My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

If you have been watching the news lately the great struggle to free the city of Mosul, Iraq is taking place. It is an answer to prayer for so many.

 

As you know, Iraq is filled with much trouble, tragedy and turmoil. Yet it was precisely into this land that Presbyterian missionaries embarked in the 1800's establishing hospitals, churches and schools.

 

Presbyterian churches are found in Iraq and they are filled with many faithful sisters and brothers as a result of those missionary efforts.

 

On a number of occasions, I have visited the Presbyterian churches and/or its congregation members found in Basrah, Baghdad, Kirkuk, Erbil and Mosul. However, I have never been able to physically venture into Mosul because the city, its people and our Presbyterian church has been under the control of ISIS (translated from the Arabic word "dash" meaning "sowers of discord").

 

The Presbyterian Church of Iraq has suffered immensely. For example, the picture on the left is of a fellow brother in Christ. The man with folded arms is Munther, the brother of Hana al Saka whom I met in Iraq. Next to him is Marilyn Borst, Associate Director of The Outreach Foundation, on whose board I serve.

 

Munther was an elder of the Presbyterian Church in Mosul. Unfortunately, a few years after this picture was taken he was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists. His bullet-riddled body was dropped off by his murderers at the emergency room of the hospital where he his son worked as a doctor.

 

Munther's story is one of thousands. However, these brothers and sisters of ours in Mosul today are seeing some light and hope with a possible return to their homes and churches.

 

The picture to the right shows some of those who are beginning to journey back into Mosul. Part of the picture includes our Outreach Foundation team that traveled to the area. On the far left is Ben McCaleb, an elder at FPC San Antonio; Mark Mueller; Staci Graham on the far right, a former mission coordinator at Peachtree Presbyterian in Atlanta, Georgia. Also on the left is the wife of one of the priests, Saleema; Marilyn Borst, Associate Director of The Outreach Foundation is in the center of the picture and another tender young priest, Father Boulos, is toward the right. Father Boulos brought us to tears as he shared his story and that of his 1,500 member displaced congregation that had to leave their homes and church in the middle of the night because of ISIS.

 

If you click on the Youtube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PezrgvJVKPs&feature=share   you will see the journey home of Father John, a Syrian Orthodox priest (with the cross at the front of the picture) whom our team met more than a year ago when we went to Northern Iraq to meet with Christians who had been displaced by ISIS.

 

These people are beginning to journey back into Mosul. Perhaps soon the Presbyterian Church of Mosul will rebuild and reopen. May it happen soon!

 

You can visit The Outreach Foundation website (www.theoutreachfoundation.org) and learn more about mission opportunities which strengthen the presence of the Church in difficult places and help alleviate the suffering of those in Iraq and around the globe.

 

Blessings!

 

Mark Mueller

Pastor/First Presbyterian Church, Valparaiso