Praise Chapel in Iraq
It’s official, our first Praise Chapel in Iraq!
Our efforts and investments made in Kurdistan of Iraq have begun to pay off as our first Praise Chapel in Iraq is in place and functioning. Pastor Layth Ibrahim and his congregation have joined our Fellowship of Churches. There is a miraculous story behind all of this, one of which we should all be aware.
A number of years ago, during the time of the Iraqi Regime, a younger Layth Ibrahim, an Iraqi Pastor Evangelist went to Jordan to preach the gospel. Here I record his own words as he told me the story.
Dear P. Jack,
Here in Duhok many NGO (Non Government Organizations) have worked. Some of them are good for the region of Kurdistan but some of them are not. Because they want the glory to themselves. So, I need for you to understand my intentions, please. “When I’m in Jordan, I worked as a pastor and as a evangelist. God used me to bring people from Islam to Jesus.
Satan was very angry, he did the impossible to stop me. He used one of the pastors to give my name to the security department, and after they investigated me they made me leave Jordan; they said, “We will watch you and if you do
not leave, we will put you and your family on the border of IRAQ.” Do you know what the Theology Seminary I studied in said? “Layth… Hide from them, and continue study and don’t let them see you.”
I told them, “I’m child of God, I never hide from the people. I will leave Jordan because I don’t want be unfaithful first, toward my Lord and second to myself.”
Brother Jack…
1- I want to be a “faithful” in front of the government.
2- I want to worship God without any fear.
3- I want to work with you to help people.
4- When I feel I’m faithful, I will give the best.
Thank you for what you’re doing to help me with support. Me and my family appreciate that So much.
The story continues as Layth tells of he and Mohammed’s (my Muslim interpreter and friend) efforts to gain legal church status and recognition in Kurdistan. Before I tell this portion of the story a little background is necessary.
When Layth and family returned to Iraq and formed their church in the Kurdish region they did so because of the relative security and liberty that is present there. Many of the folks in their congregation were forced to leave their homes and property in Baghdad and Southern Iraq by the Islamic Insurgents. They were told, “Convert to Islam Now, Leave Now, or Die Now!” They were not allowed to take anything with them. Most have had to start all over in the Kurdish Region. The Kurds have opened the door to these refugees and they have been welcomed. However, getting the legal recognition for a church is another matter.
Most of the Churches in the region are Assyrian or Catholic. They control the Christian affairs within the regional government. They have been very resistant to allowing Evangelical Churches such as Layth’s to take root. In fact some
works have been driven out, not by the Muslim’s, but by the Christians.
The Kurdish Regional government has built whole Assyrian Christian Villages while their own people have done without. I am sure this is to show the West that they are serious about Religious Freedom and Democracy. To their way of thinking, the Assyrians are the traditional church.
The result of all of this has been that Layth and his church have had to operate quietly in his home as an underground movement. There are numbers of Christia Congregations that have been forced into this mode of operation and Layth has contact and relationship with a many of them. He submitted his application for legal church status over two and a half years ago, only to be told by the “Christian representative” within the government that his application had been denied. When he asked to see the official paperwork of the denial, there was none.
This is where we have come in. For Three years now, we have worked exclusively with the Muslim Kurds doing what we can to help them recover their lives from the genocide against them during the Saddam years. We have also stood strong in our support of Kurdish Autonomy and have been a conduit of expression for them into America. Our humanitarian projects and our genuine Pro-Kurdistan position has opened incredible doors of favor with many influential Kurdish political figures, which are now paying off in terms of getting the help we need to establish Layth’s church as a legal entity in Kurdistan.
Mohammed, our Muslim interpreter has worked tirelessly, sometimes without pay to open these doors and help us. Here I continue with Layth’s story as he and Mohammed work together to establish government recognition of our church.
Mohammed was with me this morning and we wrote an application to the party and tomorrow in the morning will give it to the chief of the party in Duhok.
About the registering… The NGO (organization) is very good, it’s very good to me also. Why? As I’ve told you brother, it’s helpful to me to be legal, specially with you to work together this is important to me (our vision). I mean to help people how to understand the message of Christ. (to be saved).
Here Mohammed is helping draft an appeal to the leader of the KDP (Kurdish Democratic Party) First Branch, the most powerful wing of the Party. Without Mohammed’s help, we would have never gotten this far. Here again I emphasize that Mohammed is a Kurdish Muslim working hard to help our Christian agenda because he sees the benefit of our presence in the future of his nation.
Now, I skip ahead a few days to Layth’s next email which speaks of some of the difficulties he is encountering without an American Organizational legal covering.
Dear Brother,
I didn’t go to the meeting. Because it’s not good to me, specially with the group who went to it.
The meeting with the minister is: For the pastors who asked for opening a Church. They responded …
1. How many members do you have?
2. Who you are?
3. Which Denomination you are?
4. Who Supports you?
5. Are you an Ordained Pastor?
6. Maybe we will give you a temporary permission. (for one year)
So Please continue pray for us…we must speak directly with the prime minister. We must Speak with him as a Church & as an American Church. Because the Bishops of the tradition Churches make a problems to us. And it’s Gods time to Move.
Thank you very Much
Layth
Here is the point that the decision was made to make Layth’s church a registered Praise Chapel in Kurdistan and to Ordain him through our organization. Pastor Neville and our PC leadership have facilitated all that was necessary to bring this to pass. I record the result in Layth’s next email.
Dear P. Jack …
This Evening the First Branch for the (KDP) in Duhok called me and asked me if I’m P. Layth. They asked me to meet with them. I went and It was a great meeting. We talked about the church, about Politics and about Religion. He (the Branch leader) asked me, “If we give you the permission, what would be the benefit that we would have from you?”
I told them that we are an Organization (Praise Chapel), and our Goal is to make the world better with peace and love of Christ. That we are a Church to Worship God and give the word of God to those who are in need. I told him that we gave Christmas boxes for (2000) Kids in Duhok for (poor families) I told him about you and what you doing in Kurdistan; that you making a movie to speak up for Kurdistan and what you doing in Construction projects to help the peoples lives, and what you did to tell the world about Kurdistan. I told him as Mohammed said, “We are with Kurdish Government and we trust in them for what they doing and that we support them in the Political situation.” He said … “The (KDP) will support you as a Church, and we will give your application to the Governor of Duhok.”
Blessings
Layth
So, its offical, Pastor Layth and his church are now under the Praise Chapel covering, we will offically establish PC as a denominational entity within Kurdistan of Iraq and thereby open the doors for other Spirit-filled Evangelical Churches hidden underground to come out into the open and be recognized and facilitated. Our next step is to establish public meetings, a Discipleship/Church Planting Conference to draw in and help others within the underground Christian movement. Though it not a yet a done deal, we are well on our way toward our objectives. To spread the Gospel throughout Kurdistan of Iraq and from there into all the Middle East.
Addendum:
We have worked long and hard for these breakthroughs into the Muslim World of Northern Iraq. We have earned the respect of both the Political Leadership and the people whom we have served at the rural village level. We have done this not by our words, but first and foremost by our deeds. We have demonstrated the Love of Christ by our actions … now, it is paying off.
Y
ours In His Service,
Jack Harris
Mission Global Harvest (Iraq)
P.O. Box 1769
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91729
Afghanistan (MNN) — Taliban insurgents and South Korean negotiators have come to an agreement that allows for the release of the remaining 19 South Korean Christians. However, the agreement could have an impact on missions work in Afghanistan, says the President of Open Doors USA Carl Moeller. “The most troubling aspect of this announcement for us is that there is an apparent commitment by the South Korean government to restrict missionary activity on the part of Christians from South Korea.” According to reports, South Korea has agreed to withdraw its troops and prevent its nationals from doing missionary work there. Moeller is concerned. “Governments may want to use this in future cases as an opportunity to appease the Taliban or other extremist groups, but I can say also clearly that there are always going to be Christians who go where faith costs the most, no matter what the government’s restrictions might be.” Open Doors will continue helping persecuted believers. In fact, your help is needed for Bibles. Go to our website to help.
