Iraq: Despite bombing of Baghdad, Adventists attend worship services
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The bombing of Baghdad did not deter members of the local Seventh-day Adventist Church from attending weekly worship services on Saturday, the Sabbath, or from praying for peace. |
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Seventh-day Adventist Church members in Baghdad arrive for worship on a Saturday morning. (File photo.)
Nearly 200 members worship in what Michael Porter, president of the Adventist Church for the Middle East, calls one of the most architecturally striking churches in all of Iraq. (File photo.)
Night view of the Baghdad Seventh-day Adventist Church. (File photo.)
The bombing of Baghdad did not deter the members of the local Seventh-day Adventist Church from attending weekly worship services on Saturday, the Sabbath, praying for peace.
"We can report, confirmed by a phone call to Baghdad, that our church members remain safe and met on Sabbath at our church as usual," said Michael Porter, president of the Adventist church in the region, from his Nicosia headquarters. "The members are of good courage and expressed special thanks to the world church for the many prayers going up on their behalf."
One church member in Baghdad was able to speak by telephone with a sister in Nicosia, and said, "We're getting used to the bombing and know that God is in control. Don't worry too much about us." At deadline, Porter reports, there has been no damage to the church or to members' homes.
The Baghdadi believers noted a very good attendance at Sabbath worship, including visitors as well as regular members. "They were going to church because it's the same thing that was happening in 1991 ... we used to go to church every Sabbath," the member said.
Church members also expressed gratitude for the global prayer support exhibited during the current conflict.
"They said, 'Thank you very much for all the prayers.' In fact, one of the ladies said, 'We know that God ... [will] protect us. And whatever happens, we know that He still loves us," Porter told Adventist NewsLine.
One contrast between the two conflicts is that, so far, water, electricity and telephone lines remain open, where in 1991 electricity was turned off.
There are more than 200 Seventh-day Adventist members in Iraq, mostly in Baghdad. Organized in 1923, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Iraq is one of the Christian churches among 13 denominations recognized by the government. There are three Adventist congregations in the country, including one in the city of Nineveh -- famed for its visit by the reluctant Biblical prophet, Jonah.
Office personnel for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Middle East region, based in Cyprus, include several staff members whose families presently live in Baghdad. Since the war began, the office family has prayed for God?s intervention and protection in this most difficult time at their regular morning worships and again during a special prayer time at noon.
Homer Trecartin, Secretary-Treasurer for the Middle East region says, "We thank God for His protection and for the dozens of e-mails from around the world, assuring us of prayers on our behalf."
Church members in Iraq are not the only Adventists affected by the conflict. Along with United States servicemen who are deployed, there are 20 Adventist chaplains serving in the war theatre, according to Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries.
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