Members of One Another
Iraq's endangered church looks to Western fellowship for help.
by Jeff M. Sellers | posted 3/22/2005 12:00AM
Nuhad Tomeh, head of relief for the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), recently asked children in Baghdad what they would most like to see happen in their war-torn city. A 12-year-old boy named Khalad said he'd like to be able to go to school.
The dangers of getting to school—including bombs and kidnappers—and frequent shutdowns threaten his goal of becoming a computer specialist. "Many times the classes are interrupted, and I worry that I won't ever finish my school," Khalad said.
Besides distributing aid to refugees, MECC is funneling funds and relief supplies directly to schools and churches in Iraq. MECC includes Chaldean Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Coptic, and evangelical churches.
"There have been many Christians who have tried to leave Iraq because of the [violent] situation, but also because of the economy—joblessness is very high," Tomeh said by telephone from Beirut. "We're also developing income-generation programs for these churches, so they can help their people to stay in the country."
Iraqi Christians plead for help from the worldwide body of believers, aid agencies report. U.S. Christians can contribute to MECC relief, development, and rehabilitation projects in Iraq, as well as to aid for refugees in Jordan and Syria. Write personal checks (or money orders and cashier's checks) to "Middle East Council of Churches," designating them for "IRRP" or "Iraq Relief & Rehabilitation Program," and send to:
The Middle East Council of Churches, P.O. Box 5376, Makhoul Street, Beirut, Lebanon.
Tomeh says U.S. believers interested in writing letters of support to Iraqi Christians can e-mail or fax him to obtain e-mail addresses. Contact Tomeh at ntomeh@cyberia.net.Lb, or fax him at (011) 961.1.344.894.
"During the first two Gulf Wars, 60 percent to 70 percent of Iraqi families lost at least one member, mainly males," says Venture president Leonard Rodgers. "We were shocked to find 1,474 widows in only the churches where we are working."
Earmark contributions payable to Venture International "Intact Relief Iraq" and send to: Venture International, P.O. Box 7396, Tempe, AZ 85281; 800.421.2159; info@ventureftf.org; www.ventureftf.org.
Further Suggested Action
Long-time Middle East peace worker Canon Andrew White of England's Coventry Cathedral has numerous church contacts in Iraq. "There are more than half a million Christians in Iraq, and all are at risk and need our help," White said by e-mail from Israel. "Churches are still open, but many are beginning to go underground."
To channel aid to such churches, donate funds designated "for Iraqi Church Relief" to: St. John's Church, Lafayette Square, 1525 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005; 202.347.8766.
Other Christian agencies still providing aid to Iraqis Christians include the following:
Save the Children is providing relief in the southern area of Basra: Save the Children, 54 Wilton Road, Westport, CT 06880; 800.728.3843; www.savethechildren.org.
The Barnabas Fund is providing aid to refugees in Jordan and Syria: Barnabas Fund, P.O. Box 1374, Highland Park, NJ 08904; www.barnabasfund.org.
The Presbyterian Church (USA) has links with several churches in Iraq. To write letters of support to Iraqi Christians, contact the pc(usa)'s Victor Makari or Mark McCabe at Mideast@pcusa.org. Through its partner synod in Lebanon, the pc(usa) directs 100 percent of donated relief funds to Iraqi churches.
Contributions can be made to "PC(USA)." On the designation line write the code "ECOE051722" and send to PCUSA, 102 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40202.
April 2005, Vol. 49, No. 4
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