Adventist Church in Iraq Has a New Leader

Bagdad/Iraq | 30.03.2006 | APD | International

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Iraq, beset by war and the loss of members who have emigrated to other nations, has a new president: Basim Fargo, formerly secretary-treasurer of the church there. He was elected by leaders of the church's Middle East region, who met with Iraqi Adventist leaders. During the meeting, according to Pastor Kjell Aune, regional church president, it was disclosed that adult baptised membership, formerly at 250, has probably dropped to around 100 Adventists in Iraq, although two people were baptized there in 2005.

The protestant mainstream church of Seventh-day Adventists began work in Iraq, then called Mesopotamia, in the beginning of the 20th century. The first church was established in Mosul. By 1931 a church school had been opened, but was nationalised in 1974.

Today, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is one of 13 Christian churches officially recognised by the government of Iraq.

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