We will remember them

This week in WordLive we follow Daniel as he comes under attack for his faith in God. His continued commitment to prayer, despite the very real risk of death it entailed, is a challenge to us all. What would we do if worshipping God in public meant putting our lives at risk?
This is a question Christians in Iraq are facing this week, following the recent attack on a Catholic church in Baghdad in which 52 worshippers were killed. As many as 60 per cent of the Iraqi Christian population have already been killed or fled the country since the invasion in 2003 and those remaining are now being warned to leave.

However, many are determined to stay ‘whatever the sacrifices, to bear witness to our faith’ (Ignatius Metti Metok, Syriac Catholic Bishop of Baghdad). A prominent Christian member of the Iraqi parliament, Yonadam Kanna, said, ‘This is our home, we have been together with Muslims for centuries, this is our destiny, and we will stay together’.

Daniel’s response to opposition in Babylon was to pray and keep trusting God, though it’s hard to imagine him not being terrified as he was thrown to the lions. This week, let’s remember in prayer those Christians living in constant fear in Iraq. And in Remembrance Week, let’s also pray for all the members of our armed forces who confront danger daily in order to protect our freedom.

Lizzie Evans