constructed, as well as a new airport. Date palms and olive trees are everywhere adding to the city's beauty. All such improvements, however, were brought to an abrupt halt by the wars of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s.

Many of the shops are full of goods, however they are without customers as few can afford to buy the necessities of life let alone the luxury merchandise on display. In the warm evenings throngs of people walk the streets looking into the stores as a leisure activity.

The People of Iraq

Iraq's population represents a wide spectrum of religious and ethnic groupings. Most Iraqis are Arabs and live along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, or on the fertile plain between the rivers. Bedouins roam vast deserts in the west and south. Kurds (20%) make up the second largest population group, and live mostly in the mountains along the Northeast border of the country. The Muslims comprising 95% of the population are divided into two branches: the Shiite Muslim (60%) which is controlled politically by the minority Sunni group (30%).

The approximately 3% Christians in Iraq also represent a wide range of denominations including the Ancient Chaldean church, the Assyrian and Syrian Orthodox Churches. The National Evangelical church is about 2.5% of the Christian population. There is a spiritual hunger, and there have been opportunities to distribute Christian books into the churches. The Holy Spirit is at work among Christian groups that are growing in faith. God is adding to their numbers.

Flag of Iraq

Map of Iraq

Prayer for the Muslims of Iraq:

* For revival to come among the ancient Eastern Churches, many of which have their roots in the early Church (God has not forgotten His people!).

* For men and women of faith to strengthen the suffering church of Iraq.

* For necessary goods (food and medicine) to become available. May the economic and employment situation improve.

* For freedom from fear and healing of wounds that only God can help with.

Background on Iraq (World Factbook)

Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by Britain during the course of World War I; in 1920, it was declared a League of Nations mandate under UK administration. In stages over the next dozen years, Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series of military strongmen ruled the country, the latest was SADDAM Husayn.

Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly eight-year war). In August 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait, but was expelled by US-led, UN coalition forces during the Gulf War of January-February 1991. Following Kuwait's liberation, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC resolutions over a period of 12 years led to the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime.

Elections for a 275-member Transitional National Assembly (TNA) were held in Iraq on 30 January 2005. Following these elections, the Iraqi Transitional Government (ITG) assumed office. The TNA was charged with drafting Iraq's permanent constitution, which was approved in a 15 October 2005 constitutional referendum. An election under the constitution for a 275-member Council of Representatives (CoR) was held in December 2005. The CoR approval in the selection of most of the cabinet ministers on 20 May 2006 marked the transition from the ITG to Iraq's full-term government. Iraq held a national legislative election in March 2010, and after nine months of deadlock the CoR approved the new government in December 2010.

Economy of Iraq

Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. Despite political uncertainty, Iraq is making some progress in building the institutions needed to implement economic policy and has negotiated a debt reduction agreement with the Paris Club and a Standby Arrangement with the IMF. Additionally, the Iraqi government is seeking to pass laws to strengthen the economy; this legislation includes a hydrocarbon law to encourage contracting with foreign investors and a revenue sharing law to equitably divide oil revenues within the nation. Controlling inflation, reducing corruption, and implementing structural reforms such as bank restructuring and developing the private sector, will be key to Iraq's economic prospects.

Statistics on Iraq

Population: 30,399,572 (July 2011 est.) World rank #39

Life Expectancy at Birth: 70.55 years. World rank #145

Ethnic groups: Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian or other 5%

Religions: Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%
note: while there has been voluntary relocation of many Christian families to northern Iraq, recent reporting indicates that the overall Christian population may have dropped by as much as 50 percent since the fall of the Saddam HUSSEIN regime in 2003, with many fleeing to Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon

Languages: Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian

Literacy: 74.1% -- Male: 84.1%, Female: 64.2%

School life expectancy: 10 years

Iraqi Christians - Video

"This video is a tribute to the Christians that live in Iraq." Explains some history and facts about Christians living in a mostly Muslim country.

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In the 1970s, the region along the Shatt al-Arab waterway near Basrah had between 17 to 18 million date palms, an estimated one-fifth of the world’s palm trees. However by 2002, war, salt infiltration, and pests had wiped out more than 14 million of the palms, (9 million in Iraq and 5 million in Iran). Many of the remaining trees are in poor condition.

The Fumes of Oil

Basrah is awash in petrol. It is estimated that at least 90% of the city is build on oil fields. The gas and petrol fumes are part of the daily life of Basrah’s residents. The fumes and city’s brackish water have contributed to very large numbers of childhood cancers and other illnesses. Local sewage systems and garbage pickup have long been overwhelmed by the growth of the population so many people live in very unpleasant circumstances among heaps of garbage, stinking sewage and petroleum fumes.

While the city is very involved in the petroleum industry many of its inhabitants actually do not profit directly from oil. Relatively few are employed in the oil industry. Hundreds of thousands live in the villages surrounding the oil fields while knowing that they are not qualified or else they do not have enough money to bribe someone to get a job (bribes sometimes amount to 2,000 - 5,000 dollars US).

The Tribes

Flag of Iraq

Map of Iraq

In Basrah 99.9% of the population are ethnically Arabs from dozens of tribes. About 20% of the population are Sunni Muslim but the vast majority are Shiites. There is a very small number of believers in the Messiah and gnostic Mandaeans.

Prayer Starters for Basrah:

• Pray that God would raise up officials and community leaders who seek the well being of their people more than their own prosperity and self indulgence.
• Pray especially for leaders to have inspiration, wisdom and courage to take the urgent steps necessary to solve the many health, garbage collection and sewage problems. The people of the city are suffering greatly.
• Pray for breakthroughs in the area of education and jobs. Some schools a very overcrowded and lack basic facilities like toilets.
• Many people live in fatalism and can see no future. Pray that many of Basrah’s Muslims would encounter the Messiah, the giver of hope, through television, radio and personal witness.

Video: Facing Extinction: Ancient Christian Community of Iraq (3:40)

Facing Extinction: Christians of Iraq from Robert Marcarelli on Vimeo.

FacingExtinctionFilm.com

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Several of the main tribal confederations:

• the Muntafiq
• the Zubayd
• the Dulaym
• the ‘Ubayd
• the Khaz’al
• the Bani Lam
• the Al Bu Muhammed



• the Rabi’a
• the Ka’b
• the Shammar
• the Anaza
• the Bani Tamim
• the Zafir



• The Bani Malik
• The Khaza’il
• The Bani Ka’b
• The Jubour
• The Azza

Prayer Starters:

• The pain and suffering of the Iraqi people is very great. Pray for healing from the pain and a positive rebirth of Iraqi society after years of bloodshed, privations and hopelessness. See the database of the following site: www.iraqbodycount.org/
• Pray for the heads of tribes, clans, houses and enlarged families. God wants whole confederations, tribes and clans to turn to His salvation. Pray that many would discover new life in Christ. True lasting change and hope will only be found in the Messiah. The tribal leaders should take their notions of service, leadership and humility from Jesus. Use the list above in your prayers.
• A very high percentage of Iraqi believers have had to flee the country. Iraq has become a very dangerous country for believers.
• Show your children some of the genealogies in the Bible so they can see how important tribes are to God. (Genesis 10, Matthew 1 for example)

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Map of Iraq

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Shi'a Muslim Influence in Iraq

Other Yezidi communities live in Russian Armenia, Aleppo in Syria and other areas. They are a sect of extreme Shi'a Muslims that have been persecuted over the centuries as heretics by Kurdish sunni muslims who tried to forcibly convert them. They also suffered persecution from the Iraqi government in the 1990's. The Yezidis began as different groups of people's who migrated to Iraq from other areas of the Middle East over the centuries. These migrations may have been from as early as 6th century B.C.

What The Yezidi Kurds of Iraq Believe

These groups lived together practicing a variety of religions including Christianity and Zoroastrianism. Embracing Islam together with their existing traditions in about 750 A.D. they began to come together as one people group under the leadership if Shaikh Adi who was worshipped as a God. He subsequently adjusted some of the practises of Islam so they only needed to pray 3 times a day instead of 5. They believe they are exclusive in only being descended from Adam not Adam and Eve as the rest of humanity. As children of Adam they are God's chosen people. They kept themselves isolated from other communities among whom they lived and did not intermarry with them. The only way to become a Yazidi is to be born into the family.

Flag of Iraq

Map of Iraq

They believe in a supreme God who created the world but who is remote and has delegated his rule to seven angels, the chief of whom is the Peacock Angel. This angel is also the devil in Yezidi belief and as such they fear his power and seek to appease him. He is seen as an arbitrary Lord in whom good and evil are combined.

They celebrate their holy day on Wednesday and Saturday is the day of rest. They have a new year feast as well as a celebration at the end of ramadan. They also have a Jesus Feast around Easter time.

Within the close community structure as well as the family relationships each person is allocated a special brother or sister who is chosen to be with them in the afterlife, this is an unchangeable relationship who stays with the person particularly in times of sickness or need.

Pray for the Muslim Kurds in Iraq:

* Christians to be called to specifically go and reach this community where there is no know christian witness.

* God to open the hearts of the Yezidi people to respond to Jesus. The Jesus feast would be a time that the revelation of the purpose of the cross would be understood.

* Literature in the Kurmanji dialect and the Jesus video would be made available.

* Christians who would build relationships with Yezidi Kurds who live in western Europe and present the incarnational witness of Jesus.

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The Sorani-speaking Kurds

The city is the cultural center of the Sorani-speaking Kurds and is known for being young and progressive. The first school for Kurdish girls was founded here in 1915. The first Kurdish diploma in history was supposedly issued in Sulaimaniya, and the first four Kurdish newspapers in Iraq were published in Sulaimaniya. The university, founded in 1968, is the oldest institution of higher education in northern Iraq. Currently there are about 8,000 students, over half of which are women.

Dark Periods in History

The city has experienced many dark periods in its history. During World War I, the population was reduced from 20,000 to 2,500. When Sheikh Mahmud, who had been instituted by the British as Governor of Sulaimaniya, declared himself King of Kurdistan, the city was repeatedly bombarded by the British air force. In 1985, when Sadam Hussein was in power, more than 200 surrounding villages were reduced to rubble.

Politically

Politically, the city has been dominated for a long time by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) under Celal Talabani, the president of the Iraqi transitional government. Although Kurdish northern Iraq was considered to be particularly safe, a suicide assassin killed nine Kurdish soldiers in Sulaimaniya in October 2005. About the same time, the bird flu virus H5N1 was detected in dead geese in the surroundings of Erbil.

Religion in Sulaimaniya

Most Kurds are Sunni Muslims, although the Kurdish form of Islam contains many mystical, ascetic elements and meditation techniques (Sufism). The region of Sulaimaniya is heavily influenced by the Islamic brotherhoods/orders of Qadiriya and Naqshbandi. The Qadiriya order is one of the most widespread of the Sufi orders in the Islamic world; the Naqshbandi order is a popular Dervish order and was founded in the 14th century in Boukhara.

Flag of Iraq

Map of Iraq

The Christian Quarters in Sulaimaniya

The Christian quarters traditionally lie in the eastern part of the city, along with one of three churches. The oldest church was built in 1862. Most indigenous Christians belong to the Chaldean Church, an ancient oriental church linked with the Church of Rome. Evangelical missions in Kurdistan began around 1830. Only a few isolated Kurds from an Islamic background have found faith in Jesus Christ. Many are held back by fear of being excluded from the Islamic community.

Prayer guide for Sulaimaniya, Iraq:

* That God would preserve the relative safety of Iraqi Kurdistan.

* That the Sorani Kurdish Bible could be distributed to many and that it would bring much fruit alongside with Christian radio and TV programmes, Christian literature and the Jesus film.

* May many Kurds may have increasing opportunities to meet credible witnesses for Jesus and loose the fear of following Christ.

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The entire Kurdish ethnic group numbers about 30 million people. They live mainly in southeast Turkey, western Iran, northern Iraq, and northern Syria. Germany has the largest number of Kurds living in one place outside the Middle East (more than 400,000). Some Kurds consider their ancestors to be the Medes.

The most important holiday In Kurdish culture is their New Year's festival, which is traditionally celebrated on 21 March. On its eve, bonfires are lit in Kurdish villages and towns in remembrance of the legendary liberation of Kurdistan from an oppressive king. Special pastries are baked and new colorful clothes are worn. Many Kurds drive to the mountains to celebrate the festival with family and friends over picnics.

More than 90% of the Behdini speaking Kurds are Sunni Muslim, but in reality most practice superstitious folk Islam. Some Northern Kurds are involved in the Yezidi religion, which is a complex pre-Islamic belief possibly related to Zoroastrianism. The main Yezidi sanctuary is found in Lalish, not far from Dohuk.

Flag of Iraq

Map of Iraq

All Kurdish languages (Kurmanji, Behdini, Sorani) are related to Persian and belong to the Indo-European language family. They are unrelated to Turkish, a member of the Ural-Altaic language family, or to Arabic, a member of the Semitic language family.

According to the different towns and regions, there are many dialects. At the moment only the gospel of John has been published in Behdini. Other portions of the New Testament are circulating but are still being revised. The Jesus film in Behdini was broadcast on Kurdish TV in Northern Iraq.

Despite the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in the spring of 2003, the Kurds are insecure about their future but thankful for their liberation from his oppression. At the moment, Behdini may be taught in schools in the Kurdish Autonomous Region. The current president of Iraq is a Kurd; it can be hoped that autonomy of the Kurds will remain part of the new Iraq. Creating their own political state, however, cannot ultimately solve the Kurds' problems. True peace can only come through the Kingdom of God.

Prayer guide for Behdini Kurds in Iraq:

* Pray for the very small number of Christians among the Behdini speaking Kurds. May they put their trust fully in King Jesus, while growing and being strengthened in the faith.

* Pray also that the complete New Testament can be translated into Behdini as soon as possible, be approved for publication, printed and distributed. May audio and video versions of the Gospel also be widely distributed.

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The Kurds are the largest ethnic group without a land

The Kurds are the largest ethnic group in the world without their own homeland and the fourth largest block of people in the Middle East. For more than 4,000 years the Kurds have inhabited the Zagros Mountains, the Mesopotamian Plains, Taurus Mountains and Mt Ararat. This rugged mountainous region has provided a sanctuary from oppression and is their heartland, the single most important natural feature of Kurdistan. Kurdistan is not found on most maps but comprises the area of eastern Turkey, eastern Syria, northern Iraq, north-west Iran and southern Azerbaijan.

Exact estimates of the Kurdish population is difficult and contentious, in some countries it is politically beneficial to minimize their numbers, while many Kurdish political groups feel it necessary to exaggerate their numbers. In Turkey, Kurds are not counted as Kurds in population census yet they comprise almost 30% of the total population.

The Kurds are a people with no friends

Converted to Islam in 7th century, the Kurds are essentially Sunni Muslims yet they adhere to a diversity of tribal and family structures and local religious practices. History traces the Kurds as descendants of Indo-European tribes who settled in the mountainous regions of where they are found today. They are thought to be the direct descendants of the Medes and have retained their identity throughout the Ottoman and Persian empires. The Kurds are a significant people group in the Middle East and their aspirations for national identity will continue to be strongly expressed.

Traditionally a pastoral and nomadic people, yet today, most Kurds live in cities and large villages. However, Kurdistan remains a land rich in agricultural and natural resources.

A people faced with continual conflict from within and from without. In recent years many lives have been lost through these uprising and invasions and they often refer to themselves as a people with no friends. Enemies on all sides, hated and despised by their own fellow Muslims. These people need to know of a God who loves them so much, that he has sent His only Son as an atonement for their sins.

Prayer Guide for the Kurds

* Pray for these people to receive a revelation of the healing power of the Cross, and the grace and mercy of a God who loves them.

* Pray for the children and youth of this generation to want peace, and to be willing to make every effort to restore their lands.

* Pray for the Kurds, especially the leaders of each community to find Jesus and to be able to lead their families to know Him also.

* Ask God to raise up peacemakers, where there is hatred, may they bring peace. Pray for wise and just leaders to be raised up across all these communities and political fractions.

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