WAR

Christian Workers Killed in Iraq

By Stan Jeter
CWNews

March 19, 2004

CWNews.org – A tragic story comes from Iraq, where gunmen killed four Christian relief workers in the northern city of Mosul on March 15. They are the latest victims of an increasing war on Christian workers in Muslim lands. In the past 18 months, at least 10 Christians have been killed in Muslim-controlled territories.

The Baptist workers were killed in a drive-by shooting in the northern city of Mosul.
They were there working on a water purification project. Larry Elliot, Jean Elliot and Karen Watson died at the scene. David McDonnal died on the way to an American military hospital. His wife Carrie remains in critical condition.

The International Mission Board's Clyde Meador says the workers understood the risks.

Meador said, "Our personnel as Americans and Christians are well aware of the risk of living and serving in a place like Iraq. Yet their love for the Iraqi people and obedience to the conviction of God's leadership have been expressed in a willingness to take that risk, even to giving their lives."

Their deaths bring to at least 10, the number of Christian workers that have been killed on the mission field in the past 18 months. And they've all been killed in Muslim-controlled territories.

In February, 2004, Baptist pastor John Kelley died in a drive-by shooting as he and other Christian ministers traveled through Baghdad.

In March 2003, American missionary Bill Hyde died in a bombing at the Davao city airport in the Philippines. The Muslim militant group Abu Sayaaf claimed responsibility for that attack.

In December 2002, a gunman killed three Southern Baptist medical workers at their clinic in Jibla, Yemen. Kathleen Gariety, Martha Myers, And William Cohen died in that attack.

Just one month earlier, 31-year-old nurse Bonnie Witherall was gunned down at her Christian pre-natal clinic in Lebanon.

Surely one reason the Christians were killed is because they were American. Missions groups say much of the future missions work will be done by Christians who are natives to their country.

But there will still be those who feel called by God to take the Gospel to other nations.

And they'll go, whatever the cost.

Visit the Southern Baptist International Mission Board Web site.

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