John Cook, left, was thrilled to be able to give out the first 37 kits to refugee children and our national teams in Iraq last month. The response was overwhelmingly positive! We’ve been asked for 10,000 kits by our teams and refugee camp leadership. This kit helps children unpack their trauma so they can begin to heal.

Each $55 Trauma Care Kit Includes:
– A very soft 18” stuffed animal (varies depending on supplies: lion, bear or tiger) with a chest pocket for the audio player
– Solar audio player with two tracks, first, for the children, Bible stories set to music with the Gospel, and for the adults, the Bible in Arabic and English
– A booklet called “The Survivors” in Arabic to help children process the PTSD they’ve experienced; written by a team of professional psychologists and counselors from a Biblical perspective on feelings trauma has brought, along with practical helps
– Another plush toy and candy for every child in the family so no one is left out

Click the “Donate” button – This is a wonderful, practical way to bless these kids.

Goal: 1000 refugee children sponsored!

We’re excited to share with you great news! We’ve just launched our brand-new Refugee Child Sponsorship Program in Iraq!

Right now we have three different ways you can help Iraqi, Syrian, Kurdish and Yazidi refugee children. First, the Trauma Care Kit, secondly,the backpack project, and now, Child Sponsorships are available.

Our goal is to help 1,000 children in our program, and from now to December 1, we are asking the Lord for the first 125 to be sponsored. Are you feeling a tug at your heart to get involved yet?

With 3.2 million refugees in Iraq, sponsorships help to address the need refugee families, and especially the children, desperately have: a more stable life environment and hope for their future.

Recently, Indigenous Ministries received NGO (non-government organization or nonprofit) status in Iraq, which means we have government permission to move ahead in ministry. The countless hours of work by our Colorado Springs team, and our teams in Iraq in preparation for this launch, means you can sponsor a refugee child (hopefully more than one!) in Iraq.

Sponsorships are $39 for one child monthly, $78 for two, or $117 for three. It’s easy to do this; simply on the right click the Donate button and select “Child Sponsorships” in the drop down menu. The whole process should take you 3-5 minutes.

FAQs to assist you in posting these kids on your fridge:

1. Do the families receive cash? No, our teams use these funds for monthly food packets, clothing, shoes, school supplies, and an occasional toy for the children. We also assist with general medical needs on a case by case basis.

2. What’s in the food packets? General supplies such as rice, macaroni, canned meats, cheese, nuts, flour, sugar, salt and oil, shampoo, soap, tissue, etc.

3. Do the children hear the Gospel? These kids and their families have been greatly traumatized and need consistent, gentle care and demonstrated love before anything else. Our goal is to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the children as God enables. IM staff regularly share Bible stories and lessons with the children, and they have opportunities to respond to the love of the Lord if they so choose. Most are Muslim and nominal Christian in background and have never been exposed to Biblical Scriptures.

4. Where do the children live? Most live in UN refugee camps, while some live in settlements, and others live in tents, apartments or homes. It varies greatly. Most live with multiple families.

5. What if there are a lot of kids in a family? We sponsor a maximum of two children per family.

6. Am I the only sponsor of my child? Yes.

7. What is expected of me? Please pray regularly for your child(ren) and for our IM teams, regularly contribute $39/month, write your child(ren).

8. What can I expect of Indigenous Ministries? You receive a packet with your child’s bio, photo and other helpful information. IM sends monthly receipts of your donations, as well as reports on the sponsorship program and progress of the children. We send you The Liaison, our ministry newsletter, and if we have your email, we will send you video and email updates. In emergencies and natural disasters, you will be contacted and given the opportunity to respond with prayer and financial helps. You have full access to our website with hundreds of resources and insightful blogs on the ministry and working in Islamic and Hindu cultures.

9. Who meets with the kids and what oversight does Indigenous Ministries have? Our local Iraqi Indigenous Ministries staff, who speak Arabic and Kurdish, and meet with the kids regularly. Families are also contacted by our pastors and church members when feasible. We interact with our teams weekly and require financial reporting, as well as reports on the activities of the children. Our US teams are regularly on-site training and monitoring each of IM’s child sponsorship programs in Iraq, Egypt and the Philippines.

10. What is the administrative fee Indigenous Ministries takes? Our US admin fee is 20% on child sponsorship programs which helps to cover administrative oversight, accounting, fund transfer fees, utilities, equipment, office supplies, postage and translation at our Colorado Springs office. We work diligently to keep overhead costs within check and constantly monitor them in order to direct these funds exactly to the purpose for which they are intended.

11. Can I write my child? Will he or she be able to write me? Yes! We provide you with helps and encourage you to write your children. You will hear from your child three times a year. Oh, and yes, we will translate these letters for you!

12. What about visiting my child? Absolutely! We invite our partners to join us in Prayer Walks in the Middle East and the Philippines, and yes, we will be happy to arrange for you to visit your sponsored child at that time.

Call our office and speak with Sarah to set up your sponsorship today!

A few weeks ago I was in Iraq and visited the English classes in Duhok, N. Iraq, that our Beautiful Int’l Women’s Ministry began in July. The women are thoroughly enjoying each class. Our local IM staff and I met with the Muktar (mayor) of the Yazidi camp and also met with two women who had been widowed by the Islamic State. Once again I was greatly moved by the willful and degenerate actions upon these people from Islam. We have been and will continue to help these and other women rebuild their lives.

As Muktar Ibrahim, Wesam and myself spoke together, we worked on a plan for this very broken community. In the weeks that followed, we raised $2,000 for micro business assistance for them, and just recently, the men went over into Syria and purchased the 40 sheep.

Friends, this small flock you see, right, with the men of the community, represents hope…and a chance for them to rebuild their community with a livelihood and a level of dignity as they work with what they know: livestock. They also know who provided this, and they understand this is given in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. This gift will continue to build a bridge of relationship with this community. Please pray for this Yazidi community. As they slowly move back to Sinjar, they face massive destruction and chaos, but these sheep represent hope, love and concern.

The Muktar shared his deep appreciation for all that IM has done – and for you who are our ministry partners, that is a special word of thanks to you! Thank you for your partnership in sharing with these people and others. Our hope and aim is to have a long term relationship with this community of Yazidi people, vehemently hated by Muslims, yet dearly loved by the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord has granted us favor and we will continue to show them the Love of Christ.

Children – We are opening a Sunday school for the children taught by one of our IM staff who has been trained by Child Evangelism Fellowship. We will be sponsoring children in this community through our Iraq Child Sponsorships.

Women asking for Bible lessons – The week of August 21, the women in the English classes asked for more information about the Lord and wanted to know if one of our staff could begin Bible lessons with them each week. One woman said, “We heard Jesus is the Messiah but want to know more than that – would you tell us more?”

Many prayer requests are embedded here…thank you for taking the time to read this and pray for these needs! Thank you for generously giving to support this vital ministry.

Dr. John and Dee ministered in Iraq in November 2016. This is a continuation from December’s issue of John’s visit into recently liberated Qaraqosh and Karamles.

People were walking behind me as I stood staring at the enormous, burned and desecrated church. I turned to see two Nineveh Protection Unit (NPU) soldiers.

The NPU is made of exiled Christians who have volunteered to serve under the Peshmerga Fighters. Under the guidance of Iraqi police, they have been able to push ISIS, or Daeesh, forces out of Karamles. 

The two men were from Qamishli, Syria (I ministered in Qamishli in 2011). When it was announced that any Christian could volunteer for the NPU, they were both tired of running and decided to join the unit. As Christians, they went to Iraq to find protection from ISIS in Syria. They and their families settled in Qaraqosh and felt reasonably secure. However, ISIS entered their city, and again they had to flee to Erbil for safety, along with 60,000 other Christians from the Nineveh Plain. 

I saw a cross hanging from one soldier’s ammo pouch. I took the men in my arms and prayed. Walking to the command center, I found two generals from the NPU. They shared amazing stories, stating if the Lord had not been with them, they would have been overrun by a superior force. They seized weapons from ISIS, and in just a few hours moved as a unit clearing streets, tunnels, houses and cisterns of hidden ISIS fighters.

Unfortunately, ISIS fighters rigged many homes with tires fashioned into explosive booby traps, leaving streets filled with the acrid smell of burning rubber. What amazed me was hearing the general speak with genuine humility that not one of his NPU soldiers was killed in the fighting. Some were wounded, but no one was killed. He said Jesus Christ was watching over each of them in the battle, and God strengthened their hand to overcome those who sought to destroy Christians in this city and other cities on the Nineveh Plain. 

The goal of Daeesh forces has been to wipe every Christian from Iraq and build their “caliphate” upon the seized wealth of homes and businesses. I could not help but think of the work Indigenous Ministries has done to help these Christians through protection, encouragement, food and daily needs. I thank God for your prayers and gifts to bring them aid relief.

Many of our supporters have asked, “What can we do about ISIS?” There are several things to understand as we look at this crisis. You have helped in a very real way to battle ISIS by caring for the people they sought to destroy. It gave people time to think of what is truly valuable and many have put their trust in Jesus Christ. They were Christian, but now many know the true Christ. Please hear me when I tell you we have overcome evil with good, just like the Lord told us to. Next month we will explore how the church will rise from the rubble in Iraq.

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