Kristopher Keating

The trip to Iraq was an exciting success!  There were six men traveling as an official delegation welcomed by the Government of Iraq.  Patrick Mahoney, Gary Cass, Troy Newman, Keith Ferguson, David Bradshaw and I met in New York to begin our trip.  After several flight cancellations, delays and logistical hiccups beyond our control, we made it into Baghdad on the morning of Friday July 27^th.  When the plane landed, the six of us were escorted in armored vehicles from the tarmac to a special reception/waiting area to prepare for our meeting with the Prime Minister.  In that reception area, we met with George Bakos, a political advisor to Prime Minister Jawad al-Maliki.  Mr. Bakos accompanied us to our subsequent meetings with the Prime Minister and select members of his cabinet – including the Minister of Industry and Minerals, the Government Director of the Christian Committee, and the Minister of Human Rights.

            We met with Prime Minister al-Maliki in the palace that now serves as his office building.  During our meeting, which lasted about an hour, we discussed serious issues facing Iraqi communities, including persecution and discrimination of Christians.  We also presented stone sculpture replicas of the Ten Commandment tablets as a gift.  In exchange, the Prime Minister presented a bas relief depicting the handing down of Hammurabi’s code.  We expressed our commitment to pray and work for peace and reconciliation in Iraq.  The Prime Minister assured us that he was dedicated to protecting religious liberty within their newly democratic government.  We also discussed our plans to improve the awareness and sensitivity in the United States to the issues facing Iraqi people.  The meeting was surprisingly candid and substantive.  At the end of the meeting, we prayed with Mr. al-Maliki.  It was exciting to be praying openly in the name of Jesus Christ for this Muslim leader of Iraq.

            Next, we met with the Minister of Industry (equivalent to our ‘Secretary of Commerce’).  Minister Fawzi Franso Hariri was very positive about the long-term benefits of groups like ours visiting and working for change in Iraq.  As an ethnic Christian, Minister Hariri is very concerned with the plight of Christians in Iraq.  He is interested in encouraging Iraqi Christians who have fled as refugees to return to the country in order to prevent the “extermination” of the Iraqi Christian community.  We talked about the possibility of hosting the Minister to visit and speak at appropriate events here in the United States.  We ended this meeting in prayer.

            From that meeting we went to the Al-Rasheed Hotel to check-in and meet with the Director of the government’s Christian Affairs Committee.  This pastor spoke about an urgent need for action in order to avoid catastrophe for Iraqi Christians.  He said that special protection is needed for the Christian leaders in the country.  He also said that the government needs to become more involved in the struggle for religious freedom for Iraqi citizens. He believes that the ethnic Christian community in Iraq faces extermination.  We prayed with him for peace, protection and wisdom.

            Our next meeting was with the Minister of Human Rights, Wijdan Salim.  During this meeting the delegation presented the Minister with drawings made by American grammar school students.  Minister Salim noted that the drawings differed greatly from the ones she sees drawn by Iraqi children.  She said that Iraqi children draw “tanks, guns and death”.  We discussed the possibility of hosting a group of Iraqi children for a week or two next summer as a type of cultural exchange and education program for Iraq’s youth.  A similar program is already underway in Poland.  As with the other meetings, we closed in prayer for peace in Iraq.

            Our departure from Baghdad was even more complicated and costly than our arrival, but in the end, the six members of the delegation arrived home safely.  Each of us are seeking to better understand the long-term roles we should pursue in order to love our neighbor, Iraq.  We are considering a second trip in the fall.  On this trip, I would more actively investigate long-term ministry needs and opportunities.  The second trip would likely include a visit to Erbil in northern Iraq.

            There are still some loose ends to wrap up as the result of this whirlwind trip.  Because the opportunity and invitation from the Iraqi government came with such short notice and because of the nature of travel to that region, the airfare to Baghdad was very expensive.  Hotel accommodations in Baghdad were provided for by the government of Iraq, but the rest of the expenses for the trip and transit reached about $5,000 per person.  Each of the delegation members is responsible to pay that amount.  I am trusting that God will provide the money that we have yet to pay.  I welcome you to be a part of the adventure! 

            Hillside gained an exciting place in History with our participation on this delegation.  The presence of God was advanced in Iraq through us.  Hillside members and supporters can be proud to be at the vanguard of exciting, world-changing ministry.  It was humbling for me to be included in such a significant event and I pray that God continues to extend the mercy that allows for such thrilling purpose in our lives.

Thank you,

Kristopher J. Keating

Director,  Hillside Missions Organization

P.S.

The day after the delegation returned home, several secular media sources noted that the American political sentiment toward Iraq seemed to have gained unity and optimism over the weekend.  This was one of the topics of our prayers.