Missionary Defies Evacuation Order, Stays With Iraqi Christians as Drones Rain Down on Erbil

Missionary Refuses to Evacuate Iraq as Drone Strikes Hit Christian District in Erbil

An anonymous missionary leader from an Ibero American organization serving in northern Iraq has issued a bold challenge to Western churches, urging believers to step beyond their comfort zones and embrace the reality of persecuted Christianity.

Speaking with Christian Daily International's Spanish edition, the missionary described the escalating security crisis in Erbil, where approximately 100 attacks have taken place, with over 50 intercepted in just the last 48 hours. A drone struck an apartment complex in Ankawa, the historic Christian district, causing significant damage to Church owned buildings.

Despite receiving evacuation orders from the Spanish Embassy, the missionary chose to remain with the local community.

What weight would our service carry when we say, 'God protects' if we are the first to leave?

The missionary posed this question to explain why abandoning the community was never an option.

The infrastructure crisis has compounded the danger. A suspension of gas exports from the Khormor field has reduced electricity generation by up to 3,000 megawatts, leaving residents with only 2 to 5 hours of daily power. Families huddle in darkness while missiles streak across the sky overhead.

The missionary also raised concerns about how the evangelical church is perceived in Muslim majority regions, noting that in some cases "Christianity gives the impression that it means loving and perhaps supporting what the Israeli government is doing." He called on Western churches to practice an authentic gospel that pushes believers out of their comfort zones, contrasting the safety of Western Christianity with the reality of persecuted believers who operate in secrecy across northern Iraq.

The region's Christian population has faced decades of displacement, yet the community in Ankawa has grown, with over 4,000 Christian families now calling Erbil home. Prayer has been requested for the safety of families, local minorities, and wisdom in navigating the regional escalation affecting Jordan and Lebanon.

Western Churches Called to Authentic Faith as Iraqi Christians Face Drone Attacks and Power Crisis

The situation in Erbil reflects a broader pattern across the Middle East where Christian communities bear the brunt of geopolitical conflicts they did not start. The Blessed Michael McGivney Apartment Complex, owned by the Chaldean Archdiocese, was among the buildings damaged in the March 4, 2026 drone strike, along with the nearby convent of the Chaldean Daughters of Mary Immaculate.

No casualties were reported in the attack, as the complex had been evacuated days earlier amid threats targeting the nearby US military base and Erbil International Airport. But the message was clear: even in their own neighborhoods, Christians are not safe.

The Crusader's Opinion

This missionary has more courage in his little finger than most Western churches have in their entire congregations. While we sit in air conditioned sanctuaries debating worship styles, our brothers and sisters in Iraq are dodging drones in their own neighborhoods. The man was told to evacuate and he said no, because what kind of witness would it be to preach "God protects" and then be the first one running for the exit? That is the kind of faith that built Christendom. That is the faith we have lost. The comfortable Western church needs to wake up, open its wallets, get on its knees, and remember that following Christ was never supposed to be safe. These believers in Ankawa are living the Book of Acts right now. What is our excuse?

Take Action

• Donate to The Shepherd's Shield to support persecuted Christians in conflict zones across the Middle East.
• Support Open Doors USA and their programs providing emergency relief and spiritual support to believers in Iraq and the broader region.
• Give to Voice of the Martyrs who work directly with underground churches and persecuted believers in Muslim majority nations.
• Support Aid to the Church in Need, which has been actively documenting and responding to the crisis in Erbil and Ankawa.
• Pray daily for the Christians in northern Iraq. Share this story with your church leadership and ask them to organize a special offering for Iraqi believers.
• Contact your congressional representative and urge them to prioritize the protection of religious minorities in Iraq and Kurdistan. Find your representative at house.gov.