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IRAQ UPDATE: July 1st, 2009
Yesterday was a historic occasion for Iraq and the USA, it marked the official withdrawal of US forces from the cities of Iraq and the turning over of national security to the Iraqi Forces. For the people of the southern part of Iraq, this was marked as an occasion for celebration; not so here in the North. There are concerns here for the future of Kurdistan's autonomous control over this region. There are six or seven million Kurds in the north VS an Arab population of forty million. For now, things have not changed here in the Kurdish Region. Mosul, not twenty miles from here is now regarded as the most dangerous city in Iraq and remains a hotbed of insurgent activity although it has been limited compared to what it was just a year ago.
When Pastor Layth and his congregation opened their new church building in Dohuk, the moment he put up their sign the Mullah (Muslim Cleric) from a near by Mosque came by and confronted Layth concerning the Church's right to be there. Pastor Layth as him, "Who do you think you are to confront our rights here?" The Mullah replied that he would show Layth who they are. Remember, down south in Baghdad where Layth is from, Christians have had to flee because of Islamic threats. The next day the Mullah was publicly denouncing Layth and his Church from the Mosque over the loud speakers used for the Muslim call to prayer, "Look, at how these Arabs from the south have come to take over Kurdistan!" He said, many other hateful things. Pastor Layth reported this incident to the KRG (Kurdish Regional Government). The officials asked him to take down his sign, just for one day while they looked into the matter. The next day, they called and told him that he could now put his sign back up. They had removed the Mullah and his family from the Mosque and out of the City. This is an amazing example of how the KRG is standing up for Religious Freedom in Kurdistan of Iraq.
During the time of our Summer Bible Conference here in Dohuk, there where a number of other Christian Conferences going on here, on of these groups was made almost entirely of Kurds. These folks had their Conference at the hotel where we were staying, they were very bold, praying publicly, laying on of hands as they prayed, others lifting their hands in worship, right in the hotel lobby. I flashed back to about three years ago, when I told all of you that I had encountered not "Born Again" Christians here, but I felt in my spirit that they were out there, though at the time they were hidden. Today there is a thriving move of God going on in this whole region. While it's true that we are still a very small minority here, it's very obvious that The Lord has been at work, just as we felt He would be in this region. We praise God for this and rejoice that we are a part of what is going on.
We have received notice that our Earth Block machine and supplies will arrive in Turkey on the 11th of July, the Turkish transport company we are using to haul our equipment overland has given us an estimate of about six more days after its arrival in port to get it to Iraq. We're all excited over here to get started on our building projects, the new clinic in Milhawlali and the finishing of our Passe Village reconstruction project.
I will meet with the Vice Governor this next week to discuss a number of projects that the local KRG is interested in partnering with us on. This is a critical time to accomplish and consolidate our presence here and to show ourselves an important part of the regions reconstruction. As the Officials said in the past, "We need these people (Evangelical Christians) here, they are good for our Country."
Jack Harris,
MISSION GLOBAL HARVEST
POB 1769
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
When Pastor Layth and his congregation opened their new church building in Dohuk, the moment he put up their sign the Mullah (Muslim Cleric) from a near by Mosque came by and confronted Layth concerning the Church's right to be there. Pastor Layth as him, "Who do you think you are to confront our rights here?" The Mullah replied that he would show Layth who they are. Remember, down south in Baghdad where Layth is from, Christians have had to flee because of Islamic threats. The next day the Mullah was publicly denouncing Layth and his Church from the Mosque over the loud speakers used for the Muslim call to prayer, "Look, at how these Arabs from the south have come to take over Kurdistan!" He said, many other hateful things. Pastor Layth reported this incident to the KRG (Kurdish Regional Government). The officials asked him to take down his sign, just for one day while they looked into the matter. The next day, they called and told him that he could now put his sign back up. They had removed the Mullah and his family from the Mosque and out of the City. This is an amazing example of how the KRG is standing up for Religious Freedom in Kurdistan of Iraq.
During the time of our Summer Bible Conference here in Dohuk, there where a number of other Christian Conferences going on here, on of these groups was made almost entirely of Kurds. These folks had their Conference at the hotel where we were staying, they were very bold, praying publicly, laying on of hands as they prayed, others lifting their hands in worship, right in the hotel lobby. I flashed back to about three years ago, when I told all of you that I had encountered not "Born Again" Christians here, but I felt in my spirit that they were out there, though at the time they were hidden. Today there is a thriving move of God going on in this whole region. While it's true that we are still a very small minority here, it's very obvious that The Lord has been at work, just as we felt He would be in this region. We praise God for this and rejoice that we are a part of what is going on.
We have received notice that our Earth Block machine and supplies will arrive in Turkey on the 11th of July, the Turkish transport company we are using to haul our equipment overland has given us an estimate of about six more days after its arrival in port to get it to Iraq. We're all excited over here to get started on our building projects, the new clinic in Milhawlali and the finishing of our Passe Village reconstruction project.
I will meet with the Vice Governor this next week to discuss a number of projects that the local KRG is interested in partnering with us on. This is a critical time to accomplish and consolidate our presence here and to show ourselves an important part of the regions reconstruction. As the Officials said in the past, "We need these people (Evangelical Christians) here, they are good for our Country."
Jack Harris,
MISSION GLOBAL HARVEST
POB 1769
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
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