What is the cost of discipleship? Though many people throughout history have made great sacrifices for the greater good, human nature, especially in our age, tends to avoid ‘carrying crosses’ at all costs. Safety, comfort, security, and pleasure are high on our agenda, but often at the expense of what God asks of us. Let the missionaries and ministers live consecrated lives on our behalf. Their sacrifices are the exception, not the rule, so we take the path of least resistance. Yet, our New Testament is full of crosses and chains, stonings and scars, beatings and bond servants, and so much more. And, for many believers in our world today, this is the norm.
We are taught to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all of our mind, all of our soul, and all of our strength. For some, it may cost them their lives. Others may only be asked to step out of their comfort zones. The life of discipleship is not about comfortable pews and golden crosses; it is about a clash of kingdoms. It is not about protecting ourselves; it is about signing up for the war. We all have a cross to carry. It was Jesus who said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me.” It is not about getting everything out of this world that we can; it is about living with eternity in mind. This world is not our home, we are just passing through! It was Jim Elliot (missionary martyr) who said: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
On to the House of Blessing…
The first report was received early in the morning of April 22, 2026 from Dr. Nibras.
Peace be upon you, my brother Jack, and upon the followers of Jesus. I apologize for not contacting you earlier but we have been preoccupied lately with organizing ourselves to prepare for a large influx of people, particularly in Iran and Iraq, who will accept Jesus as their Lord. Whenever the brothers, elders, and leaders and I are updating the curriculum for the House of Blessing, I am struck by the question of whether the Middle East will erupt into a full-scale war before I can even finish the update. War in the region has been anticipated for many years. The Middle East has been embroiled in what is called the Arab Spring and the Syrian civil war, which has lasted for years, but even greater conflicts are looming; conflicts whose details are strikingly vivid in the scriptures.
As I write to you, journalists are faced with a massive amount of military maneuvers and skirmishes that must be covered. But although the risk of a major regional war is greater than ever, it has not yet broken out. The current massive buildup of air, land, and sea forces appears to be much more than a traditional display of American military power.
The HOB missionaries understand the need to be prepared for any eventuality. But what kind of preparation can someone living in a refugee camp make? The House of Blessing community of believers knows that the best preparation is to remain connected to the Lord of the harvest. God is never surprised by anything, and He has promised never to leave or abandon any of his people. His Spirit is always present to provide wisdom, guidance, and protection from Satan.
While I do not know the full results of the evangelization efforts during the month of Ramadan yet, I do know that preparations are underway for many new believers to enroll in the HOB School of Ministry courses. These courses last about ten hours a day and run for eight to ten weeks.
Below is a partial list of HOB teachers, provided so that those who pray for HOB may pray for them specifically. These are names Omar gave me over the phone.
- Brothers Sami and Musa, along with their colleagues, collectively teach 25,000 new converts, with another 10,000 students waiting to enroll due to overcrowding in northern Iran.
- Brother Durgham and his colleagues teach 50,000 students.
- Brother Ma’touq and his colleagues train and teach over 43,000 converts.
- Brother Malih and four of his colleagues have 78,000 new students.
- Sister Ikhlas, widow of Judge Hamoush, and fifty other sisters are teaching 13,500 new believers.
- Sister Fatima continues her training in Iraq to serve widows. There are approximately 1,000 women there.
- Sisters Mufida, Hafiza, Ferial, and their team continue to teach a simplified version of the training.
- Sheikhs Fishawi, Al-Hidmi, Al-Sudani, Al-Barzani, Jaafar, Zalatimo, and Abu Haikal have been teaching the Bible intensively throughout Iraq to 35 sheikhs who were reached from among a crowd of over 470 new believers at the beginning of more strict implementation of Sharia law by Shiites in Iraq. These sheikhs represent over 26,000 men who attend their mosques. These men will receive special intensive training from other former sheikhs so that, as soon as possible, they can return to their mosques and reconnect with their congregations, as many others have already done.
I have been informed that 5,000 additional teaching booklets and 200 Bibles have been printed. There is a need for large quantities of previously used educational materials. With the increasing demand for large amounts of Bibles, as many as possible will be ordered for new believers. Most Muslims have never seen a Bible and therefore have nothing to compare with the Quran they have been taught their entire lives.
Please also pray for Abdelrahem and his companions in Azerbaijan, for these faithful missionaries, for the teachers at the School of Ministry, and for the entire community of believers of the House of Blessing organization, including those in western, eastern, and northern Iran, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Kurdistan, and Syria, that they may receive, especially, the wisdom of the Holy, particularly with the threat of a major war. I have heard that if war breaks out, more people will turn to the true Christ. War brings shock, fear, and great tragedies, but it also drives people to despair, making them fully prepared for death.
Thank you from all the members of the House of Blessing for your prayers and financial support. Every dollar dedicated to supporting the missionary work of HOB is a blessing. I ask for your prayers. We live in the end times, and peace will not prevail until the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, the Peacemaker and Prince, comes. No one on earth will find rest until they place the Gospel in their heart. From the bottom of my heart, I, along with my brothers and sisters, thank all our mothers and sisters who pray for us and stay up all night providing support, such as sister and mother Julia, Jackie, Amelie, Pastor Mina, Dr. Susan, and Pastor Terry, Gary, Gianluca, Mickey, Tom, Clarence, Pastors David, John, Frank, and so many others who have worked tirelessly day and night to support HOB, also my brother Jack, and your wife Anne, and all your followers and friends.
Your brother, Dr. Nibras,
Servant of the Lord and His work
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The second report was received from Dr. Nibras late in the afternoon of April 22, 2026. A brief summary of events the last few days are appropriate here. A short time ago, HOB’s print shop were entered by governmental inspectors who showed up to do an inspection. They found a few Bibles and teaching booklets in the main printshop workroom. The inspectors confiscated what they found and presented the printshop owner with a fine of several thousand dollars for printing “illegal” materials. Thank God, the last large order of printed booklets and Bibles had been moved to an underground location and then to a private underground location. These were not found. The fine, however, needed to be paid and so the printshop owner, Abu Adam and his wife, sold their car and took care of it. They thought this was the end of it until inspectors showed up a day later and, without explanation, confiscated all four of their printers. They were valued at about $25,000 total. This is how badly the fallen one wants to stop the spread of the Gospel.
It was at this point that Pastor Abdelrahem, after much prayer, was instructed by the Lord to move the printing operation to a more secure private underground location. This is when the decision was made to sell the print shop building and use the funds to purchase a large commercial printer to be set up at the new location. Abu Adam had connections who located a large machine which had been manufactured in Japan. It was located at a port and due to the present shipping problems in the Middle East, the owner of the machine had to make a very quick sale. With the proceeds of the sale of the building, it was possible to make a deal on the printer and it will be delivered by truck to the new site within 3-4 days. In the meantime, a special room is being readied for the printer, including the required electrical work. The entire operation should be on line by the first of May.
The commercial printer, valued originally at over $400,000.00 was purchased for less than half its value with the proceeds of the sale of the building. The machine is about 10 meters long (approx. 33’) and has 5 commercial built-in printers.
Abdelrahem is doing everything he can to clear all debts incurred by previous print orders by selling a piece of land. Because of the printshop problems, he and Arshid and Hayel are in northern Jordan to get the necessary papers signed. I had the privilege of communicating extensively with Abdelrahem today by text. He is anxious to begin printing Bibles and teaching materials again.
This is the background for excerpts of Dr. Nibras’ second report below.
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Peace be upon you, my brother Jack, and upon all the beloved of Jesus. Although I don’t have much to share regarding the latest official information about Pastor Abdelrahem and his companions, I would like to quickly convey some new information about his decision regarding what the Lord has instructed him to do. Supporters may or may not be aware of the full extent of the situation that the House of Blessing and our printing press is facing.
A full inventory was conducted to determine the urgent need to complete the Lord’s work of printing the teaching booklets and Bibles. The outstanding debt stands at $13,000, and there is now a pressing need to print more than 30,000 teaching booklets and at least 5,000 Bibles. The Lord has instructed Pastor Abdelrahem to sell a piece of land that he owns to clear the outstanding debt and make it possible to keep printing. The harvest of souls is huge and needs to be brought in. The hour is very late.
I received a copy of the report detailing the measures taken against the printing press and the brothers. It is astonishing how this provocative act was solely aimed at silencing the truth and preventing the dissemination of God’s word. It has been this way for years and will continue to be a problem until the Prince of Peace comes.
As you pray for us, we ask you to continue praying for the protection of the HOB missionaries, as they are embedded among the local populations, spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to as many as possible, even in moments of death — which happens in hundreds of cases.
Below is a passage that encourages us to be specific in our prayers as we intercede for our brothers and sisters, especially in such perilous circumstances.
1Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. 3But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3
18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints — 19and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:18-20
“I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, and I in them, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
28“Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Missionaries face the same fears, frustrations, anxieties, hunger, pain, and exhaustion that we all experience. Let us pray for comfort, strength, the opportunity to serve and for their need of food, shelter, and protection — this is the way of Jesus. HOB missionaries are unpaid and live solely by faith. They have just begun Bible studies again throughout the Middle East and are trying to provide at least one meal a day, for ten to eighteen hours of daily study. Of course, copies of the Bible are never enough. However, we worship a great God, and since He will soon call the rest of the true Church to His House, I believe He will speak to people around the world to help in this great effort in these last minutes to draw more people into the kingdom of God. Thank you to everyone who has supported the House of Blessing to this point. The pastor’s advice is that one should only give as the Lord leads. The blessing is in the giving, and the Lord is the one that multiplies the giving. Everything we have comes from Him to begin with. He is the Lord of the harvest and He will see to it that it is completed.
Your brother, Dr. Nibras
Servant of the Lord
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I won’t add more to what has already been said. Look at what God has done! Praise Him Forever! Thank you all for your prayers and support. If anyone has questions, please feel free to contact HOB through either of the email addresses below.
Forever in His Service,
Jake (aka Jack)