Islamic State Archives

Persecuted Christians

Ano Jawhar Abdulmasih Abdoka is the new Kurdistan Regional Government Transportation and Communications minister who was sworn into office on a Bible burnt by IS in the Ninevah Plains. Ano Jawhar is standing in unity with the persecuted Christians in the region that was once occupied by ISIS forces. He is also fighting for their right to remain in the region.

“For me, as a Christian, as the only Christian minister in the new cabinet of the KRG, the Kurdistan Regional Government, I decided to swear on a Biblical manuscript, part of which was burnt by ISIS members in the Nineveh Plains,” Ano said prior to the ceremony.

New Kurdish Government

Christians have been affected by the horrible actions by IS against minorities in the region. The new government under Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has cabinet members from different minorities.

“It is a challenge that we as Christians, Chaldeans, Assyrians, and Syrians are remaining in the land of our ancestors,” Ano added. “The Nineveh Plains, Iraq, Mesopotamia, and Kurdistan are our lands, and we are remaining here with the help of our friends in the Kurdistan Region.”

The new government plans on working on regional security, economic reform, and repairing relations between KRG and the government of Iraq. May this new government be used by God to fulfill His will over this land.

Let us all stand together with our persecuted brothers and sister in IS-affected areas in prayer. Let us all pray for the Lord’s protection and security over them. Lastly, let us also pray for peace and unity in all war-afflicted countries worldwide.

This post was written by Rhoda Gayle

The number of Muslim converts to Christianity is rising in the Middle East according to a report from the Reuters news agency.

A community of Syrians who converted to Christianity from Islam is growing in Kobani, a town besieged by Islamic State for months, and where the tide turned against the militants four years ago, Emily Wither reports.

Much has changed in this Syrian town on the Turkish border. Once besieged by Islamic State the tide turned against the militants four years ago. However, their presence has had a curious effect on the local community with a group of Syrians converting from Islam to Christianity.

Islamic State hoped to destroy Christianity

This was one of the region’s minority faiths that Islamic State hoped to eradicate, but with the opening of the town’s first evangelical church last year their numbers are now growing in Kobani.

Maxim Ahmed lost an arm in an explosion in the town. He fled to Turkey for medical treatment and it was there he decided to convert from Islam. “I became a Christian there (Turkey). I’ve been a Christian for four years. It’s because of the guys (my friends) who were there with me every day that I became Christian. They showed me the ways of Jesus.”

Muslim converts to Christianity

Worshippers say the experience of war and the onslaught of a Sunni extremist group claiming to fight for Islam has pushed many people towards Christianity. The church’s pastor says many people had found a “new and loving” community amongst the congregation.

Most had become atheist or agnostic having lost their faith in religion and God during the war. But critics eye the new converts with suspicion. Accusing them of seeking personal gain such as financial help from Christian organizations working in the region. They also worry about future tension with Muslims in a country marred in recent years by sectarian and ethnic conflict. Charges denied by the Christians of Kobani.

This was not the lasting legacy Islamic State had planned as a persecuted minority flourishes in this tiny corner of the Middle East.

Islamic State's Legacy Destroyed As Syria Sees Increasing Numbers Of Muslim Converts To Christianity

Children stand together inside a damaged house in Kobani

Source: Reuters

Also read: ‘Prince Of ISIS’ Turns To Jesus After Seeing His Blood In A Dream

Islamic State

New Kurdish Government Official Swears On A Bible Burnt By ISIS

Persecuted Christians

New Kurdish Government

Islamic State’s Legacy Destroyed As Syria Sees Many Muslim Converts To Christianity

Islamic State hoped to destroy Christianity

Muslim converts to Christianity