URGENT PRAYER REQUEST FOR MISSIONARIES IN IRAQ

[Philip]

Guys, I rarely ever forward things I can't authenticate. But this afternoon I was forwarded an urgent request for prayer by a guy in my church, for missionaries in Iraq that are in a city captured by ISIS. They apparently going door to door, killing all Christian children who will not renounce faith in Jesus. Looking at today's horrific headlines coming out of Iraq, I've no doubt this communication is true. Please pray! This is evil like the world hasn't seen in quite a while.

Thanks,
Philip


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[Masaki: ] I received this from a friend this morning. Please pray for these missionaries. Thank You, Cindy

Dear All,
I have received these two emails from our missionary friends, one yesterday and one this morning. I just wanted to pass it on so that as many people as possible can pray specifically for our brothers and sisters. Much love and blessings



This is so sad...
A friend just got a text message from her brother asking her to shower him and his parish in prayer. He is part of a mission and ISIS has taken over the town they are in today. He said ISIS is systematically going house to house to all the Christians and asking the children to denounce Jesus. He said so far not one child has. And so far all have consequently been killed. But not the parents. The UN has withdrawn and the missionaries are on their own. They are determined to stick it out for the sake of the families - even if it means their own deaths. He is very afraid, has no idea how to even begin ministering to these families who have seen their children martyred. Yet he says he knows God has called him for some reason to be his voice and hands at this place at this time. Even so, he is begging prayers for his courage to live out his vocation in such dire circumstances. And like the children accept martyrdom if he is called to do so. She asked me to ask everyone we know to please pray for them. These brave parents instilled such a fervent faith in their children that they chose martyrdom. Please surround them in their loss with your prayers for hope and perseverance.
She was able to talk to her brother briefly by phone. She didn't say it but I believe she believes it will be their last conversation. Pray for her too. She said he just kept asking her to help him know what to do and do it. She told him to tell the families we ARE praying for them and they are not alone or forgotten -- no matter what. Her e mail broke my heart. Please keep all in your prayers. Thanks

This came this morning... Just a few minutes ago I received the following text message on my phone from Sean Malone who leads Crisis Relief International (CRI). We then spoke briefly on the phone and I assured him that we would share this urgent prayer need with all of our contacts.
"We lost the city of Queragosh (Qaraqosh). It fell to ISIS and they are beheading children systematically. This is the city we have been smuggling food too. ISIS has pushed back Peshmerga (Kurdish forces) and is within 10 minutes of where our CRI team is working. Thousands more fled into the city of Erbil last night. The UN evacuated it's staff in Erbil. Our team is unmoved and will stay. Prayer cover needed!"
Please pray sincerely for the deliverance of the people of Northern Iraq from the terrible advancement of ISIS and its extreme Islamic goals for mass conversion or death for Christians across this region. May I plead with you not to ignore this email.
Do not forward it before you have prayed through it. Then send it to as many people as possible. Send it to friends and Christians you may know. Send it to your prayer group. Send it to your pastor and phone him/her to pray on Sunday during the service - making a special time of prayer for this. We need to stand in the gap for our fellow Christians.

Love, light and blessings

Jean Lesley

[melanie]

The situation is very dire for Christians and we should be keeping them in our prayers and In our hearts.
This request went out from Sean Malone in August, I have attached a link. It had been circulating for the last couple of months. I have done some research to see if there is any proof that has surfaced in that time since and I have been unable to find any except the picture as stated in the article that had been circulating with the request and it has been proven to be a picture from a child beheaded in Syria in 2013. This is obviously terribly sad and heartbreaking and should never occur, but im not sure of the authenticity of the request. In Saying that, Christians and otherwise living under this evil regime should be kept always in our prayers.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/prayer/seanmalone.asp

[Philip]

Melanie, thanks for tracking that down. I should have searched Snopes. Unfortunately, we know that this evil entity is marauding across Northern Iraq and that they have butchured many people and that there are missionaries and their families in dire danger. The Kurds are also right in the thick of this madness. These madmen won't stop until they meet serious opposition. So while the email may not be accurate, it is likely swerving pretty close to what is happening in other places and in similar ways. My impression was that there was a connection at my church between someone who actually was in contact with missionaries in Iraq. I only wish the situation as described was so ridiculous as no one would have given it one serious thought. Unfortunately, we all know it could have well be true, and probably is in various ways.

[melanie]

I agree, sadly it is very plausible that this kind of thing could occur. The missionaries have placed themselves in a very dangerous situation and this should be a reminder to us to keep them in our prayers.

[1over137]

I will pray for people there.