[1]AMMAN, Jordan (BP)–Plans by which “aid can be channeled deep inside Iraq” are being put in place by Southern Baptist workers in the region, International Mission Board correspondent Mike Creswell reported March 27.
Southern Baptist volunteers from a range of fields will be needed in delivering the relief aid, Creswell reported.
A transcript of Creswell’s report from Amman, Jordan, follows:
“The war in Iraq appears far from over, but Southern Baptists across American already are gearing up for ministry there. Church leaders have issued a call for hundreds of evangelical Christian volunteers to be preparing to come on short- or long-term assignments to help meet urgent food and medical needs and help rebuild Iraq’s weakened infrastructure.
“Already Southern Baptist workers have set up systems through which helpers and aid can be channeled deep inside Iraq. Southern Baptist workers based in countries near Iraq say they will need medical workers of all kinds, experts on farming, livestock and water systems, teachers, logistics workers — even technicians who can repair satellite dishes.
“In short, all kinds of helpers are needed. The workers are saying it is vital for Christians to help meet physical and spiritual needs in Iraq, pointing out that the country mostly has been closed to evangelical presence for many years. Such efforts will be expensive and may be risky, even after the hostilities end.
[2]“That’s why the workers are calling for massive amounts of another kind of help: concentrated prayer by Christians around the world. It will take a lot of prayer to meet one of the biggest challenges ever for evangelical Christians in this troubled part of the world. This is Michael Creswell reporting from Amman, Jordan.”
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For audio of Creswell’s report, go to real.imb.org/AudioNews/creswell_0326.wma [3]. The Windows Media file will download to your hard drive. Streaming links at 56K, 175K and 300K also are available.