Middle East projects

Christians in Iraq, Syria and other countries in the Middle East are in a minority. Believers, particularly converts, face persecution from their families and communities – and are vulnerable to extremist attacks. 2024 marked ten years since so-called Islamic State (IS) invaded the region, forcing thousands of Christians to flee.

“A black day.” That’s how Rawnaq and Rawa describe the day, in 2014, when they and their young family were forced from their hometown in Iraq as IS closed in. They fled with nothing but the clothes they were wearing and their valuables. Their home had only just been built. 

“The moments of fleeing were like hell,” remembers Rawa. “It was so dark we couldn’t see ahead of us, we could barely see the other people fleeing.”

“During displacement our eyes would fill with tears when mentioning our hometown,” shares Rawaq, who found work in Erbil as a plumber. “The nostalgia for it was great no matter what happened. All our thoughts and conversations were about it.”

After long years away, the family were able to return home to their liberated city. They’re amongst the 2,283 families whose homes have been restored or repaired through the work of Open Doors local partners in Iraq, the aim being to restore hope, dignity and a sense of belonging to the places they once called. The support was also a tangible reminder that the global church had not forgotten about them, but are standing with them.

“We thank you so much,” say Rawa and Rawaq. “Without your support, we wouldn’t have restored this house. We wouldn’t have been able to fix a door even. Many people were helped through this support. Praise the Lord. Without your help, we wouldn’t be sitting here.”