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

Jack’s Journal Vol. II

Hands Of Hope Foundation International (Iraq) – Mission Global Harvest

Jack’s Journal Vol. II

There is GOOD NEWS out of Iraq! Muslims come to
Christ, Al Qaida is being defeated, Iraq is stabilizing
and we continue to have great favor.

Our First Muslims Come To Christ
12th November, 2007

Our first Muslims to come to The Lord here in Kurdistan have come through the outstanding work of our Medical team from Pennsylvania. Dr. Robert Doe and the group of medical professionals working with him have been teaching at the Ministry of Health in Duhok, the capitol of Duhok Governate here in Kurdistan of Iraq. These folks have been teaching and boldly sharing their faith and testimonies. They have been warmly received and a number of people, medical professionals themselves, have through their testimonies come to know Christ.

People have come to them for prayer, and counseling, others have shared that that Jesus has been speaking to them in their dreams, there have been testimonies of healing as they have prayed for folks and … we here, are beside ourselves with joy over the breakthroughs that God is giving us. Conversion is still a sensitive issue here and I don’t want to give the impression that these efforts have been easy or that there are not forces out there that would oppose this progress; this aside, we have a genuine spiritual break through and continued favor. Our East Coast brethren will depart today for home having done an outstanding job. We praise God for them.

IDP Project Blockage Removed
Upon my return, I discovered that our village reconstruction project had been blocked by a new Mayor in Amedia. This was not out of hostility, more like a planning and zoning issue. Yesterday, while many of you were praying for us, I met with the Governor of Duhok and the blockage was removed and we continue to have great favor. The government here is skeptical that we can build decent homes for IDPs for the low cost we have claimed, I have explained that what we are doing is to be a model for them to see for the cost effective construction of self-sustaining villages that have their own independent power source and many other ecologically sound innovations to make village life more appealing. I will meet with the new Mayor of Amedia today, then I and the men who have come to work on the project with me from Grace Fellowship Church in Flagstaff, AZ will go on to meet with the villagers in Passe. Incidentally, it’s still raining here.

Al Qaida Being Defeated In Iraq
The team and I attended a dinner for us at the invitation of General Azziz and my friend Col. Corzan of the Kurdish Security forces, it was a great honor to be invited by these brave men who by their willingness to sacrifice are the shield and protection of the Kurdish Region. Mohammed, our intrepid interpreter who is plugged into the politics of the region and well informed has reported to me that Al Qaida is being defeated throughout Iraq, that the people down south have turned against them and are driving them out of their areas. The Iraqi Military and Police are gaining the upper hand in the troubled areas and Iraq’s infrastructure is quickly recovering. Sorry, Senator, but it looks like we didn’t lose the war after all. Mohammed predicts that by next year all of Iraq will have stabilized. God grant that it be so.

Mission Global Harvest (Iraq)
PO Box 1769
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
www.iraqirelief.com
Get On Board, Thereʼs A Work To Be Done!

Jack’s Journal Vol. I

Hands Of Hope Foundation International (Iraq) – Mission Global Harvest

Jack’s Journal Vol. I

I will pour out upon you the former and the later rain in the same season
7th November, 2007 – Kurdistan Of Iraq

Nobody plans these things, in fact, I was unaware that no rain had fallen in Kurdistan since I departed earlier this year in May. This fact in an agrarian society is cause for concern. In the mountains winter is beginning to set in but down lower in the valleys and the plains the field are prepared for the planting of the wheat crops. Without the Spring rains and the Fall rains the promise of harvest is threatened.

Our return coincided with the political and military tensions on the Turkey, Iraq border, with the threat of a Turkish military incursion into Northern Iraq. Bombings and artillery shelling in the mountains not far from here continue as the Turkish Army tries to dislodge the PKK Kurdish Rebels (from Turkey) who have taken refuge in these mountains as once more the eyes of the world turn toward this troubled region. There were, of course, concerns for the safety of the team and I as we returned to Kurdistan for work on our current IDP Housing Project. We crossed the border without incident, we were however briefly interrogated by the Turkish Military at the border as we crossed when we presented our American Passports. The Turkish leadership has made a claim that the USA has armed and trained the PKK. This was out of a battle in the Turkish mountains about 600 kilometer’s away from the border. Apparently, a number of Turkish soldier’s were killed and the army was forced to withdraw. “This is not the PKK we are used to dealing with.” they said. “This PKK was well armed and well trained.”

Whatever the truth of these claims is, the fact that 60,000 troops are massed at the Kurdistan border and the Turkish Parliament has voted overwhelmingly to approve the military incursion. The peace and stability of the region continues to be threatened. Combine this with a drought this season and one can catch a sense of profound concern in a place that longs of peace and prosperity.

That’s the bad news, the good news is that we are here, we are safe and well, making preparations for a productive work season. If you are a believer in coincidence, then this issue of the rainfall upon our return is no big deal. If, however, you are, as I am, one of those who believe that “All things are parallel,” with me, you see the Hand of God at work saying something significant concerning the promise of harvest.

On Nov. 7th, 2007 at the very moment our feet touched the soil of Kurdistan, the first drops of rain fell.

Mission Global Harvest (Iraq)
PO Box 1769
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
www.iraqirelief.com
Get On Board, There’s A Work To Be Done!

Iraq leadership pledges to protect Christians

Iraq (MNN) — Iraq’s prime minister pledged Saturday to protect and support the Christian minority that has been fleeing the chaos and sectarian violence in the country. Open Door USA’s Jerry Dykstra says, “This is a long overdue sign that they want to stop the outflow of Iraqi Christians. We’ll just have to see if this vow to protect and support the Christian minority will be followed through, and we pray that it will be.” It’s believed that only 400,000 Christians remain in Iraq. Dykstra is hoping this pledge will help stem the tide of Christians leaving Iraq. He says it’s important for them to remain. “Christians need to have a voice not only in the emerging government, but for ministry to go on we need the Christians to stay there.” A pastor in Iraq says the church is growing, and Dykstra reads from his letter: “Many in our church now are new believers, and in the past four months we have baptized six people.” He also mentions a terrorist who came into his office and asked, “How can I get peace?” Financial support is needed for literature, which is in high demand.

 

Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/10517

Interview of Jack Harris from Fox News

Awesome interview! Click here to watch

Praise Chapel in Kurdistan, Iraq

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

Revival Service in Kurdistan

Revival Service in Kurdistan

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

In a back street, discreetly hidden from public view, is a two story house surrounded by a wall, typical of the city homes here in Duhok; there is something extraordinary happening here. As we walk through the entry gate up the stairs to the open front door, we are greeted by a pretty lady with a kind and pleasant smile. She is the pastors wife and she is welcoming those who are arriving into her home to participate in evening worship. This is the home of Pastor Layth Ibrahim, it is also his Church.

I visited here a week ago for the first time with Dr. Bob Doe from Lancaster, PA and Frances Saenz from Rancho Cucamonga, CA. This is the first Evangelical Church I have encountered here. Dr. Doe was led to it by Adil, the man above interpreting for me, he is also the husband of one of the doctors attending Dr. Doe’s Family Health Care seminars at the Ministry of Health here in Duhok.

The Message Of Reconciliation

I have been invited to speak this evening, and I have come, Bible in hand and message in heart, with that which I have felt that The Lord would have me to speak. I spoke on “The Message Of Reconciliation.” Knowing something of the history of the people I am about to address, I also know that what I have to say will be a challenge for them; yet I am confident that they will respond. I feel this because as I worshiped with them last week, I found them to be “The real deal.”

The place is packed out. The large living room has been modified into the Church sanctuary. Except for the fact that the language is Arabic (the language most Christians here use) you wouldn’t know that you weren’t in one of the Churches our Fellowship has planted around the World.

Everything from the video projected songs, a full worship team, complete with keyboard, to the praise service feels exactly the same. To find something like this here, is like finding an Oasis in the Desert. There is hand clapping, vibrant music, audible praise and exhortation from Pastor Layth, their shepherd, who obviously loves his little folk. It’s a good place.

My Story

I tell them my story, how I came to be in Kurdistan of Iraq, how that I feel The Lord led me here, to N. Iraq, before I really even understood what N. Iraq was. I tell them that I have been sent to the Kurdish Muslims to preach the Gospel and that I have been working and living among them for almost two years now. These folks are not Kurds, most, I believe, are from Assyrian and Chaldean Christian backgrounds who have been born again and Spirit-filled. Some have fled to Kurdistan under threat of death by the Insurgent Muslim factions down south. Many had lost all that they had.

They have been welcomed to Kurdistan, in fact, the regional government here has gone out of its way to provide homes for the Christians, when many of the Muslims still do without. It is Kurdistan’s way of trying to show America and the World that they want democracy, human rights, civil justice and freedom of religion. Despite this, these folk still walk softly because they have lived with Islam for a long time.

I tell them to consider; What did the disciples think when they saw Christ taken from them and crucified by wicked men? Despite all The Lord had taught them, they saw only death and despair; they didn’t see resurrection. On the road to Emmaus, two sad-faced disciples are joined by a stranger who inquires the reason for their sadness. Are you a stranger to these parts? Don’t you know what’s happened? Our leaders have taken Jesus of Nazareth and crucified him; and we had hoped that it was He who should redeem Israel.

O, you foolish ones, the stranger says, And slow to believe all that the Law and Prophets foretold. Ought not Christ to have suffered and then come into His Glory? Then He began to teach them from the beginning of the Law through the Prophets all that had been spoken concerning Him.

Pastor Layth Ibrahim and Family

As they arrive at their destination, the stranger makes as if he will go on into the evening alone. The disciples constrain him to spend the night and have supper with them. He accepts their invitation. At supper, the stranger takes bread, breaks it and blesses it. Upon doing this, their eyes are opened and they gasp, “Its The Lord!” He then vanishes from their sight.

I tell these people, that in this world, bad things often happen to good people and when this happens we are usually blinded in some way by the experience so that we can no longer see Christ. We are looking for Him to appear in the familiar manner in which we have become accustomed to perceive Him; we should consider, as C.S. Lewis said in his Chronicles of Narnia, “He is no tame lion.”

Grief, disappointment, failure, persecution, tragedy, all these things and many more have a way of blinding us to the reality of God’s larger purpose. I tell them, How do you think the Early Church felt, in the midst of great revival and blessing to suddenly find themselves being driven from their homes and properties by the great persecutions that came against them? Driven into the ugliness of the Pagan Roman World; yet, they persevered and ultimately changed that World. I believe, I said, that many of you were brought here, to t his time, as I was, forced by circumstances to be here for this very hour. That we have been given one of the greatest opportunities in Human History if we can look beyond our pain, prejudice and the bitterness of past experience and tragedy.

I then shared of a recent experience at the ancient Monastery we took our guests to see at Al Kosh. This is just outside the Kurdistan boundary. While our friends explored the Monastery, Mohammed, my Muslim friend and interpreter and I stayed behind, sitting on the wall of the near the entrance overlooking the Ninevah Plain below.

Mohammed on the left in h is Kurdish Uniform

Mohammed was dresse d that day in the typical Kurdish uniform fashion. There was a group of Assyrian Christians standing nearby, a young woman said in Arabic, “Oh, I don’t like Kurds.” She was ignorant of the fact that Mohammed speaks fluent Arabic and that she had just wounded my friend deeply and stirred up sentiments rooted in centuries of conflict between Christians and Muslims. I told the Church, I w ould have invited my friend Mohammed to come here tonight, but he still feels the rejection of that young woman and fears he may receive the same among us. I do not judge that young woman, because I do not know what things she and her people have suffered at the hands of Kurds or others, but today is a new day and we must lay aside our fears and prejudices on both sides and work toward a mutual peace and understanding. One precious older lady raised her hand and asked, “Did you tell this to the Muslims?” Yes, I have, I answered, for two years now from the villages to government officials. This is a new day and God has created an opportunity in Kurdistan of Iraq for the birth of so mething fresh which can bring healing to our World if we will believe and obey Him.

This and many other things I shared, to make my point; at the conclusion, there was a good heartfelt response an d willingness on the part of these folks.

I then prayed for their sick, ministered individually as I was led by The Lord and these folk responded in faith just as ours do, again, you would think that this was one of our revival services Stateside.

At the conclusion I thanked the people and the Pastor for the privilege of sharing with them and for their openness to hear me; Pastor Layth laughed, as did the congregation, “No Brother, this is only the beginning! You are one of us, you must speak to us again, and again!”

Here, I believe is the open door that I have been seeking; a place to publicly minister the Gospel and some willing folks to help me. Its so strange and wonderful, the way The Lord orchestrates events. These people have no legal church building and they feel pressure from their landlord that his house should not be used as a church. They have written a letter of appeal to the Prime Minister of Kurdistan for land and help to build their own church. I just happen to have returned from a meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Relations (the gate to the Prime Minister’s Office) they have encouraged me to submit a list of my own requests for consideration. With these requests, I will submit Pastor Layths letter under the banner of our legal NGO here.

Lets Pray,
Lets Believe,
and
Lets See,
what
The Lord Will Do

Jack (in Iraq) Harris
Mission Global Harvest (Iraq)
P.O. Box 1769
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91729

Iraq; A World Of Possibilities – Jack Harris

A World Of Possibilities

Back in the 60’s Bob Dylan challenged a whole generation with the lyrics of a song; “Get out of the way if you can’t lend a hand for the times they are a changing.” In today’s political climate of intense competition for power, dirty politics have become the norm. In this struggle between parties Iraq has become the political Whipping boy. It seems that many have lost sight of the possibilities there. We seem to, as a nation, have lost our perspective; we won the war in Afghanistan and Iraq; we are a presence in the Middle East, working for the possibility of democracy in those regions. To compare Iraq with Viet Nam is ludicrous, those who do so where either too young to remember that conflict or have seared their conscience to the point of shamelessly exploiting the past without regard to the facts. More Americans were murdered in America last year than have died in Iraq. More people were killed in auto accidents last year than have died in the whole war effort. We hear news today like, “The Taliban are regrouping, Al Qaeda is regrouping,” why would this be? Obviously they have been dispersed and damaged. What few are saying these days is that no one over there wants us to leave Iraq. Not the Sunnis, the Shi’ites or the Kurds. Why is this so? They understand the possibilities of civil war between these groups. If we pull out, simply put, hundreds of thousands could die. Iran has ambitions to assimilate the Shi’ite portion of Iraq, thereby strengthening its power in the region; this is nuclear Iran we are talking about. Turkey has ambitions for the partitioning of Northern Iraq and the destruction of Kurdish autonomy. Saudi Arabia feels compelled to get involved to protect Sunni interests in the region. All of this looms on the horizon of an American pull out. This is the political reality, but how about the Gospel reality?

I can understand the political fervor over our nations Mid East involvements, but what about our fervor as believers for the lost of this portion of the world that has been closed to us for so many years? It was Christ who said, “Go ye into all of the World.” We as believers have been given an incredible window of opportunity into the Muslim world and despite all the nay-Sayers in the news, there are many volunteers of the faith who are ready, willing and able to go. One percent of missions giving has been allotted to reach the Muslim world, this is practically a default to Islam; no wonder our world is so troubled today.

Like most efforts, those who go must be sent, they can’t go it alone; “Who serves as a soldier at his own expense?” (1Cor. 9:7).

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Rom. 10:14-15)

The simple truth is that missions cannot happen without those willing to go. Those willing to go cannot do so without those willing send them. There is a unique symbiosis here, that is, a mutually beneficial relationship. Goers + Senders = Harvest and Harvest = Reward in this life and the one to come.

I still believe that Believers are the most potent force on the Earth; contingent, of course, on our willingness to act upon what we believe. The Lord said, “All things are possible to those who believe.” I still believe we can change our world.

We need some like-minded partners to lend a hand for the next leg of the journey.

Here are a number of small projects individuals like you as well as individual churches can take on over the next several months. These things can be accomplished immediately and have a lasting impact upon real Kurdish people in Kurdistan of Iraq.

Village Medical Outreaches:

We are involved with Six Kurdish Villages; Passe Village, Geleka, Dakhan, Koreme, Geze Widow’s Village and Baban (Yezedi Kurds). The cost of each village medical outreach is about a $1000.00. This includes medication, transportation and workers. A full report and photos will be sent to all who participate.

The Widow of Geleka And Her Children:

This is the woman in the village of Geleka whose husband was killed when he stepped on a land mine out in the mountains where he was gathering food for his family. He left behind eight children. We have helped to keep the children clothed and in school at a cost of $1200.00 per year. This is not a great deal of money but it makes a great difference concerning this family’s future. In addition, it has an impact on the village as a testimony of Christian concern and care.

Golistan and her family;

Golistan is a young widow, seen here with her cousin and family, she was cast out of her In-laws house after her husband was killed in an auto accident. Her child was forcibly taken from her by her husband’s family as well as the dowry given her at her betrothal. She was forced into the arranged marriage at age fourteen by her father, who has since acknowledged that this was a mistake. Many here are coming to see that the old traditions are not the best and are now open to change.

Golistan is still a young woman; because she is no longer a virgin (very important to Muslim men) she is considered by most as used goods. She has no education and her future is very bleak. She is looking for a way out of Islam and for a new life; we can help by getting involved with her future. A number of people have expressed interest in helping her after hearing her story, but no one has yet stepped up to the plate. Her father and brothers are very open to us; they have a small very modest home (even by Kurdish standards) under construction that needs to be finished. For $2000.00 we could furnish this family with a home of their own. For another 1200.00 we could start this young woman’s schooling and make all the difference in her future.

IDP Village Construction Project:

IDP’s are Internally Displaced Persons. There are large number of these folks who live in schools, prisons, such as Nzarke fortress in the photos above and various other government buildings because there is no housing available to them. Its hard for us to comprehend the long-term consequences of 4000 destroyed Kurdish villages. Saddam had all but destroyed the whole of the Kurdish infrastructure.

I met with the Governor of Duhok Governate, the second largest in Kurdistan and discussed these problems and proposed building an IDP village in the region to accommodate the problems of the Governate. He was very enthusiastic and agreed to supply basic materials and land. He asked if we could build 450 houses, I told him no, but that we would attempt 50 houses; if we accomplished that goal we would attempt 50 more the same way until the job was done. For the price of one American Home, we could construct a whole village. The average cost per home at this time would be about $4000.00 to $6000.00 This is something that could be accomplished by individual churches as a project.

Airfare For Jack (to get back to Iraq):

Then there is the missionary himself. Our missionaries can do the job, but they can’t send themselves. The British Airways Missionary Fare is about $1160.00. Once in Iraq, Jack’s upkeep is pretty reasonable about $1480.00 per month – this includes food, housing, fuel, and telecommunications. The essential team members, Mohammed and Khaled cost an additional $1400.00 per month. This includes the use of Mohammed’s car.

These are opportunities now! The doors are open, we have favor with the Kurdish Regional Government and these people are in need of our help. They will never forget those who help them, nor the testimony of concerned Christians who entered their world, not with weapons but with love and compassion. These are POSSIBILITIES which can change the future. If those who are able would take on part or all of one of these needs, we can get the job done.

As I wrote this article I read something I would like to share; its from my morning devotional and its written by Oswald Chambers.

The Impoverished Ministry of Jesus

“Where then do You get that living water?” (John 4:11).

“The well is deep”—and even a great deal deeper than the Samaritan woman knew! (4:11). Think of the depths of human nature and human life; think of the depth of the “wells” in you. Have you been limiting, or impoverishing, the ministry of Jesus to the point that He is unable to work in your life? Suppose that you have a deep “well” of hurt and trouble inside your heart, and Jesus comes and says to you, “Let not your heart be troubled ” (John 14:1). Would your response be to shrug your shoulders and say, “But, Lord, the well is too deep, and even You can’t draw up quietness and comfort out of it.” Actually, that is correct. Jesus doesn’t bring anything up from the wells of human nature—He brings them down from above. We limit the Holy One of Israel by remembering only what we have allowed Him to do for us in the past, and also by saying, “Of course, I cannot expect God to do this particular thing.” The thing that approaches the very limits of His power is the very thing we as disciples of Jesus ought to believe He will do. We impoverish and weaken His ministry in us the moment we forget He is almighty. The impoverishment is in us, not in Him. We will come to Jesus for Him to be our comforter or our sympathizer, but we refrain from approaching Him as our Almighty God. The reason some of us are such poor examples of Christianity is that we have failed to recognize that Christ is almighty. We have Christian attributes and experiences, but there is no abandonment or surrender to Jesus Christ. When we get into difficult circumstances, we impoverish His ministry by saying, “Of course, He can’t do anything about this.” We struggle to reach the bottom of our own well, trying to get water for ourselves. Beware of sitting back, and saying, “It can’t be done.” You will know it can be done if you will look to Jesus. The well of your incompleteness runs deep, but make the effort to look away from yourself and to look toward Him.

As Dylan said; “Get out of the way if you can’t lend a hand, for the times they are a changing.”

Come on! Lend a hand, roll up your sleeves and get involved! There’s a world out there to win and lives to save. You can be part of the solution, instead of being a part of the problem. Let’s focus together on the Possibilities!

Jack Harris
Mission Global Harvest (Iraq)
P.O. Box 1769
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91729

Kurdistan Of Iraq – Update Jack Harris

AN ANCIENT PROPHECY IN PROGRESS!

Some will recall a prophecy from the Book of Isaiah which I brought up at our World Conference two years ago when the Iraq Mission was first launched. I had been praying about the door of opportunity which had just opened for us in the mountainous north of the country known as Kurdistan of Iraq when this passage was quickened to my mind.

And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be entreated of them, and shall heal them. In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance. – Isaiah 19:22-24

The Assyrian and Babylonian Exiles

Assyrian Rock Carvings

After the death of Solomon, Israel was divided into two Kingdoms; the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Ten of the twelve tribes of Israel went with the Northern Kingdom, two remained in the South. Around 721-715 BC Israel, the Northern Kingdom, was conquered by the Assyrians, its people were deported and exiled to the area of the empire which is roughly the area we call Kurdistan today. Later, the Assyrian Empire collapsed under its own weight and the Babylonians became the dominant power in the region. Nebuchadnezzar lI, King of Babylon made war with The Southern Kingdom, Judah. He destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple and deported a large number of its people to Babylon (modern Iraq) and the surrounding area. These new exiles with the Ten Tribes previously exiled now constituted a large Jewish population. Later, when the Persians conquered the Babylonians, their king, Cyrus would permit their return to Israel; many, especially the wealthy, remained in the region. Certain towns had entirely Jewish populations and their position remained favorable during successive regimes. In the 1st Century BC a Jewish State was set up around Nehardea which lasted for many years. The Jews of Babylon (which contained Kurdistan) remained in constant touch with the Jews of Israel and even supplied their leaders with arms and supplies. Many of these Jews lived in the area where I work (Zakho on the Habur River) until 1948 when they opted to return to the new State of Israel.

The Jewish Roots of Kurdistan

The history of Judaism in Kurdistan is ancient. The Talmud holds that Jewish deportees were settled in Kurdistan 2800 years ago by the Assyrian King Shalmaneser. The Talmud indicates that the Jews were given permission by the rabbinic authorities to allow conversion from the local population. The illustrious Kurdish royal house of Adiabene, with Arbil (Erbil) as its capital was converted to Judaism in the 1st Century BC, along with a large number of Kurdish citizens in the Kingdom. It is generally agreed that Judaism was firmly established in central Kurdistan by the beginning of the 2nd Century AD. Like many other Jewish communities, Christianity found Adiabene a fertile ground for conversion in the course of the 4th and 5th centuries AD. The Jews remained a populous group in Kurdistan until the middle of the present century and the creation of the State of Israel. At home and in the synagogues, Kurdish Jews speak a form of ancient Aramaic called Suriyani (Assyrian). In commerce and larger society they speak Kurdish. Many aspects of Kurdish and Jewish life and culture have become so intertwined that some of the most popular folk stories accounting for Kurdish ethnic origins connect them with the Jews. The tombs of Biblical prophets like Nahum in Al Kosh, Jonah in Nabi Yunis (ancient Nineveh), Daniel in Kirkuk, Habakkuk in Tuisirkan, of Queen Esther and Mordechai in Hamadan as well as several caves reportedly visited by Elijah are among the most important Jewish shrines in Kurdistan and are venerated by all Jews today.

If you have followed my adventures in this part of the world, you recognize many of these names from my writings. I am located 35 kilometers from Nineveh, we have done our medical outreaches right next to Al Kosh, Erbil is capitol of Kurdistan, where I have spent much of my time, its all here … in Kurdistan of Iraq.(Jack)

The Kurds are the Closest Relatives of Jews

In 2001, a team of Israeli, German and Indian scientists discovered that the majority of Jews around the world are closely related to the Kurdish people; more closely than they are to the Semitic-speaking Arabs or any other population tested. The researchers sampled a total of 526 Y-chromosomes from 6 populations (Kurdish Jews, Kurdish Muslims, Palestinian Arabs, Sephardic Jews, Ashkenazic Jews, and Bedouin from southern Israel) and added extra data on 1321 persons from 12 populations (including Russians, Belarusians, Poles, Berbers, Portuguese, Spaniards, Arabs, Armenians, and Anatolian Turks). Most of the 95 Kurdish Muslim test subjects came from northern Iraq. Ashkenazic Jews have ancestors who lived in central and eastern Europe, while Sephardic Jews have ancestors from southwestern Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East. The Kurdish Jews and Sephardic Jews were found to be very close to each other.

Postscript

Despite their conversion to Islam, the Kurds were never accepted as equals to other Islamic groups. Islamic groups constantly feared a revival of the Jewish faith. There had been several Jewish pseudo-messiahs that had arisen who looked to this community to “raise a Jewish Army to liberate the Land of Israel.” Islamic end-time theologians saw this as a model of the “Daijal” (a kind of Islamic antichrist) coming from Isfahan accompanied by 70,000 “Jews.”

There is much more to this amazing story which will interest those who love history and its amazing connections which have come down the corridors of time and color our present reality. The full article with references on the Jewish roots of Kurdistan may be found on the Internet at http://www.eretzyisroel.org/~jkatz/kurds.html

Prophesy VS Media

Whatever your political view, you’ll have to concede that Iraq has become the bone of contention used by both parties in our Nation to further their own agenda. I’ve watched the News Media distort the story in Iraq to make it appear to be a disaster, which it is not. It certainly is not another Viet Nam as some have erroneously contended, far from it. My point is this; whatever your views on Iraq politically, it has become the main focus of strong political sentiment which has divided our nation and weakened our position in that country. This, from my viewpoint, is more than a political battle; it is a spiritual battle for the souls of men. The spiritual perspective is that God has opened a door of opportunity into a world that has been closed and isolated from us for over fifty years. The Lord said, “I do those things which I see The Father doing.” This is the crucial element needed for our success. We, as believers need to stop viewing what the world is doing and determining the Will of God based on popular media analysis; rather, we need to look to the Word of God and listen to the voice of the Spirit. Again, for those of you who are unfamiliar with the geography of the Middle East, Kurdistan of Iraq, where I am, was a part of the Ancient Assyrian Empire, remember, I live 35 kilometers north of Nineveh, the capitol of ancient Assyria.

As I prepare to return to Iraq, with all of its intrigue and volatility, I do not see fearful things, though danger is never far away, what I see is our unprecedented opportunity, as Salt and Light, to flavor and illuminate the future course of human history. There are a number of exciting doors open before us, they have been opened by The Lord, lets have the simple faith to step through them and see what The Lord will accomplish – Jack Harris

Our work in Kurdistan of Iraq is supported by contributions sent to

Mission Global Harvest (Iraq)
P.O. Box 1769
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91729

Visit our web site at www.iraqirelief.com

Christians continue leaving Iraq

Iraq (MNN) — As President Bush continues to redefine his policy in Iraq, daily violence continues. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates heard broad support for more troops to help secure peace in the region. Many aren’t so hopeful.

‘Charles’ with Partners International says violence in Iraq is causing the situation for the church to deteriorate quickly. “Most Christians don’t see any future for Christianity in Iraq right now because the country is going to be more Islamic than it was. Many are leaving. Some are coming to Jordan. A lot are going to Syria. In, especially the southern part of Iraq, in Baghdad, there’s not a real bright future right now,” says Charles.

According to Charles it could be a difficult Christmas for believers in Baghdad. “Many of the Christian women, just to survive in their neighborhoods, have to wear the full veil and cover their heads and there’s not a lot of freedom.”

However, the situation is somewhat different in the Kurdish areas of Northern Iraq, says Charles. “There’s an openness there like in no other area of Iraq. It’s become, since the early 90’s, a place where Partners International has been able to help the church really grow and develop. Many Christians are actually moving up there.”

Those Iraqis going to Jordan, are being impacted by the church there. Charles says, “The church in Jordan has had a tremendous opportunity to reach out to these people. And, many Iraqis have come to know the Lord. And, even as they leave Iraq I think many some day will come back.”

That’s already happening in the Kurdish area of Iraq where a new believer has a passion to establish a Christian school in Baghdad.

Pray that the Lord will keep the work of Partners International safe during these times of uncertainty. Pray that Christians in Jordan and Syria will be effective in sharing their faith with Iraqis who have left Iraq.

For more information visit www.iraqirelief.com

Organizations featured in this article:

Partners International 1117 East Westview Court Spokane WA 99218

Phone: (800) 966-5515 FAX: (509) 343-4015 Email: info@partnersintl.org URL: http://www.partnersintl.org