wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Presbyterian churches in Iraq escape major damage

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org>]

Note #7675 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

Presbyterian churches in Iraq escape major damage
03208
April 24, 2003

Presbyterian churches in Iraq escape major damage

Services are held in Baghdad on Good Friday, Easter

by Jerry L. Van Marter

LOUISVILLE - Word has finally reached Presbyterian Church (USA) officials
from Iraq that the five Presbyterian churches there have escaped significant
damage and are carrying on with their ministries.
	
In an April 24 email from Cairo, Worldwide Ministries Division coordinator
for the Middle East Victor Makari wrote: "First-hand report indicates that
the Presbyterian churches in Baghdad and in Mosul are managing fairly well
under the circumstances. The Arab Evangelical (Presbyterian) Church of
Baghdad was able to gather for services on Good Friday and on Easter."
	
Makari said that the Rev. Nuhad Tomeh, the PC(USA)'s mission co-worker with
the Middle East Council of Churches who is coordinating MECC relief efforts
in Iraq, told him that the Good Friday service at Arab Evangelical church was
broadcast live on Iraqi television.
	
Tomeh, who is based in Beirut, told Makari that the MECC site coordinator for
Iraq, Edward Esho, has visited the Presbyterian churches in Iraq and is now
working with refugees outside Mosul, which is in northern Iraq.
	
Riad Jarjour, MECC general secretary, is currently traveling in Kuwait and is
hoping to go to Basra, Iraq soon. Tomeh said he also hopes to visit Iraq
before returning to the United States in early June for Worldwide Ministries
Division briefings. Tomeh's home is in Tucson, AZ.

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