Adventists in Iraq continue to carry out the church’s mission despite growing concerns about a war against their country, according to Pastor Michael Porter, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Middle East region. They are continuing with plans that will nearly double the size of the current church building in Baghdad by adding new rooms for Sabbath School functions and a fellowship hall.

“Right now our church members are doing their best to carry on; they’re doing their best to continue with their worship,” Porter said in a recent interview with Adventist NewsLine. The leadership of the Adventist Church in Iraq is planning for the future, undeterred by rhetoric of war, and “our church believers in Iraq will be praying that somehow God can intervene so that lives will not be lost,” Porter said.

Organized in 1923, the Adventist Church in Iraq is one of 13 churches recognized by the government. There are three congregations in the country, including one in the city of Nineveh—famed for its visit by the reluctant Biblical prophet, Jonah. 

Every Saturday nearly 200 members gather to worship at the Baghdad Adventist church—the largest—to worship in what is regarded as one of the most architecturally striking churches in all of Iraq, according to Porter. 

The Baghdad congregation recently concluded a week of spiritual emphasis, which featured Amir Ghali, youth director for the Middle East region. Church members continue to prepare for the annual children’s summer program known as the Vacation Bible School, which is attended by more than 100 participants. Iraqi church officials say that it is through outreach programs such as these that the Adventist Church has grown by 45 members in the last five years.

Despite the optimism they find in their faith, Adventists in Iraq are expressing their feelings about the effect war may have on the country and their church. “Our Iraqi church members express their concern that the people of the country were the ones to suffer from the war 10 years ago and will suffer again if there is another one,” said Porter.

Porter reported that Adventist believers in Iraq are preparing themselves for what may now be inevitable. “They’re digging wells in their yards so that they’ll have a water supply,” he stated. “They’re preparing for a difficult time without water, without electricity.”

Church members in Iraq, along with Adventist believers around the world, will continue to pray for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, according to Larry Colburn, assistant to the president of the world church.

“As a Christian community we should continue to pray that the serious circumstances around us may subside and that conflict does not develop into tragic consequences which could easily spin out of control,” Colburn said. “War is always the worst option.”

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Middle East region is preparing contingency plans should war occur, according to Pastor Porter. The plans include preparations to evacuate church personnel and to provide humanitarian aid to the victims. A regional office is being considered in one of the neighboring countries to facilitate distribution of food, tents and other supplies to refugees.