Iraq: Few Christians Who Remain Vow to Stay and Rebuild Country

Veronica Neffinger | iBelieve Contributor | Updated: Aug 11, 2016

Iraq: Few Christians Who Remain Vow to Stay and Rebuild Country

Iraqi Christians who have remained in the country despite persecution say they will stay and help rebuild places that have been ravaged by terrorism.

According to The Christian Post, Christians continue to have hope despite hardships and persecution.

Zoe Smith, with persecution charity Open Doors, said that Christians in Iraq who are choosing to stay are an asset to society:

"[Christians are] really recognised for reconciliation, they've been referred to as the glue that holds society together in the Middle East. ... We've been telling the persecution side for a long time, but we've not been telling so loudly the story of those who have chosen to stay," Smith said.

One Iraqi Christian woman told Open Doors, "I want my fellow Iraqis to know that we are not guests in Iraq. Our ancestors built this country. Treat me as a sister, not as a guest."

ChristianHeadlines.com recently reported on one example of Christians choosing to remain in their home country and work to rebuild society.

Fr. Roni Salim Momika, along with three other priests, have decided to stay in a refugee camp in Erbil, Iraq, and minister to the people there who have fled their home city of Qaraqosh due to ISIS violence.

“We left Qaraqosh during this time two years ago," Fr. Momika told Catholic News Agency. "Before it was a bad day because we became refugees and ISIS entered to Qaraqosh, but now this day became a good day because it's our ordination and we give hope to our people.”

 

Publication date: August 11, 2016



Iraq: Few Christians Who Remain Vow to Stay and Rebuild Country