A quick thought before today’s Mideast Update. We tend to think that accomplishing something worthwhile for the Kingdom of God means founding a large ministry that has an extended outreach. We all know of successful ministries like this, and they impress us, but all ministries start small. God has His people placed all over the world and in all kinds of locations and embedded within many cultures. Some ministries or missionary organizations — the House of Blessing being an example — are able to reach tens to hundreds of thousands all across the Mideast, and the personal cost is very high. But not all ministries are big. In fact many are never publicly recognized — but God knows!
It’s been said that God’s business is a “mustard seed” type of enterprise. Many hearts are touched by a single kind thoughtful word, or a plate of cookies, a timid testimony, or a cold cup of water given in His Name. Nothing in God’s Kingdom is too small to count. Never despise the small things in your life, or in someone else’s. The huge doors of God’s Kingdom swing on our seemingly insignificant exercises in faith and obedience. Our faithfulness has a ripple effect that you and I rarely see. “Little things are much when God is in them!”
On to the House of Blessing…
Below is a short message received from Abdelrahem on June 27, 2026.
Peace be upon you, my brother Jack, and peace be upon all the beloved of Jesus. A question was posed to me by one of the senior mullahs, accompanied by three other senior sheikhs: Mullah Toubari, Sheikh Sarandah, Sheikh Ashour, and Sheikh Abu Rumouz. They asked: “How can we love God with all our minds?”
There are many ways to love God with all our minds. As we know, our will, thoughts, and memories reside in our minds, which may be sound or flawed. It is between you, God, and the Holy Spirit to determine the best way to express love for God through reason. Here are some ways:
- Meditation on the Word of God — reflect on His commandments.
- Listen to the Bible or its sound teachings through sermons about the truth of God — for the ears are the gateway to the mind.
- Pray to God to heal your mind — to guide you to righteous conduct — and to grant you His wisdom and knowledge.
- Always think of God and what pleases Him, and cherish and honor Him.
- Be determined and committed to knowing God.
- Ask God to help you see things as He sees them, for the eyes are the windows to the soul.
- Ask God for help in making decisions, and to increase your awareness of the ultimate purpose of what lies before you.
- Many believe that love can only be expressed by the heart. However, in life and relationships, I have learned that love is so much more than the expectations of feelings.
- Loving God with the mind requires daily decision making to love, to do the right things, and know that He will get you to your appointed destination. Loving God is choosing daily to support / respect, whereas not loving God with your mind allows for you to lose focus and allow your own sinful thoughts to overwhelm you.
I taught them only ten verses and praise God, they accepted Jesus and were then baptized. After seeing their leaders accept Christ, all their followers came to Christ as well. More than 9,500 came to faith, and there will be many more! Please keep us in your prayers. I am wishing all my brothers and sisters blessings from the Lord.
His servant,
Abdelrahem
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This second report was from Dr. Nibras on June 30, 2026. In this report, there are references made to a massive attack on a number of houses where hundreds of believers had gathered. I only received a brief summary of the attack and there are more details to come. It appears that ISIS was the multi-pronged attack, using multiple powerful bombs. Those who were able to escape found themselves in a vicious crossfire.
Peace be with you, my brother Jack, and with all the friends of Jesus. I will begin with this:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:16-17
“I have told you these things so that in me you may find peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
These familiar verses are the cornerstone of our Christian faith. We teach them to children so they will easily remember them in old age. They are the solid foundation for everyone raised in faith, and for everyone who has reached the throne of grace at the threshold of death. These simple yet profound words promise life, salvation, peace, and hope through Jesus Christ. They are the ultimate message of the HOB missionaries in the Middle East. This is the message they live for. This is the message they are prepared to die for, because death is a daily reality in the missionary fields of the Middle East.
(Note: Below is an abbreviated account of a supernatural experience Abdelrahem, Hayel, and Arshid had. I suspect there are more details to come.)
Pastor Abdelrahem told me that they suffered a powerful bomb attack, but thankfully survived the blatant assault. The pastor and those with him, Hayel, and Arshid, passed out when the building collapsed on them. They held each other’s hands and lost consciousness completely. They saw a “man” come to them and take them to heaven, taking them past the planets and even the stars. They asked him, “Where are you taking us?” He said, “The Lord wants you.” When they arrived, the Lord told them, “Here, enter.” They asked, “Where do we enter?” He said, “Here.” They said, “We can’t, it’s a very, very bright light.” The next thing they knew, they woke up to find themselves in the rubble under the building’s stairs. The first thing they heard was the shocked voices of Sinjan and Adel. My brother, Jack, it’s so very sad about the great suffering the people were forced to endure..
Many citizens were killed. The death toll is believed to have reached 78. In addition, at least 56 women were captured, assaulted, beaten, and raped. There were of course also many wounded, hungry, and thirsty people in the aftermath. God blessed the HOB workers with wisdom and anointed prayers and encouragement for the people. Adel and Sinjan were able to distribute food to some while they rescued other brothers and sisters.
Sinjan’s wife, Sister Safinaz, provided assistance to hundreds of wounded. She recounted the stories of women, some who lost their hearing due to explosions and gunfire. They were terrified when they heard the blast and tried to cover their ears and shield their heads from the pain of repeated explosions. Some of the women lost their sight from crying so hard for their children and grandchildren who were killed in this attack by the Islamic State. This is a statement from one of the women:
“In the middle of the night, we found ourselves caught in the crossfire. To the right, I heard a tremendous explosion. We didn‘t know where to go, neither this way nor that. Wherever we turned, explosions were raging in front of us and behind us. The situation was terrifying, horrifying, and heart-wrenching. We couldn’t stand on our feet; we felt our hearts would burst from our chests with fear. We were hungry and thirsty, but at that moment — I no longer felt hunger, only fear. I collapsed to the ground, while my sons, their wives, and my grandchildren continued walking. I couldn’t see them, and I heard the roar of massive explosions that struck the house Pastor Abdelrahem was in. I don’t know how long it took me to see any lights. I walked in the direction where my family had gone, and suddenly I saw a bright flash from their direction. I didn’t see any of my family. I was terribly exhausted but kept walking until I tripped and fell on something warm. It turned out to be blood and the remains of my sons and grandchildren. Oh God! Their bodies were torn to pieces! I wept bitterly, and I didn’t stop hitting my head with both hands until I lost my sight.”
There are other women who suffered much the same — all because of their love for Jesus and for their decision to follow Him. Sister Safinaz added: “Let the followers of Jesus Christ know that we sacrifice and are ready for even more than this. We are determined to hold fast to Jesus.”
The feelings of all those working with the House of Blessing — some of whom we have known for years, and others we had not heard of before, are deep. But Malachi 3:16 reminds us that our Lord knows each one of them by name: “Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them. So He wrote before Him a memorial book of those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name.”
I ask you to pray for healing for Pastor Abdelrahem and those with him, and for these women, and for the restoration of their sight and hearing. He is near and answers your prayers and supplications. Thank you all for your sacrifices. Thank you for supporting the work of the Lord and the work of the missionaries as they spread His Holy Word and share its valuable teachings. We are also grateful for the love of Christ for us, and for your prayers. They are the light that guides our path in the streets of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Azerbaijan, amidst the attacks inflicted upon us by the enemies of the Lord. Please pray for us all. We ask you to join us in prayer, as written in 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5:
“Let us pray for our brothers in the House of Blessing and for all those sent forth, that the message of the Lord may spread quickly and be honored. Let us pray that God will deliver them from the wicked, for not all people are believers, but You, Lord, are faithful. Let us pray, Holy Spirit, that You will direct their hearts to the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ, and that their work in You may be fruitful, very fruitful. We pray this by the power of the blood of Christ and in the name of Jesus, the name above every name in heaven and on earth. To Him be glory forever. Amen.”
Your brother, the servant of the Lord,
Dr. Nibras
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This third message was also received on June 30, 2026 and was also from Dr. Nibras.
Peace be upon you, brother Jack, and upon all the beloved of Jesus. The situation in the Middle East is dire. Pastor Abdelrahem and the HOB missionaries see it first hand and are making the most of the little time remaining before major end of the age events unfold on the world stage. Jesus reminded us of the importance of working while it is day, because night comes when no one is able to work.
Two days ago, some members of the Widow Sisterhood were captured by jihadist militants. They were severely beaten for two and a half days and deprived of food and water. The militants demanded that the women renounce their faith in Jesus Christ and return to Islam, but they refused. As the abuse intensified, the women told their captors that they would not abandon their Christian faith, no matter what they did to them. They told them, “You can kill us if you want; nothing will change our decision!” When they awoke the next morning, they found that their captors had left after the attack on Abdelrahem and the other brothers. The women were suddenly free! They returned to the rest of their community of believers and are now recovering. Praise be to God! They were saved once again.
This reminds me of the story of Peter in the Book of Acts:
Around that time, King Herod set his hand on some of the church, putting James, the brother of John , to death with the sword. Seeing that this pleased the Jews, he also arrested Peter. This happened during the Feats of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four companies of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him before the people after the Passover. So Peter remained in prison, and the church prayed continually for him. When Herod was about to take him out, Peter was sleeping that night, chained between two soldiers, with the guards at the door. An angel of the Lord was standing beside him, and a light shone in the prison. The angel struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly!” The chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, “:Put on your belt and sandals,” and he did so. The angel said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” So he went out and followed him… Acts 12:1-9
There is a testimony given by Sister Safinaz, the wife of Sanjan. She was in the building very near Abdelrahem’s building. While she was praying for the people, she had a clear vision from the Lord. She saw four great, flaming hands holding up the four corners of the roof of the building. As she was processing what she was seeing in the Spirit, she heard the voice of God say, “Bring the people out!” So she did as God commanded her and brought the people out of the building. As soon as the people were out, the entire building collapsed. No one was hurt; all the women were saved.
When the people in the area saw Safinaz and all those with her leaving the building just before it collapsed, their reaction was the same as many others who had gone before them; “We want to meet your God!” Indeed, in a short time, more than 8,000 new souls were guided to the Kingdom of God because of this great miracle that protected Safinaz and those with her! What a great God we worship!
(Note: At this point in the update from Dr. Nibras refers back to Abdelrahem. There is information I have received since that confirms the fact that he and the men with him are doing well. They have suffered but are recovering. More about him in the next Mideast Update.)
Pastor Abdelrahem continues to minister to the people wherever he goes. He is moved from place to place, sometimes to areas with no phone network coverage. He prays for thousands of people every week. There is great joy wherever the lord takes him … and great miracles. God preserves his health so he can continue his mission. God is gracious! As it turns out, the Lord has sent the pastor his assigned guardian angels. Please continue to pray for him. His situation is always precarious. Satan longs to see him arrested again. But our God is in control of all things.
In conclusion, I am now more convinced than ever that the times of the Gentiles are drawing to a close. This will mark the beginning of the Day of the Lord, when God will judge this wicked world that has rejected Him. At the same time, God will fulfill His covenant with the Jewish people and prepare them to understand the truth that Jesus of Nazareth was, and remains the Messiah.
How much longer until the Day of the Lord? No one can say exactly, but it is very near. Israel is facing immense pressure from the nations of the world, as the scriptures foretold, and the threats from the Muslim world are endless. The Lord said that the whole world will turn against Israel. Is this due to what will happen to Damascus? That is very possible. Israel is being pushed into a corner, and it will have no choice but to retaliate against its enemies — and it will retaliate with devastating force. I think this could happen sooner than most people imagine.
For us, who follow world events in light of biblical prophecies, we know that we are immersed in the end times. A day will soon come when the last breath is taken, and this era will end. Could this happen through a copy of the Bible donated by someone from the West or the East and distributed by a HOB missionary? Or possibly through the testimony of someone you have led into the presence of the Lord? We must live each day as if it were our last on this earth. This is the generation in which all of people’s plans, dreams, and aspirations for the future will suddenly be interrupted. Most of the world thinks that life will continue as it has for thousands of years. Others scoff at end-times scenarios. But the Word of God never fails. All these things will come to pass just as they are written. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 is one we quote often. It reads like this:
Now concerning times and seasons, brothers and sisters, I need not remind you. For you know very well that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, “Peace and safety!” destruction will suddenly overtake them, as labor pains overtake a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that this day will not overtake you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and watchful. Those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But we children of the day, let us be alert, armed with the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to be saved through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we watch or sleep, we may live with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (2 Thessalonians 5:1-11).
Please keep Omar and the others in your prayers. Very soon they will get back to the fields. God bless you all.
His Servant,
Dr. Nibras
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It is very difficult for those of us who live in relatively safe regions of the world to imagine being in situations like those described above. I can’t really imagine it, no matter how hard I try. But, I can pray for those who are going through it. I must; we must. If we are truly servants of our Lord Jesus Christ, then we must pray with sincerity for these brothers and sisters. We are all part of the same blood-bought family.
Thank you for your prayers and support. The House of Blessing printshop is printing as many copies of the Scriptures and teaching booklets as they have finances to buy the paper and ink. The new printing press is a very efficient machine and it is very fast. Those who do the work of printing and packaging work long and hard to make these materials available as speedily as possible. God’s promise is that much fruit will come as a result. Thank you for your help!
Forever in His Service,
Jake (aka Jack)