War - Persecution

AP - Iraqi troops face stiff resistance from IS in eastern Mosul
The AP reports: "In the heavily damaged town of Bashiqa, about 13 kilometers (8 miles) northeast of Mosul's outskirts, Christians rang the bells of Saint George's church for the first time to celebrate its liberation from IS, which was driven out earlier this month. [...] Men prepared a large cross to mount on the rooftop, replacing one destroyed by the extremists. [...] Bullet holes marked the walls inside the church courtyard, strewn with garbage and graffiti left by the extremists, including some of their names. Much of the church's inside had been smashed, with rubble strewn across the ground and holy inscriptions covered with black paint. [...] The church graveyard was desecrated, with graves broken into and tombstones smashed and painted over."

Comment: I came across this news report earlier today. At first glance, it appears to be a report about how the war against the Islamic State is going in Iraq. As I continued reading the article I found some interesting insights into how the war is going for the small Christian community and their efforts to return to a town church destroyed by IS. Please join me in praying for the church in Iraq.