By Vanessa Rodriguez , Christian Examiner.
Screen shot Fox News On the Record Iraqi Catholic nun, Sister Diana Momeka, was among more than 120,000 Christians forced to flee northern Iraq last summer upon ISIS occupation of Mosul and the Nineveh Plain. Countless of the refugees remain in makeshift homes in Kurdistan, awaiting the opportunity to return to their homes.
Targeted threats to wipe out Christianity in the Middle East are successfully eliminating the faith from its birthplace.
Islamic extremism is the main source of hostility in nations where the most severe persecution is seen, according to an annual World Watch List, released earlier this year by the non-profit organization Open Door. The list ranks the top 50 countries where it is most dangerous and difficult to be a Christian.
Specifically, attacks by the Islamic State (ISIS) and other Islamic terrorists in Iraq and Syria have resulted in “a mass exodus of Christians,” Open Door revealed in the report. The organization also suggested this year’s historic levels of Christian persecution are precursory to even greater oppression.
Since 2003, more than 70 percent of Christians have fled Iraq. In Syria, reportedly more than 700,000 Christians have left the country since 2011.
One non-profit founder Charles Vella, of the Cana Movement, wrote a commentary condemning the overall silence of the Western world regarding the dwindling presence of Christianity at the hands of persecution.
“Sixty years ago, 20 percent of the population in the Middle East was Christian. This has been reduced to less than five per cent, and they will rapidly vanish if nothing is done,” Vella wrote.
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With (the current President) in the White House, what did you expect? Last week, Obama signaled to the world he didn’t plan any action whatsoever; he plans to do nothing, and let the next president deal with the Middle East, along with domestic social and fiscal issues. Pray with fervor for peace and justice in the Middle East (and the United States); and pray for our nation’s leaders to show sound judgement. Christian leaders around the nation must organize a massive protest at the White House to show our deep concern.
Prayer hasn’t helped. Prayer didn’t stop the decapitation of Christian children in Mosul and elsewhere. Prayer didn’t stop the machine-gunning of Yazidi men, women & children. Prayer didn’t stop the kidnapping and rape of countless women & girls…
Prayer didn’t stop the malnutrition and ruination of millions of refugee lives in Syria & Iraq (Muslim, Yazidi, Assyrian, Christian, etc.). . .
Prayer hasn’t stopped Boko Haram in Nigeria, Pakistani church bombings, Egyptian church burnings, and all the innumerable evil actions of men against civilians of all kinds.. . .
What is needed is MONEY, to provide real tangible help for displaced & persecuted persons. The UN published info last November and earlier this year that the total amount of money from all countries and sources fell short of the needs of refugees for the first time since WWII? (not sure of date?). . .
You’ve read James’ comment that faith without works is useless (2:20) or dead (2:26). . .
A corollary to that is: “Prayer without money is useless”. . .
I read in another source that American Christians spend more money on their dogs than on helping their persecuted brethren in the world. .
There are many places to Donate… One is Outreach Fdn. Others that help the persecuted are:
International Christian Concern @ http://www.persecution.org/
. . . and also Voice of the Martyrs @:
http://www.persecution.com/
Prayer always helps. Never stop praying. The Good Book also orders us to take action, in faith, in accordance with God’s Word. Faith in action does include self defense and other measures to protect ourselves. The word ‘faith’ can have many meanings. It can be a verb, noun, adjective and so forth.