I am happy to know
that there are many believers . . . [who] pray for us and [want]
to know about us and encourage us in this situation. We believe
that . . . we unite in our prayers.”
Elder, Presbyterian (Evangelical) Church of Mosul,
Iraq
Munthir Alsaqa was an elder of the Presbyterian Church in
Mosul, Iraq, like his ancestors for five generations. In late
November 2006, he was kidnapped on a Sunday after leaving church
and murdered. His son said, “He was killed because he
was a believer, honest, and loved the church; he was ready to
die for his faith and his church and [for what] God called him
to do.”
What did our brother in Christ, Munthir, do to win his death?
He did nothing more than to be a witness for peace and hope.
He did nothing more than to remain a faithful presence in Christ’s
own way.
How do we react to such brutality? Let us look to God’s
own action in Bethlehem. In the face of Herod’s bloody
reign, God sent a Prince of Peace. Let us be inspired by the
call of our Christian brothers and sisters in the Middle East
who, in the face of this tragedy, called for renewed understanding
among people of different faiths.
Let us remember the Christmas greetings that the Christians
from Mosul themselves sent to Presbyterians in the United States:
“We are very thankful to God, to know that in this time
still there is a believer who can share with us our praying
to God . . . [that] peace with love [may] come to this world.”
—Rev. Daniel Rift, executive associate pastor, Preston
Hollow Presbyterian Church, Dallas, Texas |
