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

Lift Up The Persecuted Church in Iraq

A widow and her two daughters became believers after they received a Bible, but they could not publicly express their faith because they lived in a camp alongside extremists. Ministry workers were able to move them to a different location where they can now freely live as Christians, and the children attend Bible study. Many other new believers have fled their homes because of severe persecution and death threats. Donations of $35 or $70 help provide such compassionate aid to displaced persecuted families. Pray for the Lord’s protection over workers and new believers who are persecuted for their faith.

Help Evangelize the Lost in Iraq

In the middle of a native ministry’s worship meeting for children, an Iranian refugee girl requested children’s Bible stories. After workers shared the stories, at the end of the meeting the girl asked them to pray for Jesus to enter her heart and save her. Children’s Bibles were among the 2,500 Bibles workers distributed over a six-month stretch. Elsewhere, in two house churches in different towns, two new families in each fellowship recently put their faith in Christ. Workers need donations of $25 or $50 to share the gospel and follow up with new Christians. Pray that workers and those they’re serving will be kept safe amid military conflicts and persecution.

Teach New Believers Evangelism Techniques in Iraq

As the number of new believers increases, one native ministry has begun to organize trainings that teach about following Christ and obeying Scripture, as well as evangelism techniques. About 20 attendees at one of the recent training sessions live in areas under strict religious law and must serve the Lord and evangelize in total secrecy. “The Lord blessed us this year also with so many souls from a Muslim background who surrendered their lives to Christ,” the ministry leader said. Donations of $60 or $120 help disciple new believers. Pray the Lord’s protection over those who must worship Him in secret.

Stand Beside Persecuted Believers in Iraq

When a Muslim man from a deeply religious family became a Christian, several family members beat him so badly that he lost sight in one eye. They took all of his belongings as well as his wife and children and refused to let him see them again until he returned to Islam. Despite his misery, the man did not abandon the faith and even led two of his cousins to Christ. “He suffers a lot, but he is happy in the Lord and lives his days by faith, preaching Jesus Christ,” a ministry leader said. Donations assist those suffering in Jesus’ name. Pray they will persevere no matter the circumstances.

Share The Message Of Christ’s Forgiveness in Iraq

A woman who attended a native ministry’s home church was forced to flee her home, and when she returned, she found her house had been burned down and her neighbor had stolen and sold all of her belongings. Though she was angry for a long time, God helped her learn to forgive and, later, when her neighbor fell ill, she helped him and eventually shared the gospel with him. He apologized for his wrongs and accepted Christ as Savior. “God turned a curse into a blessing and sin into salvation,” the woman said. Your donations help believers share the gospel. Pray they will find joy in the Lord even in difficult circumstances.

Bring the Lost to Jesus in Iraq

Pray for missionaries as they seek new ways to evangelize the lost. A 24-year-old Muslim man disheartened by the violence in Islamic countries happened upon an indigenous ministry’s social media platform and became intrigued by their discussion on the differences between God and Allah. After a while, he began to participate in the discussion and came to believe that the true God was the Christian God. “He decided to follow Christ and prayed the prayer of repentance,” the ministry leader said. “This social media platform is a very popular program in the Middle East and is a very powerful means of direct evangelism.” Your donations support such evangelism.