Source: Open Doors, February 8, 2018
After three years of Islamic State occupation and devastation in the wake of the ISIS war, local partners are sharing stories of continued hope for the Nineveh Plains and the believers who were forced to flee when militants issued their ultimatum: “Convert, leave or die.” For more than two years, occupying Islamic jihadists tried to erase any evidence of Christianity from the city—burning churches, destroying crosses, toppling bell towers.
Father George walks toward a colorful paper, where a map of the city is divided into several sectors. He leads what is called the Church Supreme Board for Reconstruction of Baghdeda, which is coordinating the efforts to restore homes [in Iraq’s largest Christian city].
“With your support, we were able to restore 286 houses in Qaraqosh. That means 286 families have returned to their homes. By the end of 2017, we finished 1,054 of the 2,658 of houses that are on our list to be repaired.”
In other places in the Nineveh Plain, local partners have helped support the restoration of another 392 houses for a current total of almost 700 rebuilt homes—and new hope for almost 700 families.
» See full story with pictures. It’s quite encouraging.
» See also another Christian leader who has invited Muslim nations to rebuild Christian villages destroyed by ISIS (World Watch Monitor).