AP Images/Anees Mahyoub |
A house church leader has been kidnapped by Muslims in Duhok, Iraq, according to a report from Voice of the Martyrs, Canada. A
young Iraqi girl recently told VOM contacts that Muslims broke into her
home and took her father, Jamal.
VOM reports that Pastor Jamal works among the Shabak
people—a people who have Jewish roots and speak Arabic and Kurdish.
VOM sources suspect militants targeted Jamal for working to evangelize Muslims. Several weeks ago, the home of one of Jamal’s recent
converts was sprayed with machine gun fire, VOM reports, and many fear that the
militants, possibly members of al-Qaida, will immediately kill him.
“Throughout Iraq, Christians
in environments of violence continue to face the agonizing choice of
fleeing their homes or remaining in a climate of fear and pressure. Most
Christians have left the country or have been forced to move from their
hometowns due to continuous attacks, and it is estimated that less than
half of a million Christians remain,” VOM says. “Despite threats against them,
hundreds of Iraqi Christians in Kirkuk recently celebrated the opening
of a new church—the first to be built in eight years.
VOM is asking for readers to pray for Jamal’s release and safe homecoming, and that he will
rest in the knowledge that the Good Shepherd is with him through his
sufferings according to Psalm 23. VOM also asks for prayer that Jamal and his family will remain
faithful to the Lord in this time of trial and that his house church will continue to
strengthen and grow despite ongoing persecution.
Cheri Fuller and Cindy Lamb Curry 
Marilyn Hickey 
Charisma Staff