Iraq

Partner with Local Missionaries in Iraq

Located in the 10/40 Window

Rocked by political unrest due to high levels of corruption and unemployment, Iraq is also still trying to recover from destruction to homes and basic services infrastructure from the invasion by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorists from 2014 to 2017. Many people remain displaced in the country that is 95.8 percent Muslim.

About 1.4 percent of the population practices ethnic religions, and 1.3 percent of Iraq’s people identify as Christian. Of those, 49 percent are Orthodox, 41.9 percent Roman Catholic, and 0.2 percent evangelical.

Iraq’s various ethnic groups include Arabs, Kurds, Assyrians, Turkmen, Shabakis, Yazidis, Armenians, Mandaeans and Circassians. The official languages of Iraq are Arabic and Kurdish.

Amid the unrest and disruption of lives, local missionaries are finding unprecedented opportunities to share the gospel among the internally displaced and refugees from Syria and other countries. Barely able to keep up with requests for Scripture, they need assistance to purchase Bibles and New Testaments. They distribute these in outreaches on the street, in home visits, as they travel, and as they distribute aid to refugees and the displaced, with demand especially high during Christmas season outreaches.

Evangelistic events geared toward children provide opportunities to share the gospel with their parents as well. Local missionaries need funding to train youth leaders and other leaders, as well as disciples who need to be equipped to share their faith and plant house churches. Some of these churches are forming in refugee camps for Syrians. Workers also need support to cover monthly living expenses.

Local missionaries put in long hours meeting the needs of food, clothing, baby formula and other relief items for the internally displaced and for refugees. A mobile medical clinic provides health care to people who would never have access to such help, with workers also praying with patients and sharing the hope of the gospel.

Sources: Joshua Project, Wikipedia

40.05 million

Population

0.20%

Evangelical Population:

People Groups:

Unreached People Groups:

How to Pray for Iraq

Pray that Muslims putting their faith in Christ will be protected from opposition and will find new community in Christian fellowship.
Pray for outreaches to Yazidis and Kurds and the growth of house churches planted in various outreaches.
Pray that resources will become available to meet local missionaries’ physical and spiritual needs amid the risks of the COVID-19 pandemic.

More stories from Iraq

Provide Christ’s Healing and Salvation in Iraq

A local ministry’s Mobile Medical Clinic treated all manner of illnesses, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes. The workers prayed with patients, provided them Bibles and shared the gospel. When one woman whose husband accepted Christ saw workers praying for their daughter, who had been taken captive by Islamic State militants, she felt only anger toward God. When her daughter was later returned, the mother said she then knew God was real, accepted Christ and now testifies to many people. Local missionaries need donations to bring healing and the gospel through the Mobile Medical Clinic. Pray workers will be able to care for the growing number of people suffering illness.

Provide Gospel Tools in Iran

Local missionaries are praying that people will be curious about Christianity and read the 30,000 New Testaments they recently distributed in 250 new towns and villages. One worker went into three states, baptized new believers and trained Christians to lead churches. Each month the ministry brings five people across the border to Iraq, where it is safer to provide them a five-day training in evangelism and church leadership. The ministry also provided training for its first Peshmerga family last summer. Workers need donations to provide such evangelism and discipleship. They request prayer that the Lord would raise up more workers.

Help Send the Salvation Message in Iraq

Native Christian workers have multiple opportunities to share the gospel as they distribute Bibles, tend to the needs of refugees and the internally displaced and bring medical care to the poor. Workers with a native ministry’s mobile medical clinic share Christ daily with those receiving treatment, along with praying with them and providing them Bibles. Kingdom expansion receives a boost as workers train new Christians who wish to reach their own people on how to share the salvation message. Donations of $25 or $50 are sought for such gospel proclamation and discipleship. Pray the Holy Spirit will go before workers to prepare hearts to receive Christ’s grace.

Support Gospel Outreach in Iraq

In evangelism training for Christians who were raised as Muslims, new believers from every province enjoyed fellowship as they learned how to share the Bible with Muslims. Native ministry workers also taught them ways for Christians of Muslim upbringing to meet the dangers of living in Islamic society in a way pleasing to the Lord. Students facing such dangers also learned from each other. “There were great testimonies for those present,” the ministry leader said. “All of them, without exception, face the danger of death.” Donations are needed for such evangelism and discipleship training, Bibles and gospel outreach. Pray for the safety of workers and new believers.

Enable Evangelistic Outreach in Iraq

People attending Christmas celebrations in Iraq are open to receiving Bibles and the gospel. At one meeting last year, an Iranian girl from a refugee family who asked for a children’s Bible later raised her hand for prayer to receive Christ. Workers invite children to Christmas parties in villages and camps, where the children receive gifts and hear the gospel, as do their parents. Many of the 2,500 Bibles that native Christian workers gave away in the last half of 2022 were delivered during the Christmas season, when many people put their faith in Him. Donations are sought for such evangelistic outreaches. Pray that more people will accept Christ this Christmas.

Help Fulfill the Great Commission in Iraq

Security issues keep Christians from attending local churches in many areas, but they grow in the Lord through worship and study of God’s Word through a WhatsApp group, including questions and answers. In addition, about three times a year new Christians who wish to devote themselves to winning Muslims to Christ are trained in effective ways to communicate the gospel. “Many attended this course and used it to win souls to the Lord,” the ministry leader said. Local missionaries need donations in order to proclaim Christ and disciple new believers. Workers request prayer for protection and the ability to meet needs.