Story number 1 for 30 May 2003

(Iraq)–We begin today in Iraq where the death toll continues to climb after a number of American troops and Iraqi citizens have been killed recently in the country. Open Doors Ministries’ Jerry Dykstra says the situation remains tense for believers in Iraq. “Right now there is a lot of really strange things going on there, people being killed, a dangerous place to be. A lot of them are hold up in their homes.” But Dykstra says the roughly 500-thousand Christians see this uncertain time as an opportunity to demonstrate their faith. And they are pleading for prayers. “Pray for a wise administration, those that are in charge of rebuilding Iraq. Safety for our visiting Christians who are there encouraging the Iraq Christians. Pray that the Iraq Christians will see hope and not be depressed.” Dykstra says believers in Iraq are concerned that the future government will be inclined to maintain persecution against them as it was under Saddam. Open Doors continues’ to provide Christian literature and training for Iraqi believers.