Iraqi Viewers Plead for Prayer
SAT-7 viewers living in Iraq send text messages asking for urgent prayer for violence in Mosul to stop.
According to published reports, at least seven Iraqi Christians have been killed in recent days and as many as 3,000 Iraqi Christians have fled the northern Iraqi city of Mosul due to severe pressure from extremists. Other reports have stated that Christian homes have been bombed and leaflets passed around threatening Christians with death unless they convert to Islam or pay a jizya tax that marks them as second-class citizens.
SAT-7
is placing on its screen special messages calling for increased prayer
for Iraqi Christians. It has also placed a message in Arabic on its
viewers website from Archbishop Youhana Ibrahim, Head of the Syrian
Orthodox Church and SAT-7 Board member asking for urgent prayer, the
translation of which reads; This is a heartfelt call of brotherly
love, spurred by the teachings from Heaven, to put an end to the
horrifying massacre of Christians in Iraq.. Let us maintain the right
to co-exist together in the same homeland.
SAT-7 has also received an email from a pastor in Iraq, who has hosted programs on the channel, saying; We’re
sending an S.O.S prayer so the terrorists who think what they’re doing
is for God will wake up and know the real God. We’re also praying that
Christians will get closer to Jesus. And for the many families who have
lost loved ones, houses and money, to never forget that, no matter what
we lose, we’ll still have the places Jesus is preparing for us in
Heaven. The pastor went on to say that many Christians in Iraq are
asking for others to join them in three days of prayer and fasting for
the situation.
Government officials have stated that they are sending in additional police to help with the situation. SAT-7 is very concerned about Christians living in Iraq, especially in Mosul, and will continue to ask viewers to pray for the situation until it improves.