Pray for Bashar,refugee in Iraq

Iraqi Christians who fled so-called Islamic State (IS) had to leave everything behind. Bashar (pictured) owned a factory in Mosul, Iraq, working with his brothers. Things were going well until IS came. Soon he and his family were facing threats and harassment; some of his relatives were even kidnapped and killed.

"When the extremist movements started, we suffered from threats that led to the almost complete stop of our work," he remembers. "The situation was too difficult, especially for our wives and daughters. They had restricted their clothes, their movements… We feared for our kids."

Bashar and his family fled Mosul and went to Qaraqosh. Then they had to move again, to Duhok. But despite the upheaval, God kept Bashar and his family strong. "I teach my children that we must trust God in everything," he says. "I can trust God in all times, whether good or bad."

Thanks to your prayers and support, Bashar’s life, and the lives of his family, have been transformed – he received a microloan provided by Open Doors partners and has opened a shop. "I’m very thankful to the supporters: they don’t know me, but they trust me."

PLEASE PRAY:

Praise God for Bashar's faith - please pray that God will bless him and his business and make him a blessing to his communityFor all those who remain displaced in Iraq, that they would eventually be able to return home and heal from their difficult experiencesThat God would bring peace and stability to Iraq, following the deaths of about 100 Iraqis in the recent wave of protests.

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