[2026 Ramadan] Day 25 God’s First Love Where All Civilization Began! The Beginning of All Restoration! The Nation Where God’s Work Will Begin Again—Iraq!

It is often said that without understanding Iraq, it is difficult to fully understand the Old Testament, because many important biblical locations are found in this land.

The region where Babylon was located is called the Plain of Shinar, and it is believed that the Tower of Babel and even the Garden of Eden may have been located in this area. In addition, the ancient capitals of Assyria, including Assur and Nineveh, the tomb of Jonah, and Ur of the Chaldeans, where Abraham the father of faith once lived, are all located in Iraq.

For this reason, Iraq is a very important region that greatly helps us understand the Old Testament.

Approximately 95% of Iraq’s population is Muslim, 1.44% Christian, and about 3% follow other religions. Before 2003, Christians made up about 4% of the population. However, due to persecution during the 2003 Iraq War and the 2014 ISIS offensive, many Christians fled to other countries. Today only 1.44% remain, and among them evangelical Christians make up only about 0.28%. Within Islam itself, Shiites and Sunnis exist in roughly a 6:4 ratio, and conflict between these two sects has continued throughout 1,400 years of Islamic history.

Iraqi Muslims believe that the act of fasting during Ramadan every year makes them holy, healthier, and spiritually purified. However, when the sun sets and it is time to eat, markets, bakeries, and dessert shops quickly fill with crowds of people. Drivers rush through the streets trying to arrive home before the meal time begins. Because they cannot drink water or smoke during the day, many people overeat heavily at night and smoke excessively. At the same time, some Muslims do not actually fast during Ramadan. While they avoid eating publicly, they may eat freely at home and justify it as a matter of personal choice.

There is also an ethnic group in Iraq called the Yazidis, who do not observe the Ramadan fast. The Yazidis are originally an ethnic Kurdish group that has lived for thousands of years in the Sinjar region of northern Iraq. They believe that God created humanity and then sent the archangel Tawûsî Melek (the Peacock Angel) to represent God’s will and govern the world. They also venerate elements of nature such as the sun, fire, and wind, and believe in reincarnation. Because they do not have a formal written scripture, many Muslims accuse them of devil worship, leading to discrimination against them. Because the Yazidis are not Muslims, ISIS targeted them with forced conversions and mass killings. On August 3, 2014, ISIS attacked their homeland, and in a single day they became internally displaced people, forced to leave their homes. During the attack, thousands of men were massacred, and over 6,000 adolescent girls and young women were abducted and sold into sexual slavery by IS.

More than 2,000 individuals remain captive by IS to this day, and their families are anxiously awaiting their return.

Out of an estimated 80 million people historically, the Yazidis have suffered 74 genocides, and today only about 600,000 remain worldwide. More than 90% live in D-city.

In D-city—where they have barely managed to settle—they live scattered across 18 refugee camps and surrounding areas, enduring lives marked by discrimination.

On January 19, fighting broke out again in neighboring Syria between government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)—only one day after a ceasefire agreement had been reached. As a result of the chaos, 1,500 ISIS fighters escaped from prison. Syrian refugees living in the region are deeply discouraged because many of their families and relatives have been killed or harmed in the conflict. Although they are separated from their families, they hold protests and demonstrations in support of the Kurdish people in Syria.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military transferred more than 5,700 ISIS prisoners into Iraq, promising “secure detention.” However, local residents continue living in fear. The Iraqi central government now controls the northern Kurdish region, and even government workers and soldiers receive their salaries only three or four times per year, causing severe financial hardship. Corruption among high-ranking officials has further deepened public distrust. In D-city there are 18 refugee camps, but after the COVID pandemic most NGOs withdrew or remained with only minimal staff. Refugees struggle to find employment, and as a result they endure very harsh and cold conditions without relief.

Iraq is home to several historic Christian communities, including the Syriac Orthodox Church, Chaldean Catholic Church, and various Evangelical church communities. These churches have preserved their faith through centuries of history and tradition. However, in recent years many churches have relied heavily on external financial and structural support, especially from Western churches, and many have suffered ethical and spiritual decline. The Iraqi church needs prayer so that the Lord may renew and restore it once again.

Sister H cares for her children while her husband struggles with a long-term illness. All of her extended family has left the country, leaving her alone in Iraq. One day she cried, saying, “I miss my mother so much.” As we held her and cried together, we shared the gospel with her. Sister H joyfully received the Lord! We then shared the gospel with her eldest son who was standing beside her, and he also received the Lord. Hallelujah! Sister H and her eldest son promised that after Ramadan ends, they will come to the worship gathering. We sow the seeds, and the Lord meets Iraqi souls in His time.

Amen! God’s spiritual work is becoming increasingly clear.

Although the external environment remains unstable and restricted, the work of the Holy Spirit is becoming even more powerful. When we lay down everything and obey, we see God at work. Extraordinary signs and miracles are taking place, and many souls are hearing and receiving the gospel.

In these last days, it is not by our strength but by the power of the Lord that hearts are opening. The fields are already white and ready for harvest. God’s first love will be restored, and His work will begin again.

[Today’s Prayer]

1. May the empty observance of Ramadan collapse, may a movement of repentance arise, and may those who have heard the gospel even once encounter Jesus through dreams and visions and become citizens of heaven!

2. During Ramadan, the AVC (Arab Vision Camp) will take place. May the MBB (Muslim Background Believer) participants overcome fear, persevere in victory, and be raised up as powerful disciples of the Lord!

3. May the Yazidi people, who do not observe Ramadan fasting, also be saved through the power of the Holy Spirit!