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Helping The Strangers Among Us By Alice Seeley Published On July 24, 2020 70.8 million people around the world are currently refugees. They have been forced to flee from their homes because of violence, persecution, and war. As Christians, we are called to love and help them. They are what the Bible calls “the strangers among us.” ​ The call to help these refugees in need is biblically founded, not just a nice thought or a principle of social justice. Jesus demonstrated this by becoming a refugee Himself, fleeing with His parents to Egypt to escape persecution from King Herod. ​ In the Old Testament, Leviticus 19:34 says “treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you and … love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt”. ​ In the New Testament, Our Lord tells the parable of the Good Samaritan to give us an example of caring for and loving those whom society rejects. ​ Finally, in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus says that when we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and those in prison, we are doing it to Him. When we fail to do those things, we fail to serve Him. Jesus puts this in the strongest terms possible: if we neglect to do this we will not inherit the Kingdom. “Then He will answer, “In truth, I tell you, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me. And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the upright to eternal life.” ​ We as Christians are called to show God’s love to the most vulnerable in their hour of need. Government assistance can only help so much. The current refugee crisis creates opportunities for Christians to reach out and demonstrate the love of Christ. This means not only offering financial assistance but also praying for and welcoming these refugees whose entire lives have been turned upside down. American FRRME is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes reconciliation, provides relief efforts, advances human rights, and seeks an end to sectarian violence in the Middle East. ​ To make a donation to American FRRME, please visit https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/frrmeamerica?code=WebsiteGeneral

General Greer Scholarship Fund to Provide Education to Refugees in Jordan By Keely Jahns Published On March 10, 2022 In the West, most children are afforded a K-12 education. In places like the United States, as well as in many European countries, children are guaranteed an option of free public education. This sets children up for success in life, providing opportunities for university education, trade school, and general career advancement. ​ Not everyone in the world is so privileged. ​ According to a 2019 report by the UN Refugee Agency, out of 7.2 million refugee children around the world, only 3.7 million have the opportunity to attend school. Globally, 91% of children attend elementary (primary) school, whereas only 63% of refugee children have this opportunity. ​ The situation is even bleaker as refugee children get older. Around the world, 84 percent of adolescents go to secondary school, while only 24 percent of refugee teens have this opportunity. As these young people get older, the barriers that prevent them from accessing learning become harder to overcome. Continuing past the 8th grade is one of the deciding factors in whether or not a child finishes their education. ​ In most developing countries, particularly among war torn populations, it is common for youth to drop out of primary and secondary school for reasons of cost or a need to support their families. Where there is education, it is not guaranteed to be free, either, even when tuition is at low or no cost. There is the concern of uniforms, books, and supplies, often as a requirement to attend. This is incredibly cost prohibitive for vulnerable families. ​ The children supported by the Olive Tree Center in Madaba, Jordan are part of many programs aimed at providing hope, help, and healing for the intense trauma that many experienced as they fled their homes at a young age. Healing after trauma is a complex process, and one of the most critical pieces of the puzzle is providing young people with educational opportunities that will allow them to advance in life. ​ Education protects refugees and their children from forced recruitment into armed groups, child labor, and sexual exploitation. Education empowers refugees by giving them the knowledge and skills to rebuild their lives and communities. We are passionate about providing education to those displaced by sectarian violence. ​ That is why we have implemented the General David E. Greer Scholarship. Named for our late executive director, General David Greer, this legacy scholarship will fulfill his dream of providing educational access to the children of Iraqi, Kurdish, and Syrian refugees in Jordan. ​ Brigadier General David Greer dedicated his life to helping those in need. He was a decorated member of the Army National Guard who proudly accepted the task of rebuilding lives in Iraq, even well into his retirement from the armed forces. It was there that he saw the need of the people, particularly persecuted Christians, and helped to establish programs that would improve their lives. ​ While in Baghdad, he established a Boy Scout Troop, and assisted St. George’s Anglican Church in obtaining reconstruction grants through the US State Department. He helped the church construct a Kindergarten with clean, safe restrooms – something that is not always guaranteed in schools across the Middle East and the developing world. ​ A life-long student, much of General Greer’s efforts were centered around providing education to vulnerable children. As a member of philanthropic organizations, he supported scholarships, a large number of them through his alma mater, the University of Tennessee. As Executive Director of American FRRME, he advocated for and obtained funding education for the refugee children in Jordan, as well as helped establish a school in Kurdistan for Yazidi girls. ​ It is absolutely imperative that the school-aged children and teenagers in Jordan’s refugee communities remain in school. Even though they cannot work in Jordan, an education that is accepted by the rest of the world will enable them to settle wherever they dream to, and enter whatever fields they choose. But, there are barriers that prevent educational access for these children. Although Jordanian children are almost universally educated, refugee children are not afforded the same opportunities. ​ In a 2017 survey of Syrian refugees, it was reported that only a third of their children were enrolled in school. Since then, educational access has improved, but is by no means perfect; nor is it completely free. As you may already know, most refugee families in Jordan rely on humanitarian assistance to survive. They are not afforded citizenship or work permits, and can be deported if found working for pay. Supplies, uniforms, and even transportation to and from school cost money that most refugee families do not have. ​ The General Greer Scholarship Fund will help keep these vulnerable students in school. The fund will help pay for school supplies, uniforms, transportation, and to fund tutoring services, music lessons, and English lessons at the Olive Tree Center. This scholarship will provide an opportunity for these deserving students to receive a well-rounded education. ​ The youth at the Olive Tree Center have truly lost everything. Many of them are coming of age now, in 2022, and spent most of their formative years fleeing from danger. Many experienced the horrors of ISIS first hand. These kids have overcome so much, and still have many obstacles left to overcome. We want to help these young people grow and have every opportunity to advance in life. They are truly deserving of better lives, and a solid education and a supportive environment like the Olive Tree Center is their best chance, where they can gain the confidence they need to succeed in the classroom. ​ Life is not easy for refugees in Jordan and other parts of the Middle East. As adversity grows, programs are needed to protect the most vulnerable of these refugees, the children. American FRRME is committed to long term self-sustaining programs and opportunities to help empower refugees and Internally Displaced Persons. Donations to American FRRME go to programs that will aid in the survival of families facing violence across the Middle East.

A Prayer of Blessing at The Olive Tree Center American FRRME Staff September 8, 2022 On August 6, 2022, the Iraqi refugee community gathered together at The Olive Tree Center to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the 2014 ISIS insurgency in Iraq. They gathered to sing, pray, and remember the day that changed their lives forever. ​ Um Rama is a Jordanian woman who has been supporting the Iraqi refugee community since they arrived in Madaba and now helps run the programs at The Olive Tree Center. To open the event on August 6, Um Rama prayed this prayer of blessing over the event, the center and the Iraqi people in Madaba. ​ Almighty God. Creator. Teacher. Healer. We are thanking you for this special day. We are praying and begging you to shower these people with your blessings and give them eternal peace. Touch the people around me, keep them happy and safe . Give them love, compassion and care. Thank you Lord for this lovely event and thank you for American FRRME. Thank you for this great place and this Center that is the reason for all of the blessings and the great things for all the Iraqi people that are living here in Madaba. Bless all the people here dear God. Bless our event. Bless all the things that we do and allow all the people to feel happy and excited today. Blessed be your name, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen. ​ American FRRME’s Mission of Hope, Help, and Healing American Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (American FRRME) is a U.S.-based Christian charity that aims to bring hope, help and healing in the Middle East, assisting Iraqi Christian refugees and other religious minorities. ​ American FRRME works to support the ongoing needs of Iraqis – primarily Christian Iraqis – who fled Iraq and Kurdistan during the ISIS insurgency in 2014. The organization supports those displaced within Iraq many of whom remain living in Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps in Baghdad and northern Iraq, as well as supporting those who fled to neighboring Jordan. ​ Working in partnership with churches in Iraq and Jordan, American FRRME is on the ground, providing food, clothing, education and more. In 2019 we established the Olive Tree Center in Madaba, Jordan. The center provides a safe and accessible place for Iraqi refugees to gather together and celebrate their culture together. Crucially, the center provides education and therapeutic activities including English classes, sewing, art and music, along with a mosaic and wood workshop and fresh produce garden.

David E. Greer Scholarship: A Legacy to Enrich Lives By Keely Jahns Published On March 24, 2022 The General David E. Greer Scholarship Fund has been established in memory of the organization’s former Executive Director, Brigadier General David Greer who lost his life in a tragic accident in 2020. ​ “David had a deep affection for the people of Iraq”, says his wife and current serving Executive Director of American FRRME, Susan Greer. “Long after his retirement from the armed forces, David continued to help Iraqis rebuild their lives.” ​ A life-long student, much of General Greer’s efforts were centered around providing education to vulnerable children. During his time with American FRRME, he advocated for funding for the education of Iraqi refugee children in Jordan and helped establish a school in Kurdistan for Yazidi girls. ​ “There is a critical lack of access to education for refugees around the world,” says Susan, “and this is no different in Jordan where we are working with thousands of refugees who fled Iraq when ISIS swept through.” ​ According to a 2019 report by the UN Refugee Agency, out of 7.2 million refugee children around the world, only 3.7 million have the opportunity to attend school. Globally, 91% of children attend elementary (primary) school, whereas only 63% of refugee children have this opportunity. ​ Susan continues, “The lack of school is felt keenly by the refugees we help. They come from a culture that prizes education, and disruption to their education as a result of war, displacement, trauma, persecution and poverty is having a devastating impact on their lives and their futures.” Refugees are not permitted to work in Jordan, so with little or no income, private education is out of reach for the majority of these Iraqi families. ​ Many children see little hope for their future. They see their parents forced to remain at home in poverty rather than earning a living. They understand all too well the implications of not getting an education, and, without an education, their dream of a better future is fading fast. The General David E. Greer Scholarship Fund and the education programs at our Olive Tree Center in Madaba, Jordan are crucial to the future of the next generation of Iraqis. ​ As these young people get older, the barriers that prevent them from accessing learning become harder to overcome and it is common for youth to drop out of primary and secondary school for reasons of cost or a need to support their families. Continuing past the 8th grade is one of the deciding factors in whether a child finishes their education at all. ​ “One of David’s greatest goals,” says Susan, “was to help children in our programs to finish the eighth grade.” ​ The children and young people supported by our Olive Tree Center in Madaba, Jordan are part of many programs aimed at providing hope, help, and healing for the intense trauma that many Iraqis experienced as they fled their homes at a young age. ​ “Healing after trauma is a complex process, and one of the most critical pieces of the puzzle is providing young people with educational opportunities that will allow them to advance in life,” says Susan. “Through the General David E. Greer Scholarship Fund, we hope to keep these vulnerable students in school and provide an opportunity for a successful future.” ​ American Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (American FRRME) is a US-based Christian charity that aims to bring hope, help, and healing in the Middle East, assisting Iraqi Christian refugees and other religious minorities. ​ American FRRME’s work is focused on the Iraqi people, those displaced in Iraq as a result of war and ISIS, impoverished Iraqis in Baghdad, those that remained or returned to their destroyed town on the Nineveh Plain in Kurdistan, and those that fled Iraq and live as refugees in Jordan. ​ Working in partnership with churches in Iraq and Jordan, American FRRME is on the ground, providing food, clothing, shelter, education and more. In 2019 we established the Olive Tree Center in Madaba, Jordan. The center provides a safe and accessible place for Iraqi refugees to gather together and celebrate their culture together. Crucially, the center provides education and therapeutic activities including English classes, sewing, art and music, along with a mosaic and wood workshop and fresh produce garden. ​ Brigadier General David Greer dedicated his life to helping those in need. He was a decorated member of the Army National Guard who proudly accepted the task of rebuilding lives in Iraq, even well into his retirement from the armed forces. It was there that he saw the need of the people, particularly persecuted Christians, and helped to establish programs that would improve their lives. ​ While in Baghdad, he established a Boy Scout Troop, and assisted St. George’s Anglican Church in obtaining reconstruction grants through the US State Department. He helped the church construct a Kindergarten with clean, safe restrooms – something that is not always guaranteed in schools across the Middle East and the developing world. ​ A life-long student, much of General Greer’s efforts were centered around providing education to vulnerable children. As a member of philanthropic organizations, he supported scholarships, a large number of them through his alma mater, the University of Tennessee. As Executive Director of American FRRME, he advocated for and obtained funding education for the refugee children in Jordan, as well as helped establish a school in Kurdistan for Yazidi girls. ​ General Greer sadly passed away in 2020 and the General David E Greer Scholarship Fund has been established in his memory.

Inter-Organizational Cooperation Aims to Bring Clean Water to Sinjar by Keely Jahns September 1, 2022 Like the Christian communities of Northern Iraq, when the ISIS insurgents swept across the Nineveh Plain in 2014, over 400,000 Yazidis were also displaced. This year, fighting has displaced thousands more. From the initial wave, much like how our Christian brothers and sisters in Jordan and other neighboring countries, have not found the region suitable for a return; around 250,000 Yazadis who sought refuge in neighboring regions found they had nothing to return to as well. The businesses, homes, and basic services like water and electricity were severely disrupted in their hometowns. In many places, the infrastructure in place prior to the invasion was either too delicate to withstand attack or it was deliberately sabotaged by the insurgents. Upon returning, what water was left, if any at all, was not clean enough to drink. Several NGOs have made it their mission to return the water to Sinjar. Inter-organizational cooperation to implement programs for Yazidis is signaling a focus on Northern Iraq, not previously seen, and will potentially help to reroot the lives of hundreds of thousands who wish to return to their homeland. News like this brings us abundant hope for our mission of hope, help and healing for the people of Iraq. In 2021, the United Nations Office for Project Services and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) announced their plans to dig wells and resume clean water distribution to the people of Sinjar . Similarly, the The Building Peaceful Futures Project, a cooperation of the Australian Government and Save the Children , began initiating plans to dig wells for the Yazidi communities in Sinjar. One of these projects, implemented by Save the Children, was sorely needed for the Yazidi communities that have begun returning to the region. In the meantime, the organization and others like it, are working to rebuild the infrastructure to resume water filtration to homes, businesses and schools by distributing clean water in bottles and larger tanks with purification units. This has enabled families to return to Sinjar and to enroll their children in school again, without fear that they will have no water to drink or that they will become sick from the water that is available to them during the school day. “I love Sinjar so much because it is my homeland, my home, the place where I was born,” says 13-year-old Rana* (name changed for security reasons) from Iraq, in a recent interview with Save the Children. Rana is a Yazidi from Sinjar who was six years old when ISIS took her town. Her family had to flee into the mountains for safety. They stayed there for seven nights with little food and water. After more than three years of living in a displacement camp, Rana’s family was ready to move back home. They join many Yazidis who are determined to rebuild their homes, despite the violence that continues to destabilize parts of northern Iraq. Rana remembers the moment she returned to school. “When the schools opened, there were not many teachers…the old water tanks were perforated and the water was dirty so we just washed our hands with it.” The organization distributed water tanks and sterilization units to the school, and set up water distribution networks all over Sinjar. This is making an enormous difference in the lives of the communities that call Sinjar home. This mission, and others like it, is an important piece in the puzzle of helping life resume for those who have been displaced by sectarian violence. International and inter-organizational cooperation like this will be absolutely critical moving forward for our organization, and any other organization that shares the same geopolitical spaces that we do. If we are to rebuild Northern Iraq for its most vulnerable communities, particularly in areas with broken infrastructure and continuing challenges posed by political and sectarian violence, we must work together to provide basic needs and a restart to all who are returning. Previously, our work in Northern Iraq has helped Christians and Yazidis rebuild businesses and resume their lives. We also work to provide hope, help and healing to the diaspora of Iraqi Christians who have refugee status in Jordan. Our mission continues with a laser focus on bettering the lives of the Iraqi people within Iraq. In Baghdad, St. George’s Church and Clinic continues to provide essential dental care to the people of the city. Amongst the refugee community residing in Jordan, the General Greer Scholarship will help provide children with the tools they need to succeed in school and brighten their futures wherever they go; whether that is a future in Northern Iraq, or anywhere else in the world. This work by Save the Children, the Australian Government, the United Nations and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) is an encouraging development in the mission to restore the lives of refugees and displaced persons. As we grow and expand our own programs, inter-organizational cooperation like this is essential. American FRRME’s Mission of Hope, Help, and Healing American Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (American FRRME) is a U.S.-based Christian charity that aims to bring hope, help and healing in the Middle East, assisting Iraqi Christian refugees and other religious minorities. American FRRME works to support the ongoing needs of Iraqis – primarily Christian Iraqis – who fled Iraq and Kurdistan during the ISIS insurgency in 2014. The organization supports those displaced within Iraq many of whom remain living in Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps in Baghdad and northern Iraq, as well as supporting those who fled to neighboring Jordan. Working in partnership with churches in Iraq and Jordan, in 2019 we established the Olive Tree Center in Madaba, Jordan. The center currently provides a safe and accessible place for Iraqi refugees to gather together and celebrate their culture together. Crucially, the center provides education and therapeutic activities including English classes, sewing, art and music, along with a mosaic and wood workshop and fresh produce garden.

Iraqi Christians Build Thriving Digital Discipleship Culture by Keely Jahns September 23, 2022 Adapted from an article by Christian Headlines Mission Network News recently covered a story about the growing culture of “digital church” within Iraq. Iraq is home to an ancient community of Christians, and within that community there are Christians of every background and denomination. Having been deeply persecuted over years, Christians in Iraq have a great need for community and spiritual connections with their brothers and sisters in Christ. For new Christians especially, it is dangerous to seek out spiritual resources as a convert in many parts of the world. Conversion to Christianity is frowned upon in much of the Islamic world, and Iraq is no exception. ​ In many parts of Iraq, there is a culture of hostility that makes it dangerous for Christians to open up about their faith with others, and this applies whether or not someone is a new Christian or is part of an established Christian community. As a result of this, many Iraqis have found ways to use technology to connect with other Christians and bolster their faith. Digital church culture is thriving in Iraq. ​ “Having access to smartphones has opened up an avenue for [Iraqis] to hear about the Gospel and the hope and the joy offered in Jesus Christ,” says Samuel from the organization Redemptive Stories. “After that, there needs to be an opportunity for discipleship. And that’s where the digital church comes in.” ​ Samuel went on to say that many people have come to faith in places without physical churches. This especially applies to places in the rural south and west, far away from the big cities. And many people are coming to faith in the risen Jesus. Samuel says, “I think the biggest shock has been the sheer numbers. If you look at the numbers from different organizations, in terms of those that have responded to the Gospel, some are counting numbers in the millions.” Praise God for the connections being built between Christians in Iraq. ​ As people move back into areas destroyed by the Islamic State, some have begun rebuilding churches . Samuel says, “That is the ideal. And we look at digital churches in many cases as the bridge to the ideal.” ​ American Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (American FRRME) is a U.S.-based Christian charity that aims to bring hope, help and healing in the Middle East, assisting Iraqi Christian refugees and other religious minorities. ​ American FRRME works to support the ongoing needs of Iraqis – primarily Christian Iraqis – who fled Iraq and Kurdistan during the ISIS insurgency in 2014. The organization supports those displaced within Iraq many of whom remain living in Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps in Baghdad and northern Iraq, as well as supporting those who fled to neighboring Jordan.

Please Join Us On Facebook Live To Pay Respects To General David E. Greer By Alice Seeley Published On October 26, 2022 American Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East invites you to join us on Facebook Live to pay our respects to our former Executive Director, Brigadier General David E. Greer. General Greer passed away on July 30th, 2020 in Santa Cruz, California. He was 69 years old. A native of Memphis, David graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery Corps. He served on active duty and in the Tennessee Army National Guard for 36 years, retiring in 2008 as a Brigadier General. After retiring from the Armed Forces, General Greer worked for the State Department with the Baghdad Provincial Reconstruction Team. It was there that he met and married his wife and best friend, Susan. In 2011, the Greers moved back to Maine and retired, but David’s work was not over. In 2012, he was asked to use his talents to head American FRRME, and he served as Executive Director until his death. General Greer is survived by his wife, Susan; his daughter, Kathryn Greer Harvey (Chad); grandson, Caleb; and stepson, Richard Depolo. A memorial service will take place on Thursday, October 29, 2020, 3:30 pm PST, at Central California Coast Veterans’ Cemetery in Seaside, California. The service will be led by Steven Lefever, Lay Minister of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Ben Lomond, California.

New Catholic Church and University Bringing Hope, Help, and Healing to Christians in Erbil By Keely Jahns Published On February 24, 2022 “Christians in Iraq will not become a museum exhibit for religious tourists to come and view.” – Father Benedict Kiely ​ It was August 2014. Erbil and the roads out of Northern Iraq were filled with hundreds of thousands of Christians living in encampments on roadsides, in shells of buildings and churches. Many stayed in church gardens and cemeteries, with 3nowhere else to go as they fled the ISIS insurgency, often searching for loved ones who had gone missing in the chaos. ​ The camps were filled with those who fled their indigenous lands on the Nineveh Plain. It was and is the seat of the most ancient practicing Christians in the world, with the first congregations said to have been established there by Saint Thomas himself. A region with a direct connection to the events of the New Testament, some of the remains of the disciple were kept in a shrine in Mosul, until the insurgency in 2014. ​ ISIS fighters had been closing in on small villages across Northern Iraq. For weeks leading up to this, the terror group insisted that Christians in the regions of which they gained control would be guarenteed relative safety as “people of the book,” a special designation within Islam for both Christians and Jews. This would afford them a legal status called “dhimmi,” which would require them to pay a special tax called “jizya” in exchange for protection, much like paying tribute to a mob boss. ​ While not ideal, it seemed that native Christians might have been able to survive, even in the face of an attack on their homeland. However, as the insurgency closed in, it became clear that the terrorists had no intention of sparing Christians, or any groups they deemed as “other.” There was an active slaughterings of villages, forced conversions, rapes, and extortion. The assets of Christian families were frequently seized. Cities and villages were emptied and looted, and ancient churches were burned, their relics often destroyed. ​ Surviving Christians in occupied territories had their homes and businesses marked with the Arabic letter nun or “ن” (Latin equivalent “n”) a shorthand for the Arabic translation of the word “Nazarene,” (a name which was originally adopted by the first Christians in the Roman Empire) which is now pejorative for Christians in these regions, considered to be a symbol of Islamic animosity toward Christians. The marking of homes with this symbol was almost always a precursor to extermination. ​ In the early morning hours of August the 6th, 2014, ISIS moved into the Nineveh Plain, in a wave of violence, horror, and chaos. Christians living on the Nineveh Plain were given three choices: convert, flee, or die. Many woke in the dead of night and fled on foot with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Stavro, an active participant in activities at AFFRME’s Olive Tree Center ; who fled with his family at the age of 6, recalls an early memory of his escape: ​ “A part of us died that day. We had to flee our city overnight, because if we stayed, we would have starved or died. We walked many miles to get away, with so many dead people, burned houses, and bodies. We asked our parents when we could return to our joys, our schools, and normal life, but we had no answer. We didn’t know how we would survive, but we believed God was with us.” ​ Since the Caliphate was defeated, some Christians have been slowly returning, but have found it difficult to reestablish their lives. Only around 50% of those displaced have returned to the historically Christian towns on the Nineveh Plain. It has proven difficult to rebuild many areas that have had their businesses decimated and their agricultural industries greatly disrupted by the ISIS insurgent’s blatant destruction of farmland and equipment. Centuries old groves were laid to waste, such as the olive tree farm that AFFRME has helped to reestablish for survivors in Bashiqa. As we have investigated previously, the Iraqi government affords few rights to those returning, and to those who have stayed. They struggle to be seen and heard in their country’s political processes and are often shut out of public political office , with few of their votes counted. The government in Northern Iraq is increasingly unstable after last year’s contested election. Even more concerning yet, is the growing presence of Iranian-backed Shiite militias. ​ Iran now describes the entirety of the Nineveh plain a “disputed territory,” in an attempt to influence a power vacuum left after the defeat of ISIS and by decade-long civil war in neighboring Syria. Both Iraqi government forces and Kurdish authorities claim authority in Northern Iraq. Turkish forces, backed by Iran, are launching bombing campaigns into historically Christian areas of Kurdistan. And now, even nominally Christian militias are finding themselves under the control of Iranian-run militia cells. ​ While it is true that, at the moment, Christians are not being killed for their faith in Iraq, persecution is now, according to Archbishop Bashar Warda, the Chaldean Catholic archbishop of Erbil, a “systematic persecution,” or, in the words of another priest on the Nineveh Plain, a “silent persecution.” ​ Everyone is feeling the pressure from these Shiite separatist groups. Even the historically Christian town of Bartella has had its main street renamed for “martyrs,” of the Islamic Shiite militia in an attempt to change the town’s Christian heritage. A massive billboard was placed in town that showed these “martyrs” alongside a picture of Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei, who created Iran’s oppressive Islamic theocracy. Because of this threatening atmosphere, fewer than 1/3rd of 3,800 Christian families have returned to Bartella. Archbishop Warda described life for Christians as “second or third class citizens,” with no rights under the Iraqi constitution. He also warned that, in times of political instability in Iraq, like the present chaos following the contested elections, it is always the religious minorities, particularly Christians and Yazidis, who suffer. ​ Yet, Christians in Erbil cling to hope for a brighter future. Just two years ago, a new college, Catholic University, was constructed in the suburb of Ankawa. This will provide education and employment opportunities for the people of Erbil, a higher visibility for Christians in the area, and a firm statement that they are there to stay. A Catholic church is also under construction in the Christian quarter of Erbil. Despite not yet having pews or a fixed altar, the first Masses were to be celebrated there at Christmas. In the words of Father Benedict Kiely: ​ “[Despite] the struggles and dangers, there are signs of hope for the future, and positive developments, which [means] that Christians in Iraq will not become a museum exhibit for religious tourists to come and view. Even though the number of Christians is greatly diminished, there is now a core group, including many young people, who want to stay and make a future in their native land.” ​ America FRRME supports educational and occupational opportunities across Iraq, specifically for those who remain in and are returning to the Nineveh Plain, through our Nineveh SEED program . We also support healthcare and educational opportunities for Iraqis of all walks of life through St. George’s Anglican Church and Clinic in Baghdad. ​ We stand in solidarity with our Christian brothers and sisters across the Middle East and are an organization that is committed to helping Christians and other minority groups across denominational lines. We are committed to helping Iraqi Christians and Yazidis return to their homeland and rebuild their lives, while providing them with the resources for hope, help and healing. ​ Sadly, only around 50% of the Christians displaced by the ISIS insurgency in 2014 have returned. For the 50% that remain scattered in places like Jordan, we also are committed to providing hope, help, and healing. Our programs in Jordan, particularly at the Olive Tree Center in Madaba, are aimed at lifting refugees from poverty and providing them with opportunities to learn trades and find inner healing so that they can have bright futures wherever they choose to go in the world. While the refugees at the Olive Tree Center are by law not allowed to work, they are still being taught meaningful and pertinent skills for future careers in everything from carpentry to cosmetology. ​ Will you continue supporting our brothers and sisters in Iraq and the Middle East? Every donation goes toward rebuilding lives and reigniting hope in those who have lost everything. Please pray for the people of Iraq, particularly those who have returned to build their lives in the face of continuing hostilities against the Body of Christ. Please pray for the programs that America FRRME and our partners are initiating in the region, that they will provide refugees with opportunities to thrive, as well as for the ongoing safety of our partners across the region. Finally, please pray for the people being served at the Olive Tree Center, that they will find hope, help and healing within its walls.

August 6th Event at Olive Tree Center Garners Worldwide Media Attention for Iraqi Refugees by Keely Jahns August 11, 2022 On August 6th, 2022, Iraqi refugees and friends of the community gathered at the Olive Tree Center in Madaba, Jordan to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the ISIS invasion of the Nineveh Plain. Their displays of resilience and joy were an affront to the the insurgents who inflicted terror on their communities eight years ago. The event was a brilliant display of culture and healing, and has garnered attention from news outlets around the world. See what the press is saying about the event, about Iraqi Christians, and our mission, here: ​ The Baptist Press | Christians still displaced from northern Iraq 8 years after ISIS invasion The Christian Post | Refugees commemorate 8th anniversary of Islamic State invasion of Iraq Baptist Standard | Iraqi Christians still displaced eight years after ISIS invasion Church Leaders | Christians Still Displaced From Northern Iraq 8 Years After ISIS Invasion Christianity Daily (South Korea) – IS 이라크 침공 8주기…미 구호단체 “기독교 난민 100만명 무국적자” (8th Anniversary of the IS Invasion of Iraq… US Aid Group Says 1 Million Christian Refugees are Stateless) Real America’s Voice | American Sunrise | AFRRME Chairman, Col. Max Wood, on American Sunrise discussing the persecution of Iraqi Christians ​ The Worldview in 5 Minutes Podcast Features: ​ Iraqi Christians Attacked by ISIS Need YOUR Help Christian Iraqis Celebrate 7-year Anniversary After ISIS attack Iraqi Christians Mark Tragic Anniversary ​ Life is not easy for Iraqi refugees. As adversity grows, programs are needed to protect the most vulnerable of these refugees. American FRRME is committed to offering long term self-sustaining programs and opportunities to help empower refugees and Internally Displaced Persons. Donations to American FRRME go to programs that will aid in the survival of families facing violence across the Middle East.

Priest Murdered in Northwest Pakistan By Keely Jahns Published On February 3, 2022 On January 30th, 2022, Bishop William Siraj, Father Naaem Patrick, and a third, yet unnamed priest had just finished celebrating Sunday Mass in the Gulbahar neighbourhood of Peshawar City, Pakistan. The holy men were walking home in peace, when the unthinkable happened. ​ A motorcycle or motorcycles neared the group, before the peaceful mist of this cool Sunday walk was interrupted by the rattle of gunshots. ​ Multiple shots were fired, striking Bishop Siraj, aged 75, several times. Father Naaem Patrick was wounded, and the unnamed priest was unharmed. According to police, Bishop Siraj died immediately. Father Naaem was taken to the hospital to receive medical attention for his wounds. ​ The gunmen escaped on what police believed to be motorcycles, initiating a provincial manhunt. Law enforcement is still scrambling to find CCTV footage of the gunmen escaping after the attack. As of yet, the killers have not been found, and no terror or other extremist group has taken responsibility for the attack. ​ Additional policemen were deployed around Peshawar’s All Saints Church, where a memorial service for Father Siraj was attended by more than 3,000 mourners on Monday, January 31st. The memorial service was held at the same church that was attacked by militants with bombs and gunfire in 2013. More than 70 worshippers were killed and 100 were wounded in that attack, one of Pakistan’s worst targeting Christians. ​ Hina Jilani, chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, condemned the killing, saying the commission sees the attack “as a blatant assault not only on Pakistan’s Christian community but on all religious minorities whose right to life and security of person remains under constant threat”. ​ This is far from the first time that violence has been committed against Pakistan’s Christian minority. Ranked eighth on Open Doors World Watch List , Pakistan is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian. For reference, the neighboring nation of Iraq, where many of our initiatives to help those under severe persecution are located, is ranked 14th. Open Doors lists the persecution in these countries as “extreme,” and “very high.” ​ Pakistan’s national constitution sanctions discrimination against Christians and other minorities, barring them from holding positions in the federal government such as Prime Minister, President, or Judge. Evangelism of any kind is forbidden, and those suspected of proselytizing face prison time. ​ Forced conversion is commonplace, with one Christian journalist forced to quit her job at a prominent news outlet in 2019 because she would not convert to Islam. That is the least of the violence against Christians in Pakistan, with reports of Christians facing extreme violence, such as sexual assault, beatings, and murder for their refusal to convert to Islam. ​ Women from minority religious groups are often subjected to vicious kidnappings and forced marriages to Islamic extremists. Conversions to Christianity by Muslim-born individuals are not recognized as valid by the Pakistani government and are punishable by death under the nation’s blasphemy laws. ​ Violence against Christians in Pakistan has been a fact of life for several decades, with the situation becoming increasingly dangerous in the last few years. ​ In 2009, there was a series of pogroms against Christians in Pakistan, at the hands of Islamic extremists, known as the Gojra riots. Eight people were killed, including a child, with many others beaten and maimed, with homes and businesses also burned down in acts of brutal mob violence. ​ In 2012, protesters broke through the gates of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Mardan, burning the church and its connected school. ​ On March 15th 2015, two blasts took place at a Roman Catholic Church and a Christ Church during Sunday service at Youhanabad town of Lahore. At least 15 people were killed and 70 were wounded in the attacks. ​ On March 27th 2016, at least 70 were killed and over 340 wounded when a Pakistani Taliban suicide bomber targeted Christians celebrating Easter and attacked a playground in Lahore. On December 17th 2017, 9 were killed and 57 injured in an ISIS bombing. ​ Muslims make up a little over 96% of the population in Pakistan. The largest minority religion in Pakistan is Hinduism, at a little over 2%. Christians in Pakistan are a small minority of the country, at just 1.27% of the population, and are disproportionately targeted by their muslim neighbors. Christians in Pakistan are largely members of the Punjabi culture, and are mostly of Dalit ancestry, meaning that they or their ancestors converted to Christianity from Hinduism before the independence of Pakistan in 1947. ​ Dalit is the lowest social caste in Hindu culture, known colloquially as “untouchables.” They were historically enslaved and exploited by the upper class in India, where they were subjugated based on Hindu religious teaching that placed their community at the bottom of society. These are the most vulnerable and marginalized people in their greater communities. Adopting the Christian religion in such a heavily opposed environment has proven difficult and dangerous for many. ​ AFFRME stands in solidarity with our brothers and sisters across the Middle East, in places such as Pakistan. We are committed to sharing their stories, and implementing programs, such as our initiatives in Iraq and Jordan, that we hope will bring relief and reconciliation to the region. Our aim is to provide help, hope, and healing to Christians and other religious minorities fleeing oppression in the Middle East Please keep the Christians of Pakistan in your prayers.

Christian Villages Emptied Once Again By Keely Jahns Published On December 6, 2021 Iraqi Christians are under siege once again. ​ Christian villages across Kurdistan are bracing for bombardment. On November 6th, 2021, Turkish bombs fell over the town of Father Samir Youssef, an Iraqi priest who has seen wave after wave of violence hit his region. According to Samir, this is the first time in about a year that Christians in the surrounding towns have faced bombardment from Turkish forces. However, it isn’t the first time that Iraqi Christians had to flee their homes. ​ In 2014, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Christians had to flee their homes in the nearby Nineveh Plain in the middle of the night with only the clothes on their backs, fearing for the safety of their friends and loved ones as they fled the onslaught of ISIS. ​ Today, many remain scattered across the Middle East, in places like the Kingdom of Jordan, where they receive hope, help, and healing through initiatives by the American Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (American FRRME) like the Olive Tree Center and its many programs. Programs include music and art therapy, tutoring, and even a new community gardening project in Fuheis. Many have also been able to return to Northern Iraq, where America FRRME has sponsored several apprenticeship programs and agricultural start-ups. ​ A chicken farm and bakery in Qaraqosh are two examples of the programs that are helping to reestablish the lives of refugees as they return to Iraq. It is the aim of American FRRME’s efforts to help those returning to find stable work, learn new trades, and to provide hope for the future. However, this new threat of violence, as well as increasing cases of COVID-19, are making it difficult for Iraqi Christians and other minority groups to rebuild their hometowns. ​ As of the 21st of November, many villages were emptied once again, just as they were seven years ago. ​ According to Father Samir, today, “the fear is tangible.” Continuing on he noted the impact of Turkish attacks saying they “stopped tourism after a phase of recovery and made it difficult to cultivate fields or keep factories open, for fear of being hit.” ​ Through American FRRME initiatives in Iraq, there is hope that despite threats of violence, we can help to rebuild this region. The Christians in Iraq need help now more than ever. Please join us in prayer for the Iraqi people, and consider supporting American FRRME’s initiatives to help these beautiful people rebuild their lives.

The Iraq Refugee Crisis By Alice Seeley Published On May 21, 2020 Iraq has suffered from decades of conflict with other nations and internal strife. However, the current Iraqi refugee crisis began when militants attacked Christians and ethnic minorities. ​ In 2014, ISIS, the militant group known for its brutality, started to seize territory in western and northern Iraq. Children and families, primarily Christians, were victims of targeted violence as well as being caught in the crossfire. The communities they built and enjoyed were destroyed. Many were forced to flee with only the clothes on their backs. ​ The ongoing violence in Iraq has created a distressing humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, leaving millions of Iraqis displaced in and outside of their country. The current Iraqi refugee crisis is the largest displacement of people in the Middle East since 1948. Since 2015, 4.2 million Iraqis have been forced to flee their homes, with over 2 million of them seeking asylum in neighboring countries such as Jordan and Syria. ​ There are few places on earth where Christianity is as old as it is in Iraq. Iraqi Christian communities can trace their founding back to the first century A.D. In the early 2000s, there were 1.2 million Christians living in Iraq. Today, due to persecution by ISIS, that number is less than 250,000 — an eighty percent drop in less than two decades. ​ The American Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East assists displaced Christians in Iraq and Jordan by providing food, shelter, medical care, and help with relocation. The Foundation’s operations in Baghdad, Northern Iraq, and Amman Jordan have helped thousands to recover from the shock and trauma of sectarian violence and start a new life. Please consider donating to help us keep providing these services. ​ American FRRME is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes reconciliation, provides relief efforts, advances human rights, and seeks an end to sectarian violence in the Middle East. ​ To make a donation to American FRRME, please visit https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/frrmeamerica?code=WebsiteGeneral The Refugee Crisis and Education By Alice Seeley Published On May 15, 2020 In most of the western world, the vast majority of children attend school from kindergarten through 12th grade. But not everyone in the world is this privileged. Many First world children view school as a chore and complain about it, children in refugee camps would be overjoyed. Out of the 7.1 million refugee children of school age, 3.7 million — more than half– do not have the opportunity to attend school. Only 63 percent of refugee children go to primary school, compared to 91 percent of non-refugee children. ​ The lack of schools is keenly felt by refugees, who often come from cultures that prize education. Pre-civil war, for example, the Syrian government worked hard to ensure free, public education for all and subsidized post-secondary education. The Syrian culture, as a whole, had a great appreciation for the arts. And in general, education is becoming much more available throughout the Middle East, with the number of college graduates increasing dramatically in the past decade. But where conflict erupts, the effects on countries with established educational systems can be devastating. ​ The situation is even bleaker as refugee children get older. Around the world, 84 percent of adolescents go to secondary school, while only 24 percent of refugee teens have this opportunity. As these young people get older, the barriers that prevent them from accessing learning become harder to overcome. ​ Refugees, like all people around the world, deserve an opportunity to be educated. Going to school gives refugee children a routine and a place of security despite the chaos around them. More importantly, it is the surest road to success after being displaced. An education gives refugees the chance to move on, rise above their circumstances, and rebuild their lives. ​ The American Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East gives refugees this life-changing gift. In 2015, the foundation initiated an afternoon school for Christian refugees in the suburbs of Amman, Jordan, which has gone on to be recognized as a model school in the region. Since then, they have underwritten tuition for refugees attending private schools, provided books and other materials to schools in settlement camps, funded construction and provisioning of an all-girls school in a settlement camp, funded Kindergarten and university expenses for refugee youth in Kurdistan, and taught English classes to both children and adults. Your generous donation will help them continue this work. ​ American FRRME is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes reconciliation, provides relief efforts, advances human rights, and seeks an end to sectarian violence in the Middle East. ​ To make a donation to American FRRME, please visit https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/frrmeamerica?code=WebsiteGeneral