ERBIL, Iraq - Iraqi Christians are on the move, caught in a crossfire between America and Islamic insurgents. They are fleeing a growing onslaught of violence and persecution against them. It is an exodus of historic proportions. Thousands of Iraqi Christians have fled to the neighboring nations of Syria and Jordan. CBN News caught up with some of the Christian refugees in Damascus, Syria.
One Syrian refugee said, "We left Baghdad. We were forced to leave, what could we do?"

Another commented, "How can I go back right now? Haven't you seen how the militant Muslims are bombing the churches?"

Recent church bombings in Baghdad have induced hundreds to leave their homeland. Seventeen Christians died in coordinated attacks in August, and more than 100 were injured. Five churches were also destroyed in a string of attacks on October 16th.

At least 100 Iraqi Christians have perished at the hands of Muslim radicals since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

Personal attacks and threats against Christian families are also mounting. We talked to Christian refugees following an Iraqi church service in Amman, Jordan. The young men described the threats and intimidation they faced in Iraq less than two weeks earlier

Islamic extremists threatened to kill one man's family because his father, a building contractor, was thought to be working with the United States. He says the insurgents believe Christians who work with the Americans are traitors.

One Jordan refugee remarked, "The situation is so bad, we can't find a job. My father is sitting at home jobless now, scared for his life."

Fear is widespread throughout the traditional Iraqi church. Some church buildings are empty. Members are either too scared to attend services or have been urged to stay home by their Chaldean and Assyrian clergy.

About 70 percent of Iraq's 750,000 Christians are Chaldean or Assyrian. The Chaldeans and Assyrians were among the first Christians. They began worshipping in Iraq more than 500 years before the birth of Mohammed and Islam. Many Assyrian Christians still speak and worship in Aramaic, the ancient language of Jesus.

One Chaldean church in the city of Erbil is nearly 2,000 years old. A guard armed with a Kalashnikov rifle stands watch at the gate, ready to protect worshippers from potential evildoers.

The monsignor at the church asked CBN News to leave the church premises. He explained that Islamic insurgents might bomb the building if church members were seen with Americans.

While thousands of Iraqi Christians have fled the country looking for safety in neighboring Syria and Jordan, a small group of evangelicals in the northern city of Erbil have chosen to stay. Some have gone through the fiery furnace of persecution, more determined than ever to remain and lead their fellow countrymen to Jesus Christ.

Members of a Kurdish language house church leave their shoes at the door. It is an Islamic tradition to take one's shoes off before entering a holy place. But why would these evangelical Christians do the same? Old habits are hard to break – 99 percent of the church members are Muslim converts.

They have embraced Christianity, and many have paid a high price. Most have been estranged from their families and friends. Some have been threatened with death for leaving Islam.

A former Muslim, a young evangelist we will call Abdullah to protect his identity, says in the year 2000 that he was kidnapped by five men armed with Kalashnikov rifles. He was kicked and beaten because of his evangelistic efforts. He was hospitalized with head injuries and a broken rib.

His attackers had warned him that he would be killed if he did not return to Islam. But Abdullah says the attack against him gave him greater spiritual strength. He said, "They tried to make me cold in my faith, but it only encouraged me to distribute more Bibles and tracts, and to share my faith more deeply. If gold is not put it the fire, it will not be purified."

Leaders of one former underground secret church have faced trials of their own. Several were jailed during the reign of Saddam.

Pastor Hazem was one of them. He suggests in the midst of war and chaos, many Iraqis are ready to hear the Gospel message. Hazem said, "Many in our community are wounded, and the Gospel of Jesus is the answer to their need--it's about peace and love. In the book of Joshua, God promises His people if they are holy, He will do a big thing. We believe there will be a big change in this part of Iraq."

Patrick Sookhdeo of the Barnabas Fund suggests that lasting change may only come to Iraq if Christians pray fervently for divine intervention. "I can't help feeling that the forces of confusion,” Sookhdeo said, “chaos of disorder, demonic forces have been unleashed on the region. But we believe that Christ is greater, infinitely greater than Satan -- that Christ will keep His church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against that church, and ultimately He will be victorious."
 
 

Gary Lane
CBN.com