Editorial Note: As this issue of Adventist Today goes to press on April 2, 2003, this is all the information we have on the Adventist Church in Baghdad. This article is meant to put a human face on Adventists in the Middle East and may or may not be up-to-date on the current happenings of the conflict.

Among Seventh-day Adventists around the world who watched on television the outbreak of war in Iraq during its first week, there was concern for their fellow believers in that country. The bombing of Baghdad, however, did not deter members of the local Adventist church from attending weekly worship services on that first Saturday, the Sabbath, according to local sources. Michael Porter, president of the church in that region, reported to members of the Adventist News Network staff that the members were praying for peace. The headquarters of the church for that region are in Nicosia, Cyprus, a Mediterranean island south of Turkey and east of Syria, and it keeps in close contact with members.

"We can report, confirmed by a phone call to Baghdad, that our church members remain safe and met on Sabbath at our church as usual," said Porter. "The members are of good courage and expressed special thanks to the world church for the many prayers going up on their behalf." They worship in one of the largest and most architecturally striking churches in all of Iraq.

One church member in Baghdad was able to speak by telephone with a sister in Nicosia, and said, "We're getting used to the bombing and know that God is in control. Don't worry too much about us." Porter reported that as of the end of the first week there had been no damage to the church or to members' homes.

The Baghdadi believers noted a very good attendance at that Sabbath worship, including visitors as well as regular members. "They were going to church because it's the same thing that was happening in 1991 ... We used to go to church every Sabbath," the member said.

Church members also expressed gratitude for the global prayer support exhibited during the current conflict.

"They said, 'Thank you very much for all the prayers.' In fact, one of the women said, 'We know that God ... [will] protect us. And whatever happens, we know that he still loves us," Porter told Adventist NewsLine.

One contrast between the two conflicts is that, so far in the first week, water, electricity and telephone lines remain open, where in 1991 electricity was turned off.

There are more than 200 Adventist members in Iraq, mostly in Baghdad. Organized in 1923, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Iraq is one of the Christian churches among 13 denominations recognized by the government. There are three Adventist congregations in the country, including one in the city of Nineveh-famed for its visit by the reluctant biblical prophet Jonah.

Office personnel for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Middle East region, based in Cyprus, include several staff members whose families presently live in Baghdad. Since the war began, the office family has prayed for God's intervention and protection in this most difficult time at their regular morning worships and again during a special prayer time at noon.

Homer Trecartin, Secretary-Treasurer for the Middle East region says, "We thank God for His protection and for the dozens of e-mails from around the world, assuring us of prayers on our behalf."

Church members in Iraq are not the only Adventists affected by the conflict. Along with United States servicemen who are deployed, there are 20 Adventist chaplains serving in the war theater, according to Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries.

Source: Adventist News Network