Government officials detained believers, intimidating them through emotional and physical abuse. Pastor Thomas experienced persecution as well. After the arrest of several of his friends, he was forced to leave his homeland. Thomas fled with his wife and two young sons to Jordan.

Leaving their home was heartbreaking to Thomas’s family. “My eight-year-old son asked me, ‘Daddy, why must we leave? You are not a criminal.’” Thomas cried out to God for the believers he left behind, “What about our children in Christ?” He sent encouraging messages to them through radio, and when America entered Iraq and Hussein’s regime fell, Thomas knew he was to return. “(Sometimes) God takes us through the fire first,” says Thomas. “Then He says, ‘You are ready. Now go.’”

Within one week of the fall of Baghdad in March 2003, Thomas was leading the Evangelical Alliance Church’s first open meeting in the nursery school. With only 70 chairs available, many people had to stand. Thomas tore down a wall to make room for more worshippers the following week. When the second service was to capacity he tore down another wall.

Thomas knew a larger building was needed to accommodate the growing flock of believers. For three days he walked around a vacant building praying for God to provide the funds to purchase the property. “Some people thought I was crazy. Other people thought I was drunk,” says Thomas. But after three days, Sami Dager, C&MA church representative from Lebanon, arrived with enough money to rent the building for three years. . . . By mid-August, 300 people were filling the church . . .

When Thomas found a threatening note at the church, left by a local organization, he immediately went to the group’s headquarters, (taking with him the 7 foot high cross from the church building), his confrontation was one of compassion.

“I ask them,” says Thomas, “Do you have people who need help? We love you and want to help you.” The group leaders were appreciative and returned the profession of love. When he showed them the sign that contained the 7-foot Cross, they were embarrassed and ashamed and signed a written statement pledging cooperation with Thomas and his church.

One of the leaders attended Thomas’s ordination service in October of 2003. Nine hundred people joined him as Thomas made his public declaration to take the gospel to all people. Now nearly 500 people fill the sanctuary each week.

When $50,000 from America, was recently received for the purpose of building a second plant in Iraq, hope for his beloved nation still runs high. Says Thomas, “God has opened the door, I believe He will not close it!”

-- C&MA Missions UpDate July, 2004

“This is possession by appropriation; by faith and fighting. This was possessing their possessions. The promise of God to Abraham had given the inheritance to all his seed. The land was all theirs. But they did not actually possess it till they set their foot upon it. Many of our blessings are ours practically in the same way. They are given to us as sure promises but until we set the sole of our feet upon them they are not really ours.”

-- Choice Gleanings.

-- Uncle Ben

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:29-31).

-- C.P.G.

-- Author Unknown