In the church world, particularly in the West, we hear people wanting to know more about “the deeper life.’ It makes for an interesting topic but unfortunately we often get stuck learning about the “deeper life”, but missing the fact that it takes wanting to know and love God for Himself. I found a quote by A.W. Tozer which said:
“God is the deeper life! Jesus Christ Himself is the deeper life, and as I plunge on into the knowledge of the triune God, my heart moves on into the blessedness of his fellowship. This means that there is less of me and more of God — thus my spiritual life deepens, and I am strengthened in the knowledge of His will.”
This is what Paul meant when he said…”That I may know Him!” Paul wasn’t looking for an acquaintance. He was yearning to be drawn into a full knowledge of God through intimate fellowship. That intimate walk becomes the source for anything and everything needed for our Christian walk. In Philippians 3:10-11 the Amplified Bible reads:
“And this, so that I may know Him (experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely) and (in that same way experience) the power of His resurrection (which overflows and is active in believers), and (that I may share) the fellowship of his sufferings, by being continually conformed (inwardly into His likeness even) to His death (dying as He did); so that I may attain to the resurrection (that will raise me) from the dead.”
Lord, we mourn our coldness to You and repent, that we may enter into a loving, intimate relationship with You. Amen.
On to the House of Blessing. The first message in today’s update is from Dr. Nibras. I received it on 2/11/2026. He shares some of his own personal thoughts and then provides information he has been given from the different regions where the House of Blessing is ministering.
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Brother Jack, peace be upon you and all who love Jesus. Our world is going through a crisis, but we serve the One who is greater than the world and its problems. He is the One who created us on this earth, and He is the One who chose this time for us to be here. He has enabled us, through the power of his Spirit within us, to live a life of lasting impact. It is easy, especially in the materialistic West, to become self-absorbed and forget the meaning of this short life as human beings on this earth. Many of us are deceived into thinking that we have no impact on anyone, but this is not true. Our lives are like a small stone thrown into a pond; ripples begin the moment the stone hits the water and spreads in all directions. We affect those around us whether we intend to or not. This is why the Bible reminds us to “make the most of the time.” It has dedicated time to us.
The Bible teaches us to live day by day, but it also guides us to live our lives with eternity in mind. We rarely think about eternity when we are young, but as we grow older, we think about it more and more. What most of us don’t realize, or perhaps refuse to acknowledge, is that in God’s time, there is a moment when this life will end for everyone. The Bible tells us about the “Generation of the End”, a generation in which God intervenes to put an end to humanity’s attempts to rule this planet. He then establishes His kingdom in its place. We are that generation. Ignoring or denying this truth will not change it. So how should we live?
The Apostle Paul expressed this as follows:
“Do you not know that in a race all run, but only one wins the prize? Run, then, to win it. Everyone who strives for the prize goes into strict training. They do this to win a perishable crown, but we strive for an eternal one. Therefore, I run, not recklessly; I strive, not beating the air, but I train my body and discipline it, lest after I have preached to others I myself be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 10:24-27
For the missionaries of the House of Blessing, there is no materialism to distract them, nor do they have to contend with worldly pleasures. The goal of life in the Middle East is simply survival. But for the followers of Jesus, the purpose of life is to reach another heart and introduce them to the One who died for them. In a place where respect for life is almost nonexistent, and where the prevailing religion is rigid and harsh, the message of God’s love and His offer of forgiveness of sins and eternal life in His paradise illuminates a path of hope where there is none. These people see death every day, a cruel death. God has placed the House of Blessing in this time, and countless people continue to receive the Gospel message. Soon, the days of the gentiles will end…so, it truly is a race!
Thanks to your generous donations, HOB has been blessed, enabling it to purchase and distribute 1,000 copies of the Bible and 3,000 teaching booklets throughout the provinces of eastern, western, and southern Iran, where the House of Blessing School of Ministry is completing a new training course. We often write about the teachers of the House of Blessing, such as Aylout, Omar, Shahbandar, Durgham, Habibullah, Mortada, and many others. But these are just some of those we know well. HOB now has over 2,000 trained missionaries, and as the training courses draw to a close, a large number of new missionaries will join them.
The group of nine elders who recently converted to the Gospel, whom we have mentioned repeatedly, are still continuing their studies. Currently 1,200 of them meet with leaders Omar, Shahbandar, Mortada, and Durgham, who teach them for four to five hours, after they have spent six to eight hours in Bible school during the day. Some of the senior elders, Rabbi Sabiazi and brother Shabo, who converted a few months ago, have even managed to purchase Bibles themselves, which they distribute to the elders they are teaching. It is a wonderful testament to the power of the Holy Spirit in Azerbaijan. These men, many of whom are well-educated, are studying the Bible and memorizing its verses to carry on the great upcoming mission of evangelization. There is a great enthusiasm for learning, and their courage and willingness to risk their lives to spread the truth of Jesus is astonishing. Pastor Abdelrahem described them as “brave as lions.”
Fatima and her assistants — women and elders from the Sudani, Zalatimo, Jafaar, Al-Awiwi, Barzani, and Bandak communities — from southern to northern Iraq have been able to hold communion services three times a week. They eat together, spend a long time in prayer, and then receive holy Communion. Reports indicate that the turnout for these blessed times of spiritual renewal is high. For most believers, these moments are the highlight of their week.
In northern Syria, Mudfida, Sarah, and Sharifa have been able to resume training new students. They had to stop for a while due to the significant unrest in the region. They also lacked copies of the Bible to distribute. Also in northern Syria, Sisters Hafiza and Fariel have recently resumed holding private prayer services, which now draw over 8,300 people in two main locations.
Despite the numerous service school courses held throughout the Middle East, a huge number of people still wait in long lines for Bible studies! Even with a large number of teachers at the House of Blessing, there are never enough to meet the needs of people in Syria and especially in Iran. But this is a blessing in disguise! It indicates the greatness of the harvest. Therefore, we pray that God will provide us with more workers in the spiritual harvest.
All the reports were positive this time, and things may seem to be going well, but there is no such thing as “calm” or “normal” in the Middle East. While the missionaries continue their work, people are still dying of hunger, disease, and cold…and the winter is very harsh. Some are beaten to death, some are burned alive, some are killed in explosions, and others are killed for their faith in Jesus Christ. There is a constant need to bury the dead, including some members of the House of Blessing community. Some 780 new converts have in fact lost their lives in the last few hours. Please remember these believers in your prayers! They depend on our prayers and support. And God answers prayer. Many refugees are completely homeless. There aren’t enough tents for everyone, so many are trying to find shelter under trees. Those who manage to find a cave to take refuge in are among the luckiest. These are facts that Omar and Al-Hanini relayed to me in a phone call today.
Some of the brothers of the House of Blessing community were deeply saddened by the plight of the starving people. They collected donations from their communities. Most donations were small, but once they had collected enough, they were able to buy a truckload of sacked wheat. They were able to feed tens of thousands with this wheat, and of course, this opened the door wide to spread God’s love among the people! It is truly wonderful every time!
Brother Aylout Eban is still recovering after the terrible attack at his gathering. We ask you to continue praying for his complete recovery. This brutal crime was shocking. Please pray also for us to be able to continue printing more Bibles and Booklets. The need is great.
His servant forever,
Dr. Nibras
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The second report was received on 2/13/2026. It was written by Dr. Nibras and includes information he received from Abdelrahem as well.
Peace be upon you, brother Jack, and upon all lovers of Jesus. With the arrival of the month of Ramadan in 2026, it seems the Middle East is on the brink of a major war. I understand that many prefer to avoid discussing negative topics such as war, terrorism, the end times, and so on. I understand their feelings, but we must not ignore the exceptional circumstances we are living through today. Jesus Christ made this abundantly clear. Many people have lost their lives in the Middle East since the so-called Arab Spring, which began many years ago, and the situation continues to affect missionaries and their followers.
In my last communication with Pastor Abdelrahem, I informed him of the latest developments at the House of Blessing here, that the HOB missionaries are doing their utmost to help more than 31,000 displaced people in the region. As our readers know, HOB has a large community of believers in the Idlib and Aleppo regions and the surrounding areas in the north of the country. Although this is not how the missionaries of the House of Blessing had planned to preach during Ramadan this year, they are doing everything they can to alleviate the pain and suffering of the people as much as they can.
Of course, most of the displaced people have only what they can carry on their backs. The House of Blessing organization in the region managed to raise enough donations to bring a truckload of wheat, providing some meals for tens of thousands of people in dire need.
Among the victims of the brutal attack, HOB lost 1,469 men and women. Due to the low temperatures during the day and night in Iran, the bodies were buried as quickly as possible. As always, HOB missionaries continue their efforts to bury as many of the civilians who lost their lives as possible.
Many have wondered if there has been any news of Sabazi, Saftawi, and Shabo. As of this writing, we have received no news. Please continue to pray for these missionaries. We know that the Lord is able to guide many souls, even though communication between Iran and Azerbaijan has been cut off.
Pastor Abedlrahem also mentioned that HOB missionaries in another region managed to secure a truckload of wheat. This will greatly contribute to supporting and sustaining one of the HOB communities, providing them with enough to share with those around them. God is able to multiply sustenance according to need, as He has done time and time again.
In the Deir-ez-Zor region of eastern Syria, as well as in Hasakah and Raqqa, HOB teachers are instructing former SDF fighters who have embraced Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives over the past few weeks. These individuals receive hours of instruction daily, learning about the significance of Christ’s blood, his divinity, and how to begin their journey of faith. They also learn the importance of living in close relationship with Christ through their new lives, which are based on prayer, praise, and worship.
In other areas, classes continue as much as possible. A special group of 27 former Muslim sheikhs, led by Sheikh Zakaria — now followers of Jesus Christ — continues their training under the guidance of experienced former sheikhs, including Al-Hidmi, Fishawi, Kilani, Hab Riman, Al-Bakawati, and Abu Lafi. Notably, these former Muslim religious leaders share a deep interest in biblical prophecies. Most muslim religious leaders have a working knowledge of Islamic prophecies, and now that they are believers and followers of Jesus Christ, they show a greater desire to learn what the Bible says about the end times than many Christians in the West. HOB provides these materials whenever possible.
As long as this is possible and available, Hafiza, Feriel, Sarah, Sharifa, and others continue to dedicate special evenings to communion prayers. From previous reports, I know that the HOB sisters hold similar services throughout the Middle East. These are some of the most spiritually uplifting times for these Christians living in seclusion. As people praise and worship God, God touches them physically and refreshes them spiritually.
With the increasing risk of a major war between the United States and Iran, the situation for the missionaries of the House of Blessing and the community of believers is becoming more precarious every day. While the community of believers has grown, their situation remains extremely critical. We ask you to pray for these brave and dedicated HOB missionaries and for all those they serve. Many believers in Iran are deeply afraid of war breaking out. But they, like Christians throughout the world, still hold fast to what the Apostle Paul said to his young disciple Timothy:
“Therefore I remind you to activate the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of self-control.” Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner, but share with me in sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his purpose and His grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time and has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel…” 2 Timothy 1:6-10
Paul was not only reassuring Timothy that he should not be afraid, but he was also telling him what would give him the strength not to be afraid…by awakening the power of the Holy Spirit within him. We have been called to a holy calling, and God will provide us with everything we need to fulfill the path laid out for us by the Savior of our souls. We have been called to a life of being salt and light in this world. Our immortality is near. Praise be to God!
In closing, we ask you to continue to pray for and support all the missionaries of the House of Blessing as the Lord lays it on your heart so that more Bibles and teaching booklets can be printed and distributed. Pastor Abdelrahem continues to pray for hundreds of them daily, as do Pastors Aylout, Ma’touq, and others. HOB has thousands of missionaries throughout the Middle East who depend on our prayers and support. Thank you all.
Your brother, the servant of the Lord,
Dr. Nibras
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I received a little more information in reference to the attack on Aylout Eban and the gathering he was leading. It was a brutal attack but those around him managed to protect him from most of the beatings, electric shock, and being sprayed with poisonous gas. A large number of them were severely injured by being beaten and, from what I am given to understand, doused with contaminated water of some type, possibly sewage water, before they died. More details will probably be made available. Thank God these folks are now in the presence of their Savior.
In conclusion, I am told again and again how grateful all of the House of Blessing is for your prayers and support. They count on your prayers! As for the print shop, it seems to be running all hours so that they can print as many Bibles and teaching booklets as possible before the beginning of Ramadan on February 17. This will be a real marathon for all of HOB. Please pray. They are all putting their lives on the line and giving it their all. Most of us are not facing what they are facing. The most important thing we can do is to earnestly pray for them. Thank You!
For any questions or comments, please feel free to contact HOB through either of the email addresses provided below.
Forever in His Service,
Jake (aka Jack)