Iraqi pastor: "Jesus is standing with a big net - and Islamic State is pushing the fish to swim into it"

Image: The man on the left needs medicine and medical treatment for wounds on his legs - but the Christian family cannot afford to take the bus to the doctor. And if they can't afford to take the bus, how can they afford to pay to get to Europe - as thousands of resourceful Syrians and Iraqis are doing at this time? It's people like these who are helped by our project - the most vulnerable and needy. Thank you all for helping these people through the winter.

I'm sitting in the kitchen of Iraqi Pastor Botros*. His wife, Jasmin*, eagerly contributes to the conversation and they tell me what it is like to be a Christian in Iraq right now.

Our conversation takes place about a week after Chancellor Angela Merkel invited one million refugees to Germany. There is a clear echo of her words in the country - her invitation is the talk of the town and it's as if a large part of the population is considering whether to accept it and travel to Europe.

Botros says: "Few see a future in Iraq. We in Iraq have gone from war to war [the Iraq-Iran war in the 1980s, the Gulf War in the 1990s over Kuwait and the chaotic conditions following the US overthrow of Saddam Hussein].. Iraqis see peace outside Iraq". However, as a pastor, Botros advises Christians to seek God and listen to His voice: "If they don't see God saying 'go', then we encourage them to stay in Iraq."

Jasmin: We don't have rosy dreams for the future

Jasmin explains: "Some families have fled inside Iraq maybe four times in the last 30 years - so their recent escape from Islamic State, where they had to salvage what belongings they could and settle in another part of the country, is nothing new to them. Those of us who have chosen to stay don't dream of a rosy future for Iraq because we know what it is like to live here."

Image: The pastor I'm talking to is from Erbil. Before the rise of the Islamic State, Mosul was just an hour and a half drive away. Now the city is a closed country for Christians and other non-Sunni Muslims.

But referring to the Gospel of Matthew chapter 14, verses 22-33, where Peter can walk on water as long as he believes in Jesus, she says: "To survive here in Iraq, we must live by faith, day after day. If we take our eyes off Jesus for even a minute, we will sink"

Islamic State contributes to church growth

Yet, paradoxically, in the midst of these challenges, Botros finds that the Islamic State, contrary to their intentions, is helping people come to faith in Jesus. People from non-Christian backgrounds are disgusted by the brutality of ISIS and seek out the church.

"The church must go back to Matthew chapter 28 and preach the gospel. The crisis means that many new people are hearing the gospel. The Church must preach the Bible and Jesus at this time so that people can be saved. I encourage Christians to preach Jesus. The door is open now, we will regret it if we don't go through it."

Pastor Botros ends the conversation by concluding: "Jesus stands with a big net - and Islamic State pushes the fish so they swim into it".

The situation in Iraq looks hopeless for many due to Islamic State violence. But in the midst of chaos, Iraqi Christians tell us that God is doing something new. Paradoxically, in the midst of pain, the church is strengthened and given new opportunities to make a positive difference for those in need and be a witness to the Gospel.

Because of gifts from Denmark, aid workers can bring encouragement and joy to refugees.

• On average, it costs around 150 DKK to provide a refugee family with water, food, kitchenware, hygiene items and medicine for a week.
• On average, it costs around DKK 652 to provide a refugee family with water, food, kitchenware, hygiene items and medicine for a month.
• On average, it costs around 1086 DKK to ensure a refugee family has warm clothes, shoes, mattresses, blankets and fuel this winter.

*Names have been changed for security reasons