In the face of escalating atrocities committed by Islamic State, faith is alive in northern Iraq where a Christian ministry is bringing the gospel to those living in refugee camps.
"We face our greatest challenges and our greatest opportunities," senior director of international operations at Leading The Way, Allan Guinan, told Christian Today.
Leading The Way has been working in Iraqi refugee camps, broadcasting the gospel 24/7 via satellite and radio, discipling new believers and meeting the practical needs of residents. To date, the team have directly worked with 7,700 people.
Having returned from northern Iraq recently, Guinan recalled meeting a woman who said to him: "I thank God for ISIS."
She said: "I was a lukewarm Christian, I might go to church occasionally and now I have this vibrant relationship with Christ."
Guinan said he was deeply encouraged by her faith.
"The persecution, undoubtedly unprecedented in modern times, that has been unleashed and caused this mass migration of people and the horrible things, has also brought with it a refining of Christian faith," he said.
"While we see this significant rise in persecution against believers, at the same time this presents a great opportunity to present Christ," he added.
"People are becoming challenged about Islam, disenfranchised by the radical Islam they have experienced and are seeking truth and answers.
"We seek to bring the holistic two hands of the gospel. We both proclaim and demonstrate the gospel. The foundation is that we want to present Christ to people in both word and dead."
George (last name withheld for security reasons), Leading The Way's regional director, said in a statement that God is using the crisis in the Middle East to draw closer to his people. "We've been visiting areas so close to where ISIS is controlling villages and cities. But the Lord is bringing Christ again to this land," he said.
"We've met so many families struggling through the harsh winter months living in tents. They are living in agony and when you present them with the gospel, you make a difference.
"I think this land will be exposed to the gospel more than any other time in history and the Lord is able to change many people because of our great church partners who are really sacrificing their lives for the Lord to see change happening."
