A high-profile kidnapping could hurt the Iraqi church

Iraq (MNN) — Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki has issued an all-out effort to secure the release of Chaldean Catholic archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho who was kidnapped last Friday. The abduction could cause even more Christians to leave Iraq. Open Doors’ Carl Moeller says that while persecution against Christians generally sees the church grow, it’s mixed for the church in Iraq. “The historic Christian church in Iraq has decreased from roughly one-million around the time of the first Gulf War to less than half a million. However, thousands of Muslims are coming to faith in Jesus Christ in Iraq today, and that is a reality throughout the North and even in the South.” Moeller says they’re doing all they can to help the indigenous church. “Our role as Open Doors is to come alongside the church where they are persecuted and to strengthen them so that they can remain there and that they can remain a vital Gospel witness for the sake of the souls of the Iraqi people.” Your financial support can help them do that.

Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/10971