Iraq
Iraq is the 39th most populated country in the world. Islam is the national religion with nearly 97 percent of the population practicing. While Christians have lived in the country for more than 2,000 years, persecution in Iraq is pushing them to the edge of extinction.
Praise God armed forces defeated the ISIS stronghold in Mosul and surrounding areas in 2017. But many Christians fear the return of extremism, leading them to never feel completely safe. Christians in Iraq are also struggling to rebuild the crushing blow ISIS dealt. Many have lost everything, except their lives, making day-to-day life a struggle.
Christians are tolerated in the North, where Christian population numbers are higher. But, travel further south, into Baghdad and beyond, and persecution in Iraq drastically increases — especially among Christians from a Muslim background.
Strategies Implemented
Spiritual Encouragement
Income-Generating Projects
Leadership Trainings
Education Support
Childcare
Displacement & Rebuilding Assistance
Trauma Care
Iraq
Iraq is the 39th most populated country in the world. Islam is the national religion with nearly 97 percent of the population practicing. While Christians have lived in the country for more than 2,000 years, persecution in Iraq is pushing them to the edge of extinction.
Praise God armed forces defeated the ISIS stronghold in Mosul and surrounding areas in 2017. But many Christians fear the return of extremism, leading them to never feel completely safe. Christians in Iraq are also struggling to rebuild the crushing blow ISIS dealt. Many have lost everything, except their lives, making day-to-day life a struggle.
Christians are tolerated in the North, where Christian population numbers are higher. But, travel further south, into Baghdad and beyond, and persecution in Iraq drastically increases — especially among Christians from a Muslim background.
Strategies Implemented
Spiritual Encouragement
Income-Generating Projects
Leadership Trainings
Education Support
Childcare
Displacement & Rebuilding Assistance
Trauma Care
42,612,000
Total Population
%
Christian population
Islam
Main Religion
%
residents below poverty level
42,612,000
Total Population
%
Christian population
Islam
Main Religion
%
residents below poverty level
Our Work Here
Take Heart comes alongside local leaders and churches to serve in a community for three to five years. Together, we assess spiritual, technical, and financial needs. We then develop a unique strategic development plan that will empower leaders to impact the community for many years after Take Heart is gone. Specific strategies implemented in Iraq include spiritual encouragement, income-generating projects, leadership trainings, education support, childcare, displacement & rebuilding assistance, and trauma care.
2015
Began Work
1
Local Partner
8,600
Christians served
69
Income-generating projects
Watch our Ministry in Action
Father Thabet, one of our local leaders, gives an update on the COVID-19 situation in Iraq. This video from 2020 shows the remarkable determination of our partners in the community despite unprecedented adversity.