MUSLIMS CONVERTED TO CHRIST IN IRAQ

General Georges Sada, a former air force fighter pilot who once served as a senior military advisor to Saddam Hussein, is one of thousands of Iraqis who have become followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The remarkable testimony of General Sada was passed on to me by a former Frontline Fellowship mission worker, John Michael, who is working as a security adviser in Iraq. John Michael writes: “With all the negative and extremely disturbing violent news coming out of the Middle East, there is good news. Where there is conflict, there needs to be sober examination of our own faith as we are put to the test. Our purpose and meaning to life must be scrutinized. What is overwhelmingly obvious is that those who promote freedom and respect towards others are expressing their own personal faith in the God of the Bible. However, when confronting a religious system that lives for, and thrives on, violent conflict in Jihad with suicidal martyrdom seen as the only assurance of salvation, the question remains – what is the purpose of living? The hope for a peaceful and blessed life is really limited when such an extremely violent death is sought after. This raises some really disturbing questions about such a religious system, which has so little respect for humanity and life in general.”

“Religion can be a curse or a blessing. There is the God who blesses with life in all its abundance, and there is the god who steals, deceives, kills and destroys. It becomes as clear as the day when Elijah confronted the false prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. The power of God was revealed with fire from on high showing who the true God was (1 Kings 18). This spectacular demonstration of God’s power, awe and might is now clearly on display in Iraq for all the world to see who really is the one true God.”

John Michael who previously served in the South West African Reconnaissance units has been assisting in security for those restoring basic services for the community in Iraq. While serving as a Christian witness and seeking to save lives and uplift the community he has endured bombardments and survived ambushes. His letter includes the inspiring testimony of General Georges Sada. General Sada rose through the ranks of the Iraqi Air Force and ended up working closely with dictator Saddam Hussein. The General describes in detail how Saddam Hussein moved stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction to Syria in the summer of 2002.
In 1991, General Sada was ordered by Qusay Hussein (Saddam’s son) to execute British and American prisoners of war. This he refused to do. That move lead to his dismissal from the military, although, by God’s grace, not to his execution.

General Sada reports that he knows of some 5,000 Iraqis who have openly confessed Jesus Christ as Lord since the country was liberated by the Americans. General Sada has publicly thanked the American people for liberating his country and said that all peace loving people should “kneel down and thank the mothers and fathers who have sacrificed their sons and daughters for the sake of freedom in Iraq.” He has asked for patience as Iraq’s fledgling democracy builds foundations and finds its way. He has also repeatedly said that there is far more good news in Iraq today than is being reported on by the news media.

Record numbers of Iraqis are turning to Christ. Even Saddam Hussein’s throne room, in his main palace in Baghdad, has been turned into an Evangelical church. “Once Saddam used that room to order thousands of people to be executed, but now the Name of Jesus Christ – the King of kings and the Lord of lords – is praised there instead.”
John Michael, writing from Ur of the Chaldeans reports that it is tremendously inspiring to be working in this Biblical lands where Abraham was called, where Daniel and Esther served, and to witness the clash of civilizations, the clear contrast between the healing Gospel of the love of Christ, and the destructive message of Jihad and hate. He ends his letter: “Jesus truly is Lord. In God’s perfect love which drives out all fear.”

Please mobilize your church, home cell and prayer fellowship to intercede for the Christians in Iraq and to pray for the fulfillment of the Great Commission in that troubled land.

Dr. Peter Hammond