(A report from Mark van Niekerk of The Simon Initiative)

What a year 2020 was for all of us. No doubt your lives have all been turned upside-down, as has our ministry in Iraq to some degree. But it has not come to a standstill, as the Lord continues to pour out his Spirit on the Kurds and opens avenues for the furthering of the gospel. 

I’ve delayed this report, having begun to write in December, sensing there was something of import that needed to be shared. That is now clear. My ministry partners are in grave danger of being killed. Even my activities are being spied on and reported. I will explain at the end what has transpired.

A witness in death

Due to travel restrictions, I was not able to get to Erbil by year end as I had previously hoped. Furthermore, Covid has infected some of our ministry partners. Even though we did our utmost to ensure he received the best possible treatment, one beloved brother lost his fight and has gone on to glory with Yeshua. He was the first convert from Islam that I was party to and involved himself unashamedly in ministry. Several of his family members have been in contact with me since, thanking us for taking care of the funeral and the food that was needed. We also paid for the headstone. I believe this was a testimony to these Muslim families. I received a call from the political leader in their region, thanking us for what we had done. I replied that we wished we could have done more. “Mark, you have done more than can be expected. The community thank you for your love and care for us.”

Opening for the gospel

This is nothing but the miraculous grace of God. One of our ministry partners tried, some five years before I joined him on my first visit, to take the gospel into this region. He was told that if he ever returned with that message, he would be killed. It was with some trepidation that we undertook my first visit, going gingerly through various checkpoints where our brother was always ready to speak about God if the opportunity presented itself. It would turn out to be the first time a non-Kurd was allowed into the region. 

Since then, the entire district has opened their arms to our support ministry; how many have come to saving faith is difficult to tell, but a good number. Kurdish Bibles in the local dialect have gone into many homes and even into a school. I hear of the sons of mullahs asking for Bibles. These efforts of ours are really impacting this community.

Small but widespread support

Most of our ministry funds this past year have gone towards supporting those with needs in the greater Soran region. Sending money is complicated and frustrating, The widow at her previous mud homeThe new house being built for herbut several brothers and sisters around the world are assisting us. Monies so far have been spent on Bibles, food hampers, healthcare and critical operations, kerosene for winter heating, tyres for the ministry vehicle and the completion of a home for a Christian widow, who raised her three boys to be strong believers in Yeshua, all in secrecy. She is what Paul calls a ‘widow indeed’, worthy to be cared for by the brethren.

You are all aware that I’m in the privileged position of taking no admin fees for myself or the men in Iraq. Our platform is small, yet we have worldwide support, having built up a wonderful base of friends and acquaintances. I’m amazed how many had never heard of the Kurds, yet they now have a great compassion towards them. We also have a team of prayer warriors undergirding the ministry.

Fulfilment of biblical prophecy

I continue to be in touch regularly with a number of young Kurds who call me to discuss Scripture. Virtually every week we hear of salvations and people taking Bibles, including many women. Some time back I was able to speak to a mullah who had left Islam and come to Yeshua. Not only was he a Muslim, but a Salafi, the most radical sect in the Islamic world. It was such a joy to see this man holding his new Bible, excitedly telling me how bad Islam is. As I point out to themour supporters, the Kurds are the people inhabiting the region of the great Assyrian Empire: On that day there will be a road from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria; and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. On that day Israel will be the third party to Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of armies has blessed, saying, ‘Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.’ (Isa 19:23-25) I have a real sense that we are playing a part in this prophecy being fulfilled.

Opposition and persecution

Let me finish with some recent news. Over these past years one of our ministry partners has received regular death threats, which have increased in intensity. He has had such an impact in preaching the Messiah and feels compelled to continue witnessing: “I cannot stay quiet, the Holy Spirit is leading me to continue without fear.” About six months ago he was arrested at night from his home and put before a three-mullah tribunal, as a warning to stop preaching the gospel. A little over a week ago, a vicious video appeared on YouTube and Facebook attacking the ministry work we are doing among the Peshmerger widows and the poor in the community. The Swedish imam behind the slanderous video made numerous false allegations, stating that we were forcing those who receive our aid to become Christian. This is simply not true. The imam challenged the Kurdish Government, the Ministry of Religion and the mullahs to do something to stop my ministry partners from taking care of the needs in the community and speaking about Yeshua the Messiah, as if it would be better for the people to die than to receive food aid and heating fuel from us ‘kaffirs’ (as the Quran calls non-Muslims).

Called before court

Two of the believers, with Mark Our brother brought these accusations to the attention of a regional judge, who heard the case this past weekend. The judge ruled that this threatening attack (which some radical groups will interpret as a call to kill whoever the imam identified) needed to be noted and reported to the Kurdish capital Erbil, the Iraqi capital Baghdad and the local authorities in Soran. Towards the end the judge asked our brother, “So are you a kaffir as the imam says?” The Lord gave him the correct words to reply, as the Scripture promises us: “Your Honour, I will leave it for you to decide who the kaffirs are. Are they the mullahs, who do not lift a finger to help our communities, but call regularly for blood to be spilt, or is it us who serve people, taking care of the needs of those in desperate need?”

God turned it around

The judge’s ruling may well be a turning point in Kurdistan. Yet there remains a real threat from the radicals, and fear is a problem. How do we continue to distribute food and oil? Now the possibility exists of someone coming with a bomb and exploding it among these widows and our numerous helpers. We must remain vigilant, but for the moment the judge recognised the threat posed to our brothers and offered some form of protection, for which we praise God. This word will get out and we are praying that it is the beginning of something special. While this imam hoped to shut us down, God has turned it around, using the court ruling to open up more freedom and, more open discussion, while we continue to understand the need for caution and wisdom. We have the mind of Messiah; we must use this wisdom and be led by his spirit.

Call for ministry support

These mullahs cannot stop the spread of the good news. Islam has nothing to offer and the people know this. Please pray earnestly for our ministry partners and their families, to be able to fulfil their calling in a country few know about. We need God’s wisdom, protection and guidance. On a personal note, Marie Anne, my wife of 42 years, has had a dreadful cancer come back and her brain has numerous tumours all over. We have been told it is a matter of months, but the Lord knows. We value your prayers. Meanwhile, if you would like more information about the ministry, please get in touch on Facebook or via the email address below. My deepest appreciation and love to everyone. Sending you the shalom of our Messiah that transcends the turmoil of this present evil world.

Mark van Niekerk (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) is a South African missionary working with The Simon Initiative, which operates independently from Prophecy Today UK. You can give online to the ministry in Kurdistan by clicking here (UK donations are accepted).

Read some of his previous reports below:

July 2020
August 2019
October 2018
December 2017