Reverend Ben Cooper: 0:20

Good morning and welcome. Thank you so much for joining us morning for this podcast wherever you are across the earth this morning, you're joining myself, Reverend Ben Cooper and Sandra Robson. As we look at the world of the suffering Church, the persecuted church. And we are diving straight in, we got a recap. Sandra is with us today we're looking at the Middle East to field workers, and some other areas. And we'll see what's happening. We're going to go maybe going to Syria and Iraq a few updates here and there. So I'll hand you over to Sandra this morning. But wherever you are today, I pray that all is well. In the mighty name of Jesus and you never give up God is good, all things are possible. To those who believe may God bless you and strengthen you. And Sondra Good morning.

Sandra Robson: 1:00

Good morning. We're off we're in? Yes, a bit chillier

Reverend Ben Cooper: 1:04

seasons are changing. Yeah, in more ways than one, we're seeing some certain seasons change within the UK, spiritually and physically. And with the weather as well Sandra, right, let's go. Let's get pick it straight up and get straight in there's quite a bit to tear through this morning, as they say, let's have a look.

Sandra Robson: 1:25

So just to recap what we were talking about last time, because I wasn't able to be here the other week, and we might have forgotten. And so we were looking at Help The Persecuted. And we found out that they mainly work in the Middle East. So they are another organization. So basically, during the summer, I was looking at other organizations, so I was gave an update of some things issues that are happening. And then we looked at different other organizations that support Christians who are being persecuted. And that one particularly was the Middle East. And we had some amazing stories and we heard of a guy who was living in his car. And because the you know, his family and and the community are cut off all his means of income, because of his stand for Jesus in a Madonna, predominantly Muslim area and country and because you know, Christianity is seen as a Western religion is promoted as something that is anti to that country. You know, people are encouraged, and families and everybody to, you know, completely ostracize and distance themselves. So, we looked at the work to help and it was field workers, we looked at those people who are on the ground helping and safe houses, because as I say, you know, some people feel that these people are apostates and they shouldn't be living. Yes. And, you know, and other aid. And this particular organization talked about the three R's, rescue, restore and rebuild. And then I was looking for a verse, and we had one verse about all that they were giving up, and you know, to follow Christ and to, you know, take up your cross and follow him. But the other verse that I, that I did find was, so Jesus answered and said, Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or wife or children or lands, for my sake and the Gospel, who shall not receive a hundredfold now, this time, houses and brothers and sisters, and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions and in the age to come eternal life. So that is the promise. And we could certainly see that people had lost houses and brothers and sisters and fathers and mothers, either by death or by them saying, you are no longer my son because you have gone away from our beliefs. And you know, you're so and then God says He will look after us by and then I think the brothers and sisters and mothers are to do with the church and the church, then taking on that role, like we were talking about, you know, that we need to the Lord said about, you know, caring for the family of Christ. Yes. And so in that in what he's saying is that he has given us the rest of the body who are free at this time and in giving him freedom. Oh, To give these houses so those are the safe houses to, to be a brother or a sister or a mother. You know, and and the I know that I'm going to talk to you about how the centers of hope are giving hope to women who, you know, have become widows through the war and the things that have happened, and how they're now looking after children, how they're now part of children's outreach and and other women who have come to the Lord through what's happened, and lands. So there is that, but it also says persecutions will still be there, until we go to glory, and still the new, you know, the age to come and eternal life. So I just thought that just, you know, brings things into perspective. And we're going to talk about Syria and Iraq. Now, Syria is now at 15. And Iraq is at 14, but for 10 years, they have known conflict. And, of course, we've heard of ISIS, and they particularly wanted to get rid of Christians out of out of these countries. And they wanted to set up a caliphate, which is an Islamic state, and whether they believe that they're bringing in Isa. And so I mean, I remember that we, you know, had an open day to talk about persecuted church, and we particularly focused, we did, yes, and it was horrific, what happened, and they put signs on people's doors to say they were a Christian. And so they, you know, they are they, if they didn't get out, they were told they would be killed. And they just took over all their property and everything, and they just had to flee for their lives. And so we're going to look at what has happened six years on, thankfully that, you know, they've been pushed out, but not completely, still there. And there's still problems. Number 15 is number 15. Something better, but there's still problems, there's still, you know, there's still violence, the there's still unrest on the borders, you've got problems with Turkey, and the Kurdish in Iraq is so still dangerous. But people have gone back. They believe that God wants them to go back to their land, and particularly Open Doors ran a campaign to help with this. And it was called hope for the Middle East. And so they wanted to update us on that. So I'll just give you a brief overview of Syria and Iraq first, and then I'll go into their report. So Syria, Christians in Syria still grapple with daily persecution, despite the public threat from so called Islamic state having largely subdued in areas where Islamic extremist groups are active, any public expression of faith is dangerous. Church leaders offering frequently abducted and church buildings have often been completely destroyed. Even Christian, every Christian in Syria lives with the knowledge that Islamic extremists have not necessarily left Syria. They are they have retreated into the shadows. So and then, in a rack, Richards 14. Iraq continues to be plagued by conflict. This gravely affects the country's Christians with many displaced following bombings. Many Christians are also seriously affected by intolerance and persecution. This is perpetuated mostly by militant Islamic groups and non Christian leaders, and they face discrimination from government authorities. Christians from a Muslim background continue to experience pressure, they often keep their faith as secret as they risk being threatened by family members, clan leaders and their local community. So that is the background. But we'll see what what's happening and how there may be some of you who got involved in this campaign. And you know, there was a petition and 808,172 people from 100 and 43 countries signed a petition on behalf of Christians in Syria and Iraq. And that came here and the government looked at it, and, you know, pledged support, and other people also. So it really was, you know, highlighted what was going on at the time. This, so

Reverend Ben Cooper: 10:25

shows that 100 150,000 remain out of full 42 point 6 million people, a small percentage, right, a lot of just 4% of the country's population. So the lot of prayer needed for them.

Sandra Robson: 10:43

It's a very, it's a small now a much smaller church. But the church that is happening in places where it wasn't before. And it's a much stronger church, and it's a more diverse church. And it's a lot of people who were Muslims who saw what happened, who then turned to Christ, even fighters turn to Christ. But there was still big issues. But one thing that happened was the centers of hope. And so I'm just going to read a bit about that. So one, one of the field workers for open doors, he is involved with this. A Thomas. And so how do you hope for the Middle East begin? So so there's the crisis in Syria escalated. And during the rise of the so called Islamic State in Iraq, there was a clear plea from the church leaders to come alongside them. We brought a team together, including external experts. I asked them what the biggest issue was, and the answer was hope. The church and society needs hope. So and then they prayed about it, they realized that that needed to be a multi layered campaign and support and emergency relief. And so said over the six years, how the centers have developed, came across leaders with visions amid horror, they created conditions for families to return and to rebuild. This is where the idea was born churches as a place where people receive hope, again, because the churches were absolutely burnt out member. I mean, they, you know, they they desecrated the churches, and they use them as, you know, firing ranges and everything. I mean, it's absolutely appalling. The state though the places you know, when, when they left, this is where the church is now building hope, again, through prayer, pastoral counseling, Bible teaching, on suffering, giving food packages, and they've already distributed 1 million food packages in Syria. Absolutely amazing, terrible, terrible poverty. Now, economic collapse. They started with a goal of 60 centers of hope, and now they have 160. And they're aiming to have even more 126 and they're hoping to do in the future. And one of the bishops, says you are the oxygen in our lungs. And what is the future for the Middle East. I know for sure that our work has contributed to people staying the church has become smaller, but it is still vibrant. We strongly believe that the role of the church will remain God will keep his remnants. The church was born in the Middle East and the church will be there to convey the love of God to Muslims. I was speechless when I walked into a church service with only believers from a Muslim background from Syria. They all went through war killings being expelled from their families. They were sitting there with sincerity and calmness, worshiping the Lord hearing from the Bible. I knew this place was a center of hope for them.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 14:21

Brilliant. You can find pastor Edwin, he's got almost just a free minute video and it's on the Open Doors website. You can find it it's pretty easy to find. Just go into Syria, just scroll through and click through and you'll find him. And it's quite an interesting read of everything that Sandra is is pulling out there. There's a lot of stuff for Sunday's reading that I'm just exploring it myself and seeing what's going on. But he's got a great, great story. There's a good good video then it talks and tells you about Pastor Ed would and how long this campaign has been running and I think it's about six years and it's six years growing, growing and it's growing. So prayer is needed, you know, COVID-19 out of Bit of an impact by the looks of it. But as Sandra was saying it was just absolutely flat and absolutely just completely flattened to the floor. But then they'll churches, but coming back God, God always moves in in darkness. So the church in the Middle East is a light in the darkness as a great little article there. We've got quite a lot on pastor Edward, there's a lot of stuff there, you can find that quite easily. But also is the percentage of Christians as well, the population of 1919 point 6,638,000 Christians. So they're growing, they are growing.

Sandra Robson: 15:41

Yeah. And you think of where they're fishing? They've gone into other countries. Yeah. And they're spreading the message. So although it's very sad, and they said it was like hemorrhaging, you know, the church was hemorrhaging. Oh, you know, God, you know, has those people in other places, some of them are still in great difficulty in other countries. Some of them have come gone to America and other places. And they are a vibrant community. And they are showing, you know, Christ in other places. But yes, it's a new, a new church that is emerging there, in the Middle East, in these countries in Iraq and in Syria. And they say, We are ambassadors for Christ. So I was looking for that verse, and it's two Corinthians 520. And it says, Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us, we implore you, on Christ's behalf to be reconciled to God. And that's what they're saying, that's what they're doing. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. And that's what they found. And so six years on gifts and prayers are making a huge difference to the lives of many men and women who faithfully follow Jesus no matter the cost. And as I just said, that was Pastor Ed was saying the church was bleeding, and decades of persecution, war and pandemic. And yes, we've lost 60% of our members. And a lot of those were in positions of leadership. And many regions were targeted by Islamic State losing jobs, homes, and even their lives. And they had to flee. And just, you know, summer abroad, as he says, but some decided to stay.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 17:37

And what it says there, I've just picked up a slight bit that says a Christian woman who convert from married to a Muslim is likely to face divorce and losing custody of their children. According to the Sharia law, that is Islamic law dictates the right and given to the Muslim parent. So as soon as someone, obviously the women here that crossover from Islam, to Christianity, they lose their right by by their law, by that law of being the parent. So automatically, they they get ostracized from the family, from the home life, and then also a bigger impact is taken to lose their children. So they've they're losing everything. And it says every Christian in Syria lives with a constant realisation that Islamic extremists have not necessarily left Syria. So they're always looking over their back. They're always, always looking in the shadows and looking in the shadows to they're trying to assess they're trying to turn and get back to public life again. And I'm very hopeful for the future. So this is a good good bit of news this morning that there is an upturn, there is a move past redwood, we we lift you up in prayer, and everybody's involved in that ministry, what's going on there to rebuild and centers of hope in the Middle East. And may God bless the work that they are doing out there. But it's a great article to read. It's on open doors. And that's that is on number 15 In The World Watch List and or you can go to number 14, and then have a look at Iraq as well. Sandra good stuff.

Sandra Robson: 19:21

Yeah. So I mean, like saying that they gained respect, because you said we stayed with a message of light. When the embassies or the nations close their doors, we gained a lot of respect from the whole community. People were touched by the fact that the church remained. Yes, it is tough and experiences the painful but at the same time, the Lord has His divine project. We are somehow instruments in his hands to complete this project. And then it talks about a lady because this was the thing they said that people who were well off and you know, have been brought down to poverty and she He, she says said I lived in a comfortable middle class area and had everything I needed. And overnight it all change gone. We had a big house and olive fields, and we had enough money to buy two houses. We had a driving school where 50 cars, wow. Yeah, life was really good. And then she said the bombing started. And then they started to threaten people in our village. And then she said her cousin was killed. And then they had to run, she was afraid that her husband would be killed to lost everything. So she says 20 Christians in her village were killed. And I can't go back and that Islamic extremists have taken over our house. And yeah, so she says, Now we have helped with everything to make a life again. So mattresses, blankets, gas, just everything food packages, they're completely dependent. But she is one that is now working for the church supporting and the children in the center for hope. So she said, You know, I have a job at the center of Hope helping in the children's ministry, I'm working on the bus that picks children up at their homes and gets the children safely back. After that attend. They've attended their activities, education at schools in Syria is very bad. The center of Hope offers extra tuition for free, that is very important. So there's lots of different angles, you know, so there's, there's the feeding elderly, they're bringing the elderly together, they're helping with the children, though, particularly pastor bridges, set up a clinic and called Jesus the light of the world. And he says it serves 1500 people a month, both Christian and Muslim. So that's another thing when we say about giving to Christian charities they give to everybody, you know, but but they're directed by, by Jesus in and you know, and they're, but they're sharing love with the whole community. And then that's how then people see, you know, that the reality of Christianity rather than what they've been told and what they've, you know, been told to believe. I

Reverend Ben Cooper: 22:32

think it's sowing the seeds. Understanding where you got to sow the seed. Yeah, and it definitely financial seed. And also prayer. Prayer is really, really powerful. You know, if you're, if you're looking thinking, Well, I'm a bit stretched financially, how else can I help? Very simply, on open doors, they've got a fair about fair, a lot of sorry, they got a lot of information on prayer resource. I've got the World Watch List, they got the weekly prayer email, they got the prayer for Ukraine, periphery, Afghanistan, that goes down prayer diary, and help to pray for children. So if you are financially stretched, and a new are also given in other areas, you know, continue to pray, you know, we really know the power of prayer, and the prayer and brother Andrew speaks about there's a small article on prayer and another small video that you can watch for like almost just four minutes or so to be bold in faith to be prayerful to be pressing in prayer. You know, so there's many ways that you can support these ministers. But as Sandra says, it talks about charity, charity, love, you know, one Corinthians talks about that, about love and charity. And giving now is a time we're all stretched, we're all stretched financially. We're all going through the hardship and seeing the increase of rain going on. But, but prayer is free. Prayer is very, very powerful, as we know, so we can pray for Iraq. We can pray for Syria, we can we can pray for Afghanistan, and all that sort of stuff. So there's a lot of resources that we can tap into. If we feel that we are stretched too financially, in giving in other ministries, that's fine, perfect. Praise God and hallelujah for that. But prayer, prayer, prayer, prayer, prayer is is the way forward. And also, there's a small part of the bottom of the open doors, it says open doors, to work through local partners to support local church in Iraq with training, trauma care, Bibles, and Christian books, livelihood projects, help to rebuild homes, churches and crisis relief. So you can tap into that as well. There's so much so much you can get on open doors, where else we go and so on. There we go.

Sandra Robson: 24:52

I mean, just like you said about prayer. I mean, there's, I think there's a lovely thing they're doing now, because it was a seven years project that campaign. And now they, they're, you know, so we had the position of a million voices. Now they want 1 million prayers of hope. So it's interesting, you just, were talking about prayer. And this is lovely visual thing that if you go on to their website and make hope last, yeah, so open doors uk.org/make Hope last, you can say a prayer for for Syria and Iraq, just a short prayer, you're either the one that's there, or just a short prayer, and then you click a button. And, and then a light shows up on a map, they've got a map, and they want to show the people in Iraq and Syria, they've got access to this app. And they can see all the lights all across all different countries, and this here, and so you put in your nearest town or city, so you say the prayer, and then you just put your name, you don't put many details at all, you just put your name, and then click on your nearest town or city, I think that's what I did or put in your postcode. Or, and it'll tell you, and then it will put a little light near to where you are. And so each time you say a prayer, then there's a light going on there. And so I can't remember for how long they're doing this, I think it's up to Christmas, might be longer than that. But it's they're wanting to reach 1 million prayers of hope. And the idea is you're you know, they're encouraging you to pray every day. But it's just a short thing. But it's a visual thing. And I just thought was so beautiful, because I did it just to see how it worked. And, and yeah, this you know, the light come comes up and there's like all these dots and it's all

Reverend Ben Cooper: 27:07

on it. Now. I'm actually I'm in it. Now, this moment is really, really interesting. really lights up, it's really simple to get into. And the Sandra said it's very easy to find, it's well worth doing because it opens up that light. And it's 1 million prayers of hope. Just clicking the bottom, click straight in and it takes you straight in. And it says let's unite the world in prayer for the Middle East and very, very clever.

Sandra Robson: 27:34

To see that I can impact them. Yeah, we, you know, we are praying for Yeah, we're praying. And they're praying for us to that's what we have to remember that these, these people, you know, are praying for us. And as pastor Edwards says, Here, we belong to the larger body of Christ, your support makes it possible to bring the light of Christ further. So that is brilliant Syria, about wants to go to Iraq, because we were very involved in in this, as I say we did some projects. And one of the ones we did was to build a house for Noah. And at the time, we were doing that he's 12 years old, and he had just gone back to his home and found it absolutely burnt out. And he was standing in the ashes of his bedroom. And they challenged us to raise money by building a Lego house.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 28:32

I remember.

Sandra Robson: 28:34

So that's what we did. And we then sent the money and then No, presented the hope for the Middle East petition to the UN. That's how far it went. Yeah, yeah, it was went to the UN. So it was high profile. Everybody knew about it. 2017. And whether through that little, you know, every little that everybody gave, and Noah and hundreds of other families have really been able to return to carnales their town, and being able to rebuild and repair their homes and food aid and trauma training and counseling has been provided. Now I'm at the age of 12. Noah said he wants to be a teacher. But now he's 18. And the reality is he can't be a teacher at the moment. Because, you know, there's just not the opportunities at all right? And so he's a shepherd. So he's now a shepherd, and he enjoys playing football and he says, I've made new friends. It's a good, good to live here. But there are no job opportunities. For this reason people think to go for work in other places. So that's a real problem amongst young people that they're leaving because they just don't see a future And the other thing I think is quite sad. He says, he says, So said, I can't be a teacher, there's a lack of opportunities. And so I've had to rethink our opportunities here are very few, most of the young people here want to become soldiers. For the future. My dream is to become a soldier. Only the soldiers here are living well. So I pray that that will change. Yeah, I pray that he, you know, I think being a shepherd is a wonderful thing. Because you know, Jesus was, you know, he's our good shepherd. And we think about David in the hills, and I'm sure Noah's gonna learn a lot through being a shepherd is a very important thing. And to be looking after the livestock there, and perhaps he will become a teacher to help people in like agriculture. Who knows, but I pray that God will really work through this young man and another's, obviously in his in his village. So despite the challenges Noah faces, he says, I love my home, our home is here. So we want to come back to Carmel, it's our village, we came back to rebuild and stay, Jesus is very important, important for us, He saves us and he leads us back here safely. So as I as a shepherd again, this, you know, the Jesus being a being the shepherd. And, yeah, so and his mum says, you know, that she's grateful to be there, but it's very hard. And reality, that's the reality for these people, but they haven't given up, never give up, keep keeping on. And, you know, a lot of things are good things have been done. There's things here, you know, about how the money has been given for small businesses to be made. And there's something in the world watch list, top 50 booklet. And this guy, Joseph, he's, he's from Syria says Open Door works through local churches. And he says, the money you are donating is truly saving families from underneath the ashes, you are giving a dose of hope and optimism to broken and exhausted people. And he's been able to set up a little business, so little grocery business. And so he's starting to feed the people. And then the other side of it, as we've said about the press is about speaking out as well, which was quite challenging, do not be afraid to keep on speaking Do not be silent X, AC nine, and apparently, some people in Iraq have taken up that call, and to come against discrimination and to know that about their rights. And one of them sets up a radio station called the voice of peace. And it's reaching 1500 People all over Iraq and the Middle East. So God, you know, in these terrible situations, these are these wonderful sees the things that may not have happened that are now happening, and are just impacting on our honor, on a massive scale. And saying that the 1 million voices of Hope position was seen in the corridors of power, not just in the UK, but around the world. And the churches across the UK and Ireland joined together in prayer for the persecuted church family, and your bidat you're helping people to stay in their villages and towns and cities, and come back, and so grateful for that. And it says about acts. Yeah. So yeah, so it's about empowering people and encouraging people, and how we can like stand together and there's lots of prayers, but, you know, as I say, the situation isn't isn't easy for them as a lot of economic challenges. But through that, you know, the putting out hand of friendship, and people are seeing people for who they are rather than labels of you're a Christian. Muslim, you know, yeah, it's and and who is this Jesus. And so it is quite, quite amazing, really. And if you want to know more, and I'm sad that but you'd be able to look at this online afterwards. But unfortunately, it's come up much quicker than I realized. 24th of September is standing strong, which is a big con conference that opened doors put on and for this year they're actually going to be able to put it on in person. Brilliant, but it's going to take place I think, see Nottingham and so I'm not going to be able to go it's too too far away that's

Reverend Ben Cooper: 35:16

but Saturday the 24th of September at Trent vine yard Nottingham yeah that's right straight on the website you can find it it's easy so as Sandra was talking about that I found that quite easy go straight into the latest the top button at the top and when you click in that if you're on line and just scroll all the way down and it says annual gathering standing strong click in that and it will take you straight to the place you need to go well worth a look well worth a read got a short video father Daniel walk it from my father Daniel a wreck. Yeah, so you can Yeah,

Sandra Robson: 35:51

so there's going to be interesting when it will be so I'm going to look at it online I'm going to you know I've booked to look at the to be part of it online but I know afterwards this will be on the website so if you weren't you know weren't able to and take part in it. You can take a look at it afterwards. But yes, I'm looking forward to hearing directly from them. What's what's been going on? And and then the next thing on the horizon is the sixth of November which is the International Day for prayer for the persecuted church. So yeah, that's another opportunity.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 36:34

Yes, lots and lots going on. Yeah antastic website open doors you get a lot of information from this you can spend hours and hours just going through the resources though the standing strong conference the annual gathering is coming up very very soon not too long away 24th of September at Trent and as you fly through the scrolling down on the page you can it's got the evening event 730 to nine o'clock you can either attend in person click that or you can attend online at Sandra said so you can there's they're capturing you many many ways is that which is great and as Sandra said once that's been done that will no doubt be released on on to YouTube or or some form of a social platform for you to watch. Sandra went through and we are we zip through now we've done 40 minutes absolutely time flown so would you close in prayer forest play Sandra this morning.

Sandra Robson: 37:29

Okay. Father, we thank you for the people of Iraq and Syria that we spoke about Thank you. And the new believers there Lord, thank You for the past two Edwards who stayed behind and that are nurturing these new believers Father God, we pray that you will just come alongside them know that you are the good shepherd Lord, and that Father, you have a plan for this remnants Lord, and that the light will shine and Lord just that map of you know as gathering together and all these lights Lord, every prayer counts, Lord, you know we can't bring anything else we can bring our prayers to you Lord, and you love it you love it when your manual people joy farther and farther that you know that we can come alongside people in their in their time of need. But we know that those great joy lords and they say that they have great joy now and they have peace in their hearts. And we pray for the unrest that still there Lord, we pray for the these groups that are still there, Father God that they will hear the gospel they will see with their eyes, what you are doing and they will question what they are doing, Lord, they will question and their idea of a caliphate they will question these things for the God we know that many fighters have joined churches and have come to you and we pray Yeah, they pray for the for their persecutors. Lord, they're praying for their persecutors. And so Lord, let your plan unfold, Lord, and thank you that we can be part of it. Thank You that You've given us the resources thank You that You've given us the information thank You that You've given us the opportunity to join in Lord. And we want to do that Lord, and we know that it's very important and as it says, The church started in the Middle East and farther. You just want that light to burn brightly in each one of us and to go out and serve the Lord. And so each one of us Lord, we just want to do that in our in our way, Lord, that we serve you as they serve you. So help us in this day whenever we're what listening If this now Father God, that you will just help us to be lights for you in Jesus name, amen.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 40:09

Amen. Hallelujah God bless you wherever you are this morning May God strengthen you and guide you because this is the day that the Lord has made I shall rejoice and be glad you know we've stayed in open doors today that's such a powerful website they've got their for and completely loaded with information. So if you need to know any more, please dip straight into that very easy to find open doors.org So you can find that everything get on there. Have a great day, wherever you are today. Never give up there is always hope in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. God bless and we'll see you soon. Take care. Bye bye.

Close: 40:45

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