We were hoping our first blog post as the introduction to exactly who we are would be a bit more uplifting and encouraging in these times of trials. However it seems this is a more pressing issue.
We have recently received the following email for prayer request today: (READ THE WHOLE MESSAGE, NOT HALF PLEASE)
"Urgent Prayer request-Sent to Every Christian on 3ABN's List!
Here is an urgent prayer request for all of us!!
She asked that it be forwarded ASAP to as many people possible:
Dear Friend: Just a few minutes ago, I received the following text message on my phone, from Sean Malone who leads Crisis Relief International (CRI), We spoke briefly on the phone, and I assured him that we would share this urgent prayer need with all our contacts.
We lost the city of Queragosh. It fell to ISIS and they are beheading children systematically. This is the city we have been smuggling food to. ISIS has pushed back Kurdish Forces, and is within 10 minutes of where our CRI team is working. Thousands more fled into the city of Erbil last night. The UN evacuated its staff in Erbil. Our team is unmoved and will stay. Prayer cover needed!!!.
Please pray sincerely for the deliverance of people of northern Iraq from the terrible advancement of ISIS and its extreme Islamic goals for mass conversion or death for Christians in this area.
May I plead with you not to ignore this email? Do not forward it before you have prayed through it. Then send it to as many people as possible.
Send it to friends and Christians you know. Send it to your prayer group. Send it to your pastors. Any one you can think of. We need to stand in the gap for our fellow Christians."
We have the following response regarding this email:
"My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
We are aware that ISIS is a threat to Christians. They have been targeting all Christians and Jews for months. Systematically trying to destroy our faith. It has been coming from months.
We urge everyone to keep praying, but also to be aware of the truth. Do not let emails spark fear. Crisis Response International - not Crisis Relief International has confirmed that the message you have received was sent out to select groups and was never meant for public distribution. With regards to children being beheaded they have said the following:
Please see their response: http://criout.com/crisis-in-iraq/
As for our connections in the military in various countries such as UK, US and with our aid workers and missionaries stationed in the Middle east, there have been many Christian casualties that include men, women, children and youth.
We have also been able to confirm that ISIS is not bound just by the middle east, they have been found in Australia, US and believe it or not they are also found in Nigeria - remember the group Boko Haram - they are also part of ISIS.
Since the reason we exist to be the protector and providers to all Christians and those that are considered the Remnant of the Lord (Jewish and people of Israel) and we were created to be the help in the time of tribulation as described in the Book of Revelation in the Bible we can't ignore this matter. Also since we have strong roots in the Anglican church we have also been aware of the five year old son of the founding member of Baghdad’s Anglican church was cut in half during an attack by the Islamic State on the Christian town of Qaraqosh.
Also regarding the email that everyone received the Islamic State group captured Qaraqosh overnight Wednesday/Thursday (6-7th August 2014) after the withdrawal of Kurdish forces.
If you would like to know more about this matter for now please feel free to look into this:
1. The brutal, extremist group, which claims to have fighters from across the world, announced the creation of a "caliphate" - an Islamic state - across its claimed territory in Iraq and Syria a month ago. Learn more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-28116033
2. Baghdad is part of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf http://www.cypgulf.org which is part of The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, a Member Church of the Anglican Communion. Learn more here
So yes please pray for all our Christian families around the world. Should you wish to make a stand of faith in the meantime, some things you can do have been circulating around the social media platforms such as placing on your status one of the following if you wish:
#GOD'SNOTDEAD
#IamN.
Regards
Your Brothers in Christ
Holy Knights
Soldiers of Lord Jesus Christ who are picking up our swords to Storm hell's rusty gates.
