THE SERMON WAS IN ARABIC

By Fred Barnes

The Weekly Standard

3/26/2004

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Pastor Jule’s Pentecostal church is new and not easy to find. After Saddam’s fall, he opened an above-ground church in Karrada—different from state-sanctioned churches that flattered Saddam.

His church, tied to the Assemblies of God, elevates faith in Christ as personal Savior over state loyalty.

Services (in Arabic) mirror American evangelicalism: “praise” music, Bible teaching (Nehemiah), and intense prayer. Men and women share equal standing—his wife taught, a young woman led singing.

He asked to remain anonymous. Though Iraq “has been an open country for the Gospel,” he fears post-sovereignty autonomy for regions hostile to Christianity—and a future Shiite-led constitution that might weaken minority protections.

He refuses political questions—but expressed gratitude:

“God used coalition forces to destroy Saddam and give us freedom. I thank God for the courage of American soldiers.”

He wants U.S. forces to stay until an elected, freedom-protecting government is in place.

“We have a big vision.” Christian missionaries find Muslim countries hardest to evangelize—but Pastor Jule works from within. That may make all the difference.