Golden Harvest of Muslim Souls Seen in Iraq
As Iraqi forces close in to reclaim Mosul, missionaries are seeing a golden opportunity in harvesting souls in the city that was once a stronghold of the Islamic State (ISIS). Islam followers who have experienced cruelty at the hands of fellow Muslims are seeing the stark contrast of Christ's love manifested in Christianity.
An unidentified ministry director working in the recaptured city of Kurdistan, northern Iraq heard from victims of the horrors brought upon them by the jihadists that included public executions and using the populace as human shields. The liberation of Mosul is slow going in part because hundreds of thousands of civilians remain in harm's way.
"They're keeping a lot of people hostages — anybody running away, they're killing," the ministry leader said. "Most of the people are hostages right now. They want to flee, they just can't. What's happening right now in Mosul is what they did to the Christians; it's genocide. They're killing everyone who's not working with them or not helping them."
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ISIS made the people believe they were there to protect them but soon began implementing Sharia law that even Muslims find oppressive. After escaping these atrocities, the victims are welcomed with aid and comfort by missionaries, a gesture that made them decide to leave Islam.
"So now they see the true face of Islam, they saw the teachings of Islam and they know what it means to be under the Islamic State," he said. "I believe a lot of heart-breaking stories will come out of Mosul with people who are ready to leave Islam and beg for Christ to take their lives and give them healing."
The ministry director plans to proceed to Mosul once it is fully liberated and minister to the locals just like he did in Kurdistan.
"We're getting ready for them," he told Christian Aid. "If we start seeing groups coming our way, then we're going to minister to them."
