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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2010-11-25, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2010.By Rev. Dr. Peter Kugba-Nyande Pastor, Walton and Bluevale United Churches The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on August 1990 was met with international condemnation, and brought immediate economic sanctions against Iraq by members of the UN Security Council. The then-President George H.W Bush deployed American forces to Saudi Arabia, and with the help of ally forces including Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and Egypt joined the Coalition with the aim to expel the Iraqi forces. On September 11, 2001 the United States was attacked by citizens from Saudi Arabia. The reactions from all world leaders and religious representatives as well as international media were condemnation. Memorial services were held all over the world for the families of the 3,000 men and women killed in the attack. The immediate effect of those attacks was a declaration of war on terrorism with goals of bringing Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda to justice. Hiding under the pretext to control the oil in the Gulf States, the Iraqi regime was accused of possessing biological and chemical weapons, as well as rebuilding facilities to make more and, could launch a biological or chemical attack in as little as 45 minutes. On March 6, 2003, President Bush declared: “Saddam Hussein and his weapons are a direct threat to [the United States], to our people, and to all free people... I believe SaddamHussein is a threat to the American people. I believe he’s a threat to the neighbourhood in which he lives. And I’ve got good evidence to believe that. He has weapons of mass destruction.” According to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, what triggered the war was Iraq’s failure to take a “final opportunity” to disarm itself of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons that U.S. and British officials called an immediate and intolerable threat to world peace. The Christian community in Iraq is one of the oldest in the world. According to tradition it was St. Thomas and his cousin Addai who first brought Christianity to Mesopotamia, soon after the crucifixion. At the council of Nicea, where the words of the creed were thrashed out in 325 A.D., there were more bishops from Mesopotamia than from Western Europe. In the U.K.’s The Guardian, “Given the overt Christian faith of the two architects of the invasion, it is believed that the actions of Bush and Tony Blair, there is a tragic irony inthe fact that their most lasting contribution to the region may well be to have created the environment that led to the destruction of Christianity in one of its ancient heartlands, — something Arab, Mongol and Ottoman conquests all failed to in which to succeed.” Before Bush Sr. took on Saddam for the first time in 1991, there were more than one million Christians in Iraq. William Dalrymple, on Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010, described the plight of Christians. He states that before George W. Bush sent the U.S. into Iraq in 2003, he believed he would be replacing Saddam Hussein with a peaceful, pro-American Arab democracy that would naturally look to the Christian West for support. In reality, seven years forward, it appears that he has instead created a highly-radicalized pro-Iranian sectarian killing field, where most of the Iraqi Christian minority has been forced to flee abroad. Of the 800,000 Christians still in Iraq when ‘Dubya’ unleashed the U.S. army on Saddam for the secondtime, two-thirds have fled the country. In 2006, a priest was kidnapped, and then found beheaded and dismembered. Fifteen churches have been bombed and many other priests have been killed. According to the Archbishop Matti Shaba Matoka of Baghdad, Syrian Catholic Church, “before the last war, we had 70,000 members, about 26,000 lived in Baghdad. Many of our people have fled to the north and abroad. I don’t know exactly how many people are left. But I can see that our once-full churches are now almost empty. We used to have five masses every Sunday in the Cathedral. We have had to cut back to three, and those three are poorly attended. Our members have either fled, or they are too afraid to go to church. All Christians throughout the world should support the right of Iraqi Christians to live and practise their faith in peace and security in their own land.” Of all the ugly consequences of the American invasion the damage done to the Christian community is particularly sad and need to be taken seriously by all the government that were involved in the attacks. Although Saddam Hussein committed inhumane activities to his community, he encouraged religious pluralism. The Iraqi Constitution under Saddam, contained explicit language protecting Christians and outlawing religious denomination. Iraqi Christians were free to practise their faith, and the government suppressed anti-Christian attacks. With the U.S.-led invasion, instability has hit Christians Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m. CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS MINISTER Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div. All Welcome MUSIC DIRECTOR Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224 Nov. 28th - “26 Shopping Days ’til Jesus’ Birth”. Luncheon to follow service. (Free will offering) YOU ARE WELCOME 9:45 a.m. Sunday School for all ages 10:30 a.m. - Sunday Morning Worship Mid-week Bible Study C H U R C H O F G O D ,ANDERS O N , I N D I A N A Timeless Truths For Today 308 Blyth Rd. E., Blyth Pastor Les Cook ~ 519-523-4590 Blyth Community Church of God Please join us for worship SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00am Evening Service 7:30pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Pastor John Kuperus Hwy. 4, BlythHwy. 4, Blyth Sunday, November 28th evening service is at the Vanastra CRC at 7:00 pm BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com Sunday, November 28 Ethel United Church Worship Service and Sunday School - 9:30 a.m. Brussels United Church Worship Service and Sunday School - 11:00 a.m. Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship Come celebrate the Advent of Jesus Christ at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Sunday, November 28 9:30 a.m. Together for Worship 10:45 a.m. Coffee Break 11:00 a.m. Sunday School 7:00 p.m. Connection at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Pastor Brent Kipfer 519-887-6388 Music by Connection Music Team Guest Speaker: Tim Whatley from Gorrie Bible Chapel Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, November 28 Brussels Public School at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. 6:30 pm - DVD series on the Book of Revelation by James MacDonald Sunday School for children 4 to 11 years of age (mornings only) Childcare provided for infants and toddlers Coffee & cookies after the morning service For additional details please contact: Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 Chris McMichael 519.482.1644 THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA Welcomes you to come and worship with us Trinity, Blyth 9:15 a.m. Church Office: 519-317-4883 St. John's, Brussels 11:15 a.m. 519-887-6862 Sunday, November 28 Rev. Perry Chuipka 119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131 www.huronchapel.org 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Morning Worship Service Guest Speaker: Rev. Eugene Neudorf Aub urn Saturday, December 4th 9 am - 3 pm at Huron Chapel EMC Come and finish your Christmas shopping with various vendors from throughout the community. All proceeds go towards the Huron County HIV/AIDS Network. Admission FREE with a donation of a non-perishable food item. getlivingwater.org Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 Living Water Christian Fellowship 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Wingham Small Group 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm - Women’s Ministry Fridays 7:00 pm - Youth Group Christ-centred, Bible-believing, Fellowship-friendly, Growth-geared Nov. 28: Jer. 32:1-15 “Hope in God’s Promise when All Seems Lost” From the Minister’s StudyChristians encounter unintended war consequences Continued on page 22 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Elwin Garland SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available 519-887-2664 10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School