Stories & Testimonies

Before the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, Christians in Iraq lived in relative peace and safety. Although they still experienced distrust, tension and disrespect from many of their Muslim neighbors, the government kept acts of aggression in check.

When ISIS violently invaded Iraq, the city of Mosul, with its large population of Christians, was an early target. Mosul was prosperous, and Christians owned most of the successful businesses. Amir owned one of those successful businesses in Mosul. He also owned his own home and some land, and a large extended family lived nearby.

When militants besieged the Syrian city of Hojaira in 2012, Sabeen—along with her ailing husband and their three children, ages 5, 8 and 15—fled quickly, escaping with only the clothes on their backs. They felt lucky to be alive.

When we try to fix other people's problems it doesn't usually end well. But if we can help provide others with the tools they need, they can usually fix their own problems. So when I met Ammar (not his real name) last February in Erbil, Iraq, and learned about his skills, the gears started turning in my head.

Francine's pain cannot be measured. It began 5 years ago when a band of ruthless rebels stormed into her village, set all the homes on fire and, in the ensuing chaos, sent streams of bullets into the bodies of men, women and children as they fled. Among the dead were her husband and all 5 of her children.