Jimmy - Moving to Baghdad

JimmyA617

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Dear all,

Thank you for allowing me to join your online community. My name is Jimmy and I am in the process of converting to Christianity. I come from an Agnostic household, however this year I attend Church regularly. I am in the process of discovering Christ.

As I finish graduate school and continue to explore Christianity, I have a serious issue. I am moving back to Iraq 6 weeks (government not military). In Baghdad, the only Anglican Church is shut down due to security reasons. I hope someone can steer me to an online place to worship and continue my growth... or provide any suggestions for me to continue to grow while overseas.

Thank you again for providing this platform to help me grow!
 

redleghunter

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Dear all,

Thank you for allowing me to join your online community. My name is Jimmy and I am in the process of converting to Christianity. I come from an Agnostic household, however this year I attend Church regularly. I am in the process of discovering Christ.

As I finish graduate school and continue to explore Christianity, I have a serious issue. I am moving back to Iraq 6 weeks (government not military). In Baghdad, the only Anglican Church is shut down due to security reasons. I hope someone can steer me to an online place to worship and continue my growth... or provide any suggestions for me to continue to grow while overseas.

Thank you again for providing this platform to help me grow!
There still should be some US military in the Green Zone. They will have pastoral support. We had Dept of State folks come to our services.

The embassy should also have ministry support.
 
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JimmyA617

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There still should be some US military in the Green Zone. They will have pastoral support. We had Dept of State folks come to our services.

The embassy should also have ministry support.

Thank you! I will try to reach out the US State Dep., however I will be working on Iraqi-Canadian relationships, and I will not be allowed in the Green Zone (without paying a big fee each time). :(
 
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anna ~ grace

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JimmyA617

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anna ~ grace

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Thank you for this! I have Christian contacts in the city from life there before, but the services are in Aramaic/Syriac/Arabic.

Do you have any suggestions for an online service, possibly?
Hmm.... none that I have heard of.... but even if the services are in Aramaic / Arabic, at least you could be around other Christians, worshipping together! I have heard that the indigenous Christians of Iraq are really warm, wonderful people.
 
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JimmyA617

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Hmm.... none that I have heard of.... but even if the services are in Aramaic / Arabic, at least you could be around other Christians, worshipping together! I have heard that the indigenous Christians of Iraq are really warm, wonderful people.

I might try it. It sounds like a very invigorating experience to worship with the indigenous Christians of Iraq. Very resilient group.
 
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redleghunter

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Thank you! I will try to reach out the US State Dep., however I will be working on Iraqi-Canadian relationships, and I will not be allowed in the Green Zone (without paying a big fee each time). :(
@High Fidelity gave you a great resource you can dive into on line. The “Grace to You” (GTY) ministry of John MacArthur is very good. All sermons posted are video, audio and transcript.

There’s a GTY App as well.

I am sure you will be on some LSA or installation with WiFi.

Where about will you be in country. Did 4 tours there and in my current job am part of team which conducts pre-deployment training for US BCTs heading overseas.
 
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redleghunter

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Thank you for this! I have Christian contacts in the city from life there before, but the services are in Aramaic/Syriac/Arabic.

Do you have any suggestions for an online service, possibly?
I’ll send you a PM with some info.
 
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Mark Quayle

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Dear all,

Thank you for allowing me to join your online community. My name is Jimmy and I am in the process of converting to Christianity. I come from an Agnostic household, however this year I attend Church regularly. I am in the process of discovering Christ.

As I finish graduate school and continue to explore Christianity, I have a serious issue. I am moving back to Iraq 6 weeks (government not military). In Baghdad, the only Anglican Church is shut down due to security reasons. I hope someone can steer me to an online place to worship and continue my growth... or provide any suggestions for me to continue to grow while overseas.

Thank you again for providing this platform to help me grow!
I recommend Ligonier Ministries Blog

The man makes sense, and avoids all sorts of misleading tangents.

But the best thing you can do is soak yourself in the Scriptures.
 
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MariaJLM

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Thank you! I will try to reach out the US State Dep., however I will be working on Iraqi-Canadian relationships, and I will not be allowed in the Green Zone (without paying a big fee each time). :(

Seems odd they would send an American to work out Canadian-Iraqi relations? You'd think it would be our job.
 
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JimmyA617

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@High Fidelity gave you a great resource you can dive into on line. The “Grace to You” (GTY) ministry of John MacArthur is very good. All sermons posted are video, audio and transcript.

There’s a GTY App as well.

I am sure you will be on some LSA or installation with WiFi.

Where about will you be in country. Did 4 tours there and in my current job am part of team which conducts pre-deployment training for US BCTs heading overseas.

Thank you for your service. I will be living in al-Mansour district in Baghdad. I would love to connect with you as I deeply respect every man and woman who has served.
 
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redleghunter

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Thank you for your service. I will be living in al-Mansour district in Baghdad. I would love to connect with you as I deeply respect every man and woman who has served.
Al Mansour used to be an upscale Shia district until the sectarian conflict (civil war) in 2004-2006. It still remains mostly Shia but many Sunni moved there in 2005-2006 when things went to pot in Anbar.
 
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timewerx

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I might try it. It sounds like a very invigorating experience to worship with the indigenous Christians of Iraq. Very resilient group.

Yes, it is, the Middle East is actually a very charming place. Not for the faint of heart but I think the Lord's spirit is very strong in the place.
 
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dzheremi

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Welcome to CF, Jimmy!

May God bless your service while in Iraq and keep you safe.

Is it safe to assume you can read and understand Arabic, since you are going to be living there?

If so, here is the most recent list of churches in Baghdad (all communions/denominations and neighborhoods; also including some monasteries), from Arabic Wikipedia. Please note the security warnings around some of them, as there has been unfortunately a lot of violence targeted at Iraqi Christians by the terrorist elements that have invaded Iraqi society. But hopefully still this will give you some ideas as to your options on the ground. On the internet you can find a lot more, but it depends on what you are looking for (liturgies, songs, etc.), and if you know Arabic, Neo-Aramaic, etc. Probably if you don't know any of those languages, it would be more difficult for you, unfortunately.

I don't know anything about Iraqi Anglicans or Anglicans in Iraq. I know they exist, but they are probably so few that they don't put out much media, or if they do it doesn't reach outside of their community.
 
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