When Pope Francis made an in-person visit to Iraq this past spring, missionaries from all branches of Christianity had a better opportunity to share faith in public in the predominantly Muslim country. But as a security measure to protect the pope at one event, soldiers were told to seize the cargo of transport vehicles to prevent a terrorist attack.
The bad news. Soldiers confiscated a carload of Bibles that missionaries hoped to distribute.
The Good News: But according to Christian Aid Mission, The soldiers told the workers they would return the Bibles after the event, the ministry leader said. The team had prayed that they would be able to distribute at least 1,000 Bibles during the event.
“The strange thing is that we met several people while walking in the streets carrying the same Bibles that we distribute, and when we asked them, they said that they got them from the checkpoint,” the leader said.
On the way back to the ministry base, the workers stopped at the checkpoint to retrieve the Bibles but found they were gone, he said.
“When we asked the soldiers, they said, ‘It was written on them to be distributed free of charge, so we gave them to everyone who was stopped for inspection,’” the ministry leader said. “It seems that the Lord ensured the distribution of His Word in His own way. God’s plans are not like our plans, and His ways are not like our ways, for He is wiser and greater.”
The workers distributed other Bibles to crowds at various cities and villages that the pope visited. Read more about this amazing story and what the Holy Spirit is doing in Iraq.