Transforming Trauma into Faith
In Iraq’s refugee camps, widows scarred by unimaginable loss are encountering the healing love of Christ
Yara* is a widow who has been living in a refugee camp in northern Iraq for several years. It’s been her temporary home along with her two youngest children, but every day they carry the grief and trauma of the loved ones they lost. It was a horrific event that no one should ever experience. Militants broke into their house, and one of the assailants attempted to take their oldest daughter. Yara’s husband shot the man to rescue his child. Within minutes, more militants entered the house, killing both Yara’s husband and their daughter.
Like Yara and her children, there are countless widows and orphans living in refugee camps who have experienced great loss and tragedy. When World Challenge partners with Christians to care for the needs of orphans and widows, we are mindful that trauma care and counseling are critical for their healing. It’s a part of our five pillars of care. Yes, we provide for their basic needs, but we also want them to know “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3, NIV). It’s often a powerful testimony of Christ’s love in a culture where women are not valued or given dignity.
Hope Beyond Trauma
During a recent visit to two refugee care centers, Chief Missions Officer John Bailey was inspired by the testimonies of the women he met. “We are literally seeing many women come to know Christ,” John testified. Many have similar stories of trauma, but they are finding freedom through the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
One of the first places women learn about Jesus is through a Bible study. As they learn about the different people in Scripture and how Jesus valued women in the context of the culture in which he lived, they begin to see the difference between Islam and Christianity. “This opens the door to explain the story of Jesus and how he died on the cross,” John explained. “What’s on Jesus’s mind while he’s dying? He’s looking to make sure his mother is cared for. Why? Because he cares about women.” When a widow sees her worth through the lens of Scripture, she begins to understand there’s hope for her future.
However, there’s a great risk when these women accept Christ. This means they must reject Islam, and it could mean a death sentence. They know their family may reject them, and their society will cast them out. Yet the beauty of sharing Christ with these women is that they, in turn, teach their children about the God of all comfort, who gave his only Son for their lives. Christianity teaches them about unconditional love and forgiveness, even forgiving those who harmed them. It’s a powerful message in a country ravaged by conflict and violence.
An Iraqi refugee camp visited by our team.
The Transforming Gospel
Amid the stronghold of militant Islam, where extremist groups have enforced religious oppression for decades, Christianity is growing—one widow, one child at a time. Widows are not only discovering the healing power of forgiveness but also reclaiming their identity, seeing their worth and dignity restored through the truth of Scripture. This is the power of the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ.
Will you pray for our partners as they minister the love of Jesus in these refugee camps? Would you also pray about a financial gift to help bring Christ-centered care to more orphans and widows?
Through your partnership, we are providing opportunities for women to further their education or learn a trade. Many go through a multilingual program to learn English and Arabic. Recently, your generosity enabled three girls from a refugee settlement to attend university. This is the very first time anyone from this community has been able to go to college. Many of the younger girls see these girls as role models and are motivated to learn.
Nearly 1.2 million Iraqis are living in refugee camps across the country. Many families are weighed down by physical hardship and deep emotional trauma. The need is overwhelming. Yet with your help, light is breaking through the darkness. Strongholds of oppression are being dismantled. The gospel is advancing not only through our partners but through widows and orphans whose lives are being transformed by the love of Jesus. They know their worth in Christ and are spreading this good news!
*Name has been changed to protect her identity.