July 4th in Iraq – Of Freedom (part two)

It seems entirely appropriate to share with you that we celebrate a great milestone today.

After a series of meetings and the stubborn reluctance of the regional government to grant us approval to utilize the local indigenous church to rescue orphans, we have been given initial permission to do so in a limited geographical area. To our knowledge, no other Christian NGO has received such consent.

This wasn’t achieved easily. Our hosts’ acute understanding of the various political structures, centers of power and influence, and knowledge of the ‘right people’ yielded this surprisingly quick result.

Powerful tribal leaders were made aware of our goal. In addition to circumventing the willful and often corrupt government bureaucracy, they threatened to advocate the request all the way to the Prime Minister himself. In addition, a town mayor in their jurisdiction is not only allowing this project, but has offered to donate land to the church to help bring it to fruition. This is unheard of. It is a 99.99% Muslim area yet, even though they know that Christians will be raising their orphaned children, they are welcoming our project with open arms and humble assistance.

Letters of representation have been offered. Powers of attorney have been granted. Freedom for orphans has been set in motion.

We are not naïve to the potential pitfalls, and our due diligence processes will still have a lot to evaluate and protect against, but we are very, very encouraged indeed.

After a meeting with our host pastor last night, we also feel that the doors to Baghdad are opening through these relationships. We are now envisioning a broad strategic placement of 20 to 40 church-based homes for the orphans of Iraq. The church and home will occupy the same building in each of these cases.

Stay tuned and keep praying. Much is happening. The world’s current flashpoint for freedom is also kindling a spark that can be fanned into flames to liberate the lives – and souls – of many parentless and discarded Iraqi children, children that will be sent out as missionaries to a land in need of God’s healing, God’s freedom.

(Images: Children of Iraq)

Comments

[Tina]

This is such wonderful and encouraging news. I have been praying each day and checking this blog. My husband and I have been reading it together and can't wait to see what it says daily. I am so thankful that God's favor is so much upon you there. My husband is from Iran and was raised Muslim but is now a follower of Christ as well. We are rejoicing in this truly. Blessings and peace,
Tina

[Daleea]

Let the walls fall down Lord... He is doing a miraculous work in Iraq... Good news indeed!

[Marcello]

THAT IS AWESOME!!! Praise the Lord! Wow, this really should be acknowledged in the history of World Orphans as a wonderful milestone to reach. Praise the Lord.
m

[don weidenweber]

it pains me to be a naysayer, but i find this venture in iraq to be unwise. it reminds me of the christian church in kabul back in the mid seventies which ended up being burned down and the afghans then were not nearly as radical as the opposition in iraq. my heart goes out to these children, but i believe we should use our limited resources to help in areas of the world where we have a reasonale chance for successfully raising them. wisdom should trump emotion and wait on the Lord for opportunites rather than force our desires into the devil's back yard. yours in Christ, don w