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Iraq
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Iraq
Republic of Iraq
Asia
See Prayer Information
Geography
Area: 438,317 sq km
Fertile plains of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; high mountains to the north and Syrian desert in southwest. Site of the ancient Sumerian, Assyrian and Babylonian Empires.
Population: 31,466,698 Annual Growth: 2.19%
Capital: Baghdad
Urbanites: 66.4%
Peoples
Peoples: 34 (62% unreached) All peoples
Unreached Peoples Prayer Card
Official language: Arabic; Kurdish Languages: 26 All languages
Religion
Largest Religion: Muslim
| Religion | Pop % | Ann Gr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christians | 500,320 | 1.59 | -2.4 |
| Evangelicals | 53,371 | 0.2 | 3.4 |
| Muslim | 30,179,710 | 95.91 |
Answer to Prayer
The emergence of Iraqi Arab evangelicals in recent years is an answer to prayer. During Hussein’s rule, there were a few hundred; now there are an estimated 53,000 in the country. Many of them come from Muslim backgrounds but have encountered Christ through evangelical witness, gospel radio and especially through dreams and visions of Jesus. They are obvious targets for persecution.
Challenge for Prayer
Many deep divisions run like fault lines through Iraqi society – Kurds against Arabs, Shi’as against Sunnis, Muslims against religious minorities, secular Baathists against Islamist groups. These groups jostle for the power and money that could be wrested from Iraq’s uncertain future. These divisions run deep; they cripple the future hope of Iraq and cannot be erased overnight – probably not even in one generation. Only the power of the gospel is potent enough; pray that somehow, against all odds, the good news might break through, and Iraq might be transformed by God’s love and justice.
For an additional 9 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
More Information
The Operation World book, CD-ROM, and DVD-ROM provide far more information and fuel for prayer for the people of Iraq.
