ABWE Feature Story
Reaching Out in Love to Iraq
Over the past weeks, the news media has deluged us with heartbreaking images and horror-filled stories from Iraq. The most moving of those stories describe the terror of living under a tyrannical dictator such as Saddam Hussein.
On a recent CNN news program, Larry King interviewed several religious leaders on the question of the morality of war. Among the guests were Dr. John MacArthur and Dr. Bob Jones III. Dr. MacArthur stressed that this war was not a “crusade”: it was being led by secular, political leaders, not by the religious community, and certainly not by the Christian community. We couldn't agree more!
Throughout ABWE's 75-year history, we have sought not to take political positions but instead to generously demonstrate the love and compassion of Jesus Christ to those on all sides of conflict, regardless of their religious or political background. This was the case during World War II; the fall of communism in Eastern Europe; conflicts in Bosnia, Albania, and Serbia; the war on terror in Afghanistan; and now in Iraq.
We know that people under regimes or in wartime have often been deceived by their leadership through a controlled media. However, we have seen over and over again that the love of God can be expressed with a human face and with human hands. Our missionaries have seen truth overcome lies as people on all sides of a conflict allow God's Word to bring reconciliation, forgiveness, and healing under nearly impossible circumstances. Pray for the people of Iraq, that God will bring them both physical and spiritual healing.
ABWE is particularly interested in doing what we can to help relieve the suffering and the needs of the elderly, the orphans, and the widows in Iraq, in the name of Jesus Christ, whom even Islam regards as a holy prophet. ABWE is assembling a relief team to assess the situation in Iraq and discover the very best way we can fulfill the Scripture found in James 1:27, “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress...”
In the hopes of not only bringing relief aid to Iraq but also developing an ongoing presence for the gospel in Iraq for years to come, we are starting an IRAQ RELIEF FUND. Watch our website for upcoming announcements on this project, or contribute online.
Thank you for standing with us in prayer and financial support during these days of unprecedented opportunity.
Dr. Michael G. Loftis
President, ABWE