For more than two years, occupying Islamic jihadists tried to erase any evidence of Christianity from the city–burning churches, destroying crosses, toppling bell towers
The Nineveh Plains region to the Northeast of the Iraqi city of Mosul has become known as an epicenter of the devastation caused by ISIS militants. The Christian population has been massacred, and most of their ancient Churches utterly destroyed. The city of Nineveh is jam-packed with Biblical history – something that enraged the murderous jihadis.
In 2016, ISIS destroyed the historic “Mashqi Gate,” also known as the “Gate of God.” Referenced several times in the Biblical texts, Nineveh dates to the 7th century BC and was once the largest city in the world. ISIS sought to butcher not only Christian artifacts, but also the local Christian population altogether. Now that ISIS have been driven out of Iraq by the various forces, including the majority-Christian “Nineveh Plain Protection Units,” the rebuilding can finally begin – but it doesn’t come cheap. In early 2017, Aid to the Church in Need assessed the cost of reconstruction at over $200 million, as reported by Forbes.
That is where Christian persecution charity Open Doors comes in – they have been engaging in the drawn-out task of rebuilding the rich Christian heritage boasted by this ancient region and re-housing those believers who have been displaced by ISIS.
“For more than two years, occupying Islamic jihadists tried to erase any evidence of Christianity from the city–burning churches, destroying crosses, toppling bell towers,” Lindy Lowry wrote in an update on the Open Doors website.
Now, Open Doors is using donations to rebuild the ruined homes of Christians who came under the brutal oppression of Islamic militants.