It doesn’t take a person with extraordinary observation skills to recognize that we are living in a dark world, and it is getting darker by the day. It seems that our world has no care for the things of God and for many believers this is discouraging. Yet, the whole answer to this world’s darkness is the Light that was brought into the world by Immanuel — God with us. Immanuel entered our dark world via the womb of a virgin. He brought God’s Light. When He was crucified and buried, the Light reappeared three days and nights later on the morning of the Feast of Firstfruits. That Light was then passed on to the fledgling Church — who subsequently took it to the far corners of the earth.
Jesus didn’t take our problems away or remove them from the world. He did something better — He gave us the answer. Salvation is not the absence of sin. It is the presence of God. Salvation is not the removal of the world’s darkness. It’s the shining of God’s Light into the darkness. And by the Light, the darkness is driven away. The darkness cannot overcome the Light of Yeshua!
We don’t overcome the darkness by focusing on the darkness; we overcome the darkness by focusing on the Light. We don’t overcome sin by dwelling on sin. Our dwelling is in God and on God. We overcome emptiness by dwelling on His presence. Our problems aren’t solved by dwelling on our problems, but rather by dwelling on the Answer.
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16
As ambassadors of the Kingdom of God, we are the representation of the remedy to the darkness in our world. 2 Corinthians 5:18 tells us that since we have been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, we have been given the ministry of reconciliation.
That brings us to the ministry of the House of Blessing.
The House of Blessing has experienced very difficult and tragic events, especially in the last few days. As was already reported in the previous Mideast Update, sixty HOB missionary teachers were tortured and when not a single one would deny Christ, they were all executed. I was told that they were hanged. The six elders who were overseeing the teachers, Omar, Mortada, Shahbander, Durgham, Malih, and Habibalah were also captured and to this date are still in captivity and enduring indescribable horrors. Pastor Aylout and Ma’touq are in the area but are unable to intervene. They have, however, succeeded in reaching some high level people with the Gospel, who may or may not be able to intervene in the brothers’ situation.
News reached Aylout and Ma’touq from the guards that they had no light and that they pray and worship all day and night — this while being suspended in the air by ropes and totally unclothed with the exception of their underwear. The men have not been given food or water for days on end. When the guards asked them if they were thirsty, they replied, “Yes, but the Lord has given us water from His bounty.” The guards cannot understand where they could possibly have received any water. Despite the pain in their hands from being tied, their exhaustion, and their extreme weariness, they do not cease praying and worshipping their Lord and Master! That sounds a bit like Paul and Silas in the Philippian prison!
Below is just one report. It was sent by Dr. Nibras on 3/16/2026.
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Peace upon you brother Jack. during my phone call with Pastor Abdelrahem, I was reminded of a passage from the Bible, specifically from Paul’s letter to the Philippians:
19For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 21For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 25And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, 26that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again. Philippians 1:19-26
What I heard from Pastor Abdelrahem was very similar to what was said to the Philippians centuries ago. The Apostle Paul was at a point where he longed to return home and meet his Lord, but he knew that many others would benefit from his continued service to the mission God had entrusted to him. Only God knew when Paul’s mission would end. Pastor Abdelrahem is in the same boat. He has endured much and yearns to return home, but he knows that every hour of his life is in the hands of his Lord and Master.
In the hours leading up to Abdelrahem’s phone call, several HOB missionaries were lost again. In an area where many widows from Fatima’s group were searching among the hundreds of victims of an attack, another attack in Iraq claimed the lives of fifteen women. These women had been painstakingly searching among the hundreds of dead and wounded, looking for anyone who would allow them to pray with them. For most of them, those were their final moments before entering the next world. As they prayed for these people, they were killed. They were truly courageous, knowing that such a thing could indeed happen. In addition to these fifteen widows, other missionaries also sacrificed their lives for the Gospel.
Brothers Jaafar, Zalatimo, Salwadi, Kharbatli, and Barzani from Basra, Abu Haikal and Abu Maati from Kirkuk, and Al-Samman, Al-Sadawi, and Darwish from Al-Nasrawiya in Iraq reported the killing of 140 missionaries in the Iraqi region and the disappearance of 270 others whose whereabouts are unknown. Jafaar and Zalatimo also reported that entire families, including many children, who had recently converted to Christianity, were also killed. If I understand the report correctly, the incident occurred in an area where hired gunmen besieged the brothers and attacked a group of teachers from the Aylout and Ma’touq region in several areas of Iran. There were approximately 90 teachers, each teaching at least 300-450 students.
In the regions of Iraq, Kurdistan, and Iran, large numbers continue to reach people. It seems that hardly a week goes by without reports of the Gospel reaching thousands of people. Even in the relatively new movement in Iran, the Bible reached 10,000 copies last week. This sect believes in the return of the Shiite Imam, whom they consider the awaited Messiah. They teach that this Imam will not return to Earth until great widespread chaos has been caused. This is one of the reasons why Iran is not afraid of igniting a third world war. They believe that the Twelfth Imam will save the nation, and they also believe that Jesus will return with this Imam as his deputy, whose mission is to kill all infidels, especially Jews and Christians. It is a distorted doctrine! Satan has always presented a distorted version of the truth to those who fall into his trap of lies.
In the Book of Ezekiel, we find an interesting passage in which God describes a scene of massive military force coming from almost all directions, whose goal is to completely destroy Israel. This massive force includes Iran, due to its alliance with Russia, along with several Arab and Islamic countries. Here is what the prophet Ezekiel says about this impending attack:
18 “And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord GOD, “that My fury will show in My face. 19For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, 20so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. 21I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains,” says the Lord GOD, “Every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. 23Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.” Ezekiel 38:18-23
Islam teaches that chaos is necessary for Christ to establish order, Islamic doctrine teaches that Jesus will come as a second prophet, and as mentioned above, He will destroy all unbelievers so that Islam may prevail on Earth. “Order from chaos.” Masonic lodges adopt the same idea in their beliefs … “Order from chaos.”
Today we are witnessing a world that is becoming more chaotic every day. Very soon, the Restrainer will be removed from the Earth. As long as the Restrainer remains, evil will not be able to unleash its diabolical plans. The Apostle Paul spoke of this in his second letter to the Thessalonians:
1Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Please keep me in your prayers, as well as Omar and those with him. Also the 90 teachers that were just arrested.
His Servant Forever,
Dr. Nibras
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In closing, I want to thank all of you who have come to love the House of Blessing missionaries. You pray for, and support them. Everyone within the large HOB community of believers is grateful. And, God continues to answer prayer. The last shipment of Bibles and teaching booklets arrived at their destinations safely. I am told another 3,000 teaching booklets have just been completed and are ready to be transported to their destinations. Your gifts to support this enormous printing task has never been more important and appreciated. The House of Blessing sees the door to close to the Age of Grace. They are ministering all hours of the day to reach as many as possible.
Ramadan officially ends Thursday, March 19, 2026 with the observance of the Muslim celebration of Eid-al-Fitr, the breaking the fast of Ramadan. The HOB missionaries’ now have their evangelism goal set for Resurrection weekend. HOB, although at very great cost in lives, has experienced a tremendous harvest during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Pray that they see a great harvest during Resurrection weekend also!
As has been mentioned before, this Mideast Update is the only official update of the original House of Blessing founded by Pastor Rashid. Feel free to contact either email addresses below with questions or comments. Thank You.
Forever In His Service,
Jake (aka Jack)