Tragedy in BaghdadCanon Andrew White - 25 Oct 2010
The pain of the past week is just too severe to mention in full. There are only some things I can share, but please know there are certain things that are too painful, difficult and delicate for me to write about here.
A few weeks ago 24-7 Prayer posted a blog urging prayer to stop the burning of a Koran by an American pastor. The piece carried a warning from Canon Andrew White, familiarly known as the Vicar of Baghdad, of likely repercussions for Christians in Muslim countries. In this heart rending article (originally written as a letter to supporters) Andrew gives us an insight into the vulnerable life of a church of Iraqis in the ‘Red Zone’ of Baghdad.
As usual the services all weekend were wonderful. I so love these people and they love me. It's a perfect love that casts out all fear and it's that love that keeps us all going.
There are times, though, when you think and wonder just how much more pain will there be. The threats against us have been growing. In the last week we have heard from both the British Embassy and Iraqi Army Intelligence that there are specific plots to target St George's. An army Colonel came to see me to explain that this is still linked to the threat of the Florida pastor to burn the Koran. The fact that it did not happen means nothing to the extremists here.
Then we heard that young Salam had been tragically killed. He was just 18. I loved him and all his family so much. I remember so well his first communion 4 years ago. I remember how he used to come and help us at the church but most of all I remember how he loved God. We dedicated our service yesterday afternoon to the remembrance of Salam and to our Lord who he is now with. After the service I sat with his family, held them and together we cried. Salam was not the first of his siblings to die; the same happened to his older brother.
The pain of this place may be great but at no time have I ever thought of not continuing. Despite the pain, tragedy and difficulty our Lord is always here with us. He always surrounds us with his love and his angels. People regularly say that they pray that peace will come to this land and it will all be wonderful. To be honest with you, I never think that or expect it. I continue to work for peace and always will; our Lord told us to. Our Lord also told us what it would be like in the last days. For us we are there. On Friday one of our young people said to me "Jesua is like an Iraqi. He said he was coming back soon and we have been waiting for 2010 years". I told her that that to Him, a thousand years is like a day. Now though I really do think it will be soon.
I will soon be travelling to America to receive this year's International Civil Courage prize from the Train Foundation. There are more details about my travels on the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in The Middle East FRRME website.
With every blessing from Baghdad.
Picture Credit FRRME
Please pray for Salam’s family, Rev. White and St George’s church in Baghdad as they grieve Salam’s death, that they might know the love of Christ in their place of suffering. You may also like to get involved in praying for and supporting the church and the work of the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (FRRME). You can do that and sign up to receive a weekly update and prayer requests on their website.
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