Thankfully, the U.S. led "surge" in Iraq has dramatically lowered the level of violence in some areas.
However, the plight of Christians in Iraq can still be difficult and, as one Christian wrote me recently, "incredibly difficult."
That Christian is Peter Maki, executive director of the Center for Conflict Relief and Reconstruction (CCRR).
Maki also works with Canon Andrew White, known as the Vicar of Baghdad, the pastor of St. George's Church, working to help Christian families caught in the crossfire of Iraq's conflict.
Here's an excerpt from a letter Peter sent me, written by a little girl named Fulla in their church:
"…we had been robbed, our house burned, and we were facing a major crisis [sic] our father was now ill with a stroke in the brain because of worry and exhaustion…my mother had to work as she was our only means of support….I wept whenever I looked at him; his struggles with disease and death never stopped. I prayed to the lord [sic] he would get well and stand on his feet. I remember my mother was always praying and going to church to perform special prayer.Soon my father could stand on his feet, not as steady as before, but much better than we had dared to hope. My happiness increased many times when I met father [sic] Andrew, he was so considerate and treated me with such kindness, and he envelopes me with a warmth that only my father had provided. Soon he succeeded in bringing happiness and warmth into our home and proved to us that what we learned from the Gospel was true."
Earlier this year, we did an interview, posted in three parts, with Canon Andrew White. I think you will find it worth watching once more to hear about the plight of Iraqi Christians. They need the support and prayers of saints around the world.
Canon Andrew White, the Vicar of Baghdad, Part 1
Canon Andrew White, the Vicar of Baghdad, Part 2
Canon Andrew White, the Vicar of Baghdad, Part 3