Church growing in Iraq, says Christian leader

Amidst reports that some Christians had had to flee Iraq in fear of the radical Muslim insurgents, comes a new report indicating that, against the odds, the church in Iraq is actually growing. The Christian leader of Muslim background made the claim to Christian Aid recently.

                    
                          A Protestant church service in central Baghdad

"Despite everything the churches in Iraq are growing," he said. He also reported that Christians have been targeted by Islamic terrorists and been the subejct of kidnappings, murder and other threats - and have even lately developed a programme to demand small children from families, taking them to be trained to go on suicide bombing missions.

According to the Christian leader, it was the exodus of foreign missionaries from Iraq following the toppling of Saddam that has led to local Christians 'stepping up to the plate' to do the work that has led to the influx of new Iraqi Christian believers.