One question I asked the local pastors several times was: How many Muslims become Christians? One pastor, whose name I can't mention for security reasons, but here I'll call Botros, didn't want to estimate how many Muslims had come to faith in total, but said: "Before 2014, between 70 % to 80 % Muslims came to believe in Jesus because of dreams and visions. After the rise of the Islamic State in 2014, between 70 % to 80 % of Muslims now become Christians as they begin to doubt Islam due to the brutality of the Islamic State."
Photos: In our project, not only Christians receive aid, but also other minorities on the run. These acts of love contrast with the brutality of the Islamic State and make an impression.
I met another priest, who is also called Adil here for security reasons. His analysis is in line with Botros' interpretation of the developments since 2014. Adil answered my question: "Islamic State killed many non-Sunnis in Mosul. Some say that Muslims should not kill infidels and that Islam is the religion of peace, while others say that the Islamic State is the expression of true Islam. Islamic State's behavior has led many Muslims to question whether or not the Quran comes from God. In recent years, many Muslims have come to faith. I estimate that up to 20,000 Muslims in Iraq have converted to the Christian faith since the rise of ISIS. Some join existing authorized churches and others meet secretly in house churches."
Do Christians face persecution?
To this, Pastor Adil replied: "Yes, I remember a family where the father was a priest and the extremists came to his home and threatened him with weapons. He then fled to America."
Do new Christians persevere in the faith or do some fall away again?
Adil replies: "They want to persevere, so most don't drop out. I know someone who dropped out when his clan persecuted him".
What does it mean that Christians in Denmark pray for the church and converts?
"It is a great blessing for us that Christians in Denmark are praying for us. We need prayer in our situation. I personally ask God to move the mountain that is Islam. And just as the Israelites went around Jericho and God knocked down the walls, we pray that God will knock down the wall of Islam so that even more Muslims will accept Jesus."
It's encouraging to talk to these pastors. The mainstream media is hardly telling this story - about the new things God is doing in the Middle East at a time like this. Thank you to everyone who will join us in praying for Christians in Iraq and the other countries of the Muslim world - and for Muslims to experience God's love in Jesus Christ.