Call2Prayer: September 2022 - New Media Teams in Northern Iraq

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We’ve prayed regularly over the last 18 months for our emerging vision, to holistically equip, mentor and mobilise new Christian media teams across the region, made up of individuals from different backgrounds who are passionate about reaching their own communities with the love of Jesus. Having already begun walking alongside multiple teams from various pockets of North Africa, we are delighted to now also be beginning to partner with a well-established church and existing ministry based in Northern Iraq, to cultivate two new teams made up of Kurdish and Iranian believers from Muslim backgrounds.

Following on from a trip made by our Director of New Media Teams back in May, we are now working in partnership with this church and ministry with the specific goal of providing digital training and support, to best help these Kurdish and Iranian believers to effectively produce and apply content that identifies with, reaches and is understood by their home communities.  

In a part of the world where religion permeates every aspect of society, and misconceptions about Christianity abound, digital media offers profound opportunities to connect with otherwise unreachable people groups. At MEM, we are passionate about empowering, enabling and equipping individuals from these communities, even rather than using media created by believers from a majority Christian background in the Middle East. By speaking the correct dialect and adhering to cultural nuances in the presentation of the Gospel, not only is their comprehension amplified, but its relevance to these individuals is conveyed with far greater significance. For a Kurdish Muslim to hear that someone from a town near theirs, with the same spiritual upbringing, challenges and understanding of the world, has decided to follow Jesus…the Gospel must be worth taking a closer look at.  

Our work alongside these new teams will extend over a number of years, but begins, funding permitting, with the initial provision of digital skills training for at least 15 individuals from both Kurdish and Iranian backgrounds through this existing ministry base in Northern Iraq. This training will equip them with key skills in creating effective Christian content. From this, our team will work alongside their local ministry leaders to identify a number of passionate individuals from each ethic group with leadership potential who will, God willing, establish a new media ministry group for each language. The goal is for a new audio studio to be established within the church to support these two new media ministries, as they initiate and populate social media platforms and a new online radio station that reaches and engages their target audiences for Christ.

This is an incredibly exciting opportunity, both for MEM and this group of believers. The aims of this partnership are ambitious, and will require divine wisdom and strategy to ensure that each new ministry is properly equipped – practically, mentally and spiritually – to sustainably deliver the Good News to these communities in appropriate ways. Therefore, please join us in prayer for this vision!

 

“Everything vital to the success of the world's evangelization hinges on prayer.” – John Mott

 

Prayer points for this new ministry:

  • For adequate funding allowing the initial training in Northern Iraq to begin with confidence, and for our MEM support offices (UK and US) currently seeking funds for this initial training work.

  • For travel arrangments and correct visa permits for the 3-4 trainers that will travel to this area.

  • For our staff working alongside these believers and existing ministry partners in Iraq. For wisdom, cultural sensitivity, patience, and love, and for this partnership to be a blessing to both teams.

  • For safety and protection, as this ministry begins to operate in a potentially unstable political climate, and in areas that are hostile to the Gospel.

  • For the spiritual maturity and growth of these 15 individuals, and more who will come alongside – for them to grow in Christlikeness, and grow in love for reaching their own communities.

  • For the sustainability of these two new teams  – for the right leaders and contributors to be raised up, and the Gospel faithfully proclaimed to unreached hearts in this part of the Middle East.

  • For our teams, and the church leadership in Iraq, to be continually seeking God’s will and striving to bring glory to His name throughout this new initiative.