As I read news reports from all around the world, I am continually reminded of the warnings Jesus gave about the signs of the end of the age. These signs are here today. One one of the signs is wars and rumors of wars, nation coming against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. I have read numerous accounts written by servants of the Lord who say the Lord has shown them that the year 2017 will be a year of chaos. Whether or not this is the case, we’ll see, but personally, I happen to agree. We are already seeing an uptick in chaos all over the world, including here in the United States. This reminds us that we, as believers in Jesus Christ and the Word of God, need to make a concerted effort to ensure that our own walk with God is where it belongs. It also reminds us that we need to be in earnest prayer for all the believers who are going through unspeakable living conditions including the most brutal persecution imaginable.
In spite of the fact that the major powers of the world claim to be trying to save Syria as a sovereign nation, and the fact that Vladimir Putin has put the military might of the Russian Federation into the fight to prop up Syria’s dictator, Bashar al Assad, the situation in Syria will only get worse. The unfolding events are lock-step with what the Old Testament prophets predicted. The destruction of Damascus and the entire surrounding area as predicted in Isaiah 17 and Jeremiah 49 is now very near. The threat of this is much higher than the average civilian has any idea of. There are those that point to what Damascus looks like today and say it has already come to pass. I don’t agree. The Bible tells us that the city will be totally uninhabitable, and that the final destruction will happen overnight.
My reason for mentioning this again in this Mideast Update, however, is not to argue the details of fulfilled prophecy. It is to remind us that House of Blessing, as well as other missionary organizations, have missionaries on the ground where one of these days there will be an enormous devastation. These missionaries insist on staying where they are because of the multitudes of lost that have absolutely no hope…except in the Good News of the Gospel of Yeshua, Jesus. And, every report I receive through Pastor R, who is still in the Damascus suburbs, tells of the hundreds of souls reached every single week with the wonderful news of the love of the One who died for them so that they can live eternally.
The reports continue of dozens that have been ministered healing along with the Gospel by the sisters, like Mufidah, Fatwa, and others of the Widow Sisterhood. And, again this week, reports of the 1,100 that met throughout the week with Hafezah for several hours of celebration, singing, dancing before the Lord, and taking communion as New Testament believers have been doing ever since the Day of Pentecost. Hafezah is in Syria and Fatima, widow of converted head-sheikh Salem, shared communion with another 800 or so in the Fallujah area. As God has been doing from the very beginning of these communion services, He meets with His own, touches them, heals them, strengthens and encourages them. When they leave in the early hours of the morning they are ready to take on another day.
In Syria, Sarah has been sharing with between 100-200 at a time. As most regular readers of this blog already know, she shares the testimony of how God met her at the very lowest point in her life when she threw a bloody bag in front of Pastor R; a bag containing the pieces of her own child. In her, horror, desperation, and grief, she had screamed at Pastor R and the God he was proclaiming to the large crowd gathered in front of him. Her testimony continues as she tells how the Great Creator GOD of the entire universe brought her into His presence, showing her that her young innocent child was now in His presence and totally whole. Sarah was transformed by the very God she had cursed and the people that hear her story are also transformed! What a God we serve!
As is almost always the case, I receive good news and tragic news. As the multitudes continue to be reached, sometimes one at a time, other times by the hundreds, there are always those that pay the ultimate price. This last week another 35 of the missionaries and believers were murdered by ISIS barbarians in the Mosul area. Mosul might be the most important stronghold left for these terrorists. It has been suggested that when ISIS is driven out of western Mosul, their hopes of a caliphate will be broken. They are however not dislodged easily, and they are causing as much fear as possible. They have been known to sometimes even run over their captives with battle tanks. I have also watched numerous videos of innocent civilians being beaten, forced into graves that they often were forced to dig themselves, and then shot to death. Then there are the reports of people being buried alive. And…the stories of the atrocities only get worse. Even so come, Lord Jesus!
The 56 widows that escaped or were rescued from ISIS fighters are still in need of much prayer and considerable recovery, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Let’s pray for those that are ministering to them the best they can under the difficult circumstances.
In Fallujah, there also continue to be many innocent civilians targeted, tortured, and eventually killed. Some of these belong to the Christian community. There are corpses on many streets needing to be buried. HOB missionaries continue doing what they can to help get the bodies buried in order to avoid disease.
Starvation continues as a problem in all the areas where HOB is ministering. The weather is also a major factor in some of the deaths. Many succumb to exposure. Again, House of Blessing is doing what it can. Each life that is saved is a person that eventually is helped to recognize the love of God that has intervened in their life. HOB was able to purchase one large truck load of wheat for the starving. It was distributed by the missionaries and volunteers. The Christian women then do what they can to help the people prepare food for the starving. There are already reports coming in of hundreds of these people who have willingly heard the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus and have prayed the sinner’s prayer. God is good!
At this point I would like to share another story of how God is doing extraordinary things among the Muslim people. In previous updates I have shared stories about two of the recent graduates of HOB’s School of Ministry. Their names are Omar and Same (pronounced Sammy). The latest story of their evangelistic efforts was when they had asked a head-sheikh if they could speak to the 250 men that had gathered in his mosque. As you might remember, he didn’t allow them to preach inside the mosque but allowed any of the men to go outside and listen to them. Of these 250 men, 180 went outside and ended up committing their lives to Yeshua, Jesus. With this week’s call I received the “rest of the story” as famous Paul Harvey the news commentator used to say. In the last few days every single one of the other 70 men have become believers. This means that all 250 of the men that belong to this mosque are now born-again believers in Jesus Christ, the real Messiah! I am also told that this mosque is now no longer a mosque but a church. The old head-sheikh, who has been an educator in the ways of Islam is also now a born-again believer and wants to learn as much as possible and as quickly as possible, the truths of Christianity! Because of this stunning miracle, HOB is now making arrangements to send some more helpers to teach and train all of these men! Think of it…now every one of their families will soon be believers, as will be the case with most of their friends and extended families. The patriarch of each family is almost always the key!!
NOTE: The photo of the gathered men with the HOB covering over their faces is not a new photo. New photos of the new believers are not available at this time.
On that note, I will close this update. As you can see, the harvest of souls is going full speed. The numbers of the reached is great, but the conditions on the ground and the persecution that is endured by these faithful missionaries is horrendous. Please pray with me for them. Also, any donations to the work of their ministry are greatly appreciated. PayPal through my e-mail address is quick and efficient. 100% of the amounts donated are in the hands of the missionaries within a day or two, at the most. My mailing address can also be used for donations by check. Thank you to all of you who have been part of this ministry over the last few years! God is good!
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13-14
Forever in His Service,
Jake Geier [email protected]
House Of Blessing; 3206 SW 45th Street; Redmond, Oregon USA 97756