Sunday, August 16, 2015
Iraqi Christian Radio Reaches Millions Amid ISIS Threat
WASHINGTON -- Iraq is considered one of the
most dangerous countries in the world for
Christians.
Some two-thirds of its once large Christian
population have fled the country in the past 12
years alone.
And even in cities not controlled by ISIS, like
Baghdad, Islamic jiahdists have placed a
bullseye on the backs of believers in Jesus.
Most of Baghdad's Christians have fled the
endless violence. But one Iraqi pastor has not only stayed behind -- he's
leading Iraq's first Christian radio station.
"When we started this project, it was a pioneering project," Pastor Maher
Fouad told CBN News. "No one ever applied for a radio station in the history of Iraq, especially a Christian radio station."
Pastor Maher leads Baghdad's New Testament Baptist Church. He told
CBN News he founded 102.9 FM in Baghdad a decade ago to reach
Iraqis with the Gospel.
"During the time, violence was a major problem in Baghdad, with the
sounds of explosions and car bombs," Pastor Maher said. "And out of
all these radio stations that broadcast violence and negative news, our
radio station appeared broadcasting the Gospel and the Good News of
Jesus Christ."
Since then, the violence hasn't stopped -- and neither has Pastor Maher.
The station's daily programing now reaches up to 8 million people in and
around Baghdad.
"I pray publicly on our radio station so all the Iraqis will hear it." he said.
"Not only Christians but also Muslims call us live on the air requesting
that we pray for them."
His bold stance has brought countless death threats -- and with ISIS
declaring war on Christians, things have only become more dangerous.
"The situation here in Baghdad is not only bad, it is very bad," Pastor
Maher told CBN News. "When ISIS occupied Ramadi, we became in
danger because Ramadi is not very far away from Baghdad. On one
side, we have ISIS threatening us. And the second danger we face is
from car bombs and explosions."
But Pastor Maher remains on the air and he's spreading the message
beyond Baghdad. In 2010, with the help of U.S.-based High Adventure
Ministries, he established another Christian radio station in Basra, in
southern Iraq. That station can be heard as far away as neighboring
Kuwait and Iran.
"We rejoice because many, many people are listening and receiving the
message and are responding to the message of the Gospel," Pastor
Maher said.
In the meantime, he says he has no plans to leave Iraq.
"The Lord protected us," he declared. "And I believe the Lord will protect
us also in the coming days."
Web page converted to PDF with the PDFmyURL PDF creation API!
5
He says thousands of Iraqi Christian refugees need aid -- and he's
praying the U.S. government and the American Church will step up to
help as ISIS continues to wreak havoc.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment