Iraq is a diverse nation steeped in history, culture and also Christianity. Since the 1st century, Iraq has been home to Assyrian Christians, one of the oldest Christian groups in the world. It was once a vibrant centre for Eastern Rite Christianity and Syriac literature. However, the modern history of Iraq has been marked by conflict, instability and persecution, dramatically impacting its Christian community.
While Iraq is a majority Muslim nation, it is home to several ethnic and religious groups, including Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen and Yazidis. Each of these people groups speak specific dialects, have a unique culture and hold religious nuances.
Before 2003, Christians were a strong religious minority in Iraq of about 1.5 million. But decades of conflict, sectarian violence and the brutal rise of groups like ISIS have forced countless Christians to flee, with many experiencing persecution and forced conversion.
Today, Iraqi Christians have dwindled to as few as 150,000 to 250,000, and they continue to face danger in sharing their faith. In this complex landscape, Christian media ministries are a crucial tool for reaching the diverse peoples of Iraq, especially non-Christians, with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Christian media ministries in Iraq can:
- Provide safe, private avenues for Iraqis to explore Christian faith, where in-person evangelism is dangerous.
- Tailor content to specific languages and dialects, including Arabic, Kurdish, and Turkmen, to reach the country’s diverse population.
- Address the trauma of conflict with messages of peace, healing and redemption.
- Portray the love of Christ through stories of compassion, humanitarian aid and transformed lives.
- Teach and disciple isolated believers, where communal gatherings and worship may be unsafe.
- Equip believers with resources to share their faith in their local communities.
Over the last 50 years, we have worked a lot with groups in Iraq to help them develop media ministries. But, in the last few years, instability and regional conflict has meant this has become more difficult.
Please Pray For:
- For less conflict and more stability in the region, so our team can safely travel to equip media teams in Iraq and nearby countries.
- For more open doors and partnerships in Iraq, so we can support and train current media ministries and help start new ones.
- Open hearts among non-Christians in Iraq to hear and believe in Jesus.
- Strength and encouragement for Iraqi Christians to share their faith.
Other MEM Prayer Requests:
- Mike, our Media Teams Director, is trying to get a visa to travel to the US to attend conferences and an MEM event. Pray that the visa is granted on time.
- Our Desert Roses team in the Gulf needs more team members who have the right experience and gifting to reach women through social media. Pray that we can find new believers in this region who are well suited to our ministry.
- We need someone in North Africa to help with admin work for our Media Teams ministry. Pray that we find the right person for the job.