Our December 2003 speaker was one of our CEO Board Members, Carmen Vertullo. Carmen is also President/CEO of Simply Better, Inc. and an active participant with Global Missions Fellowship.
Carmen has just returned from a short-term mission trip to Baghdad with Global Missions Fellowship. He eagerly shared first-hand what he witnessed God doing in Iraq and how God has worked in his life through the planning and execution of this mission. Carmen was a member of a team of 12 prayer warriors on the mission trip. While in Baghdad they met with other missionary workers and Iraqi Christians. They also talked with residents, students, and US soldiers. Their trip concluded with a visit to the Coalition Provisional Authority headquarters and a prayer meeting with the Presidential Envoy and Administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority, L. Paul Bremer.
As Carmen began the presentation, we witnessed a financial miracle in the CEO meeting - the CEO board passed out money!
Actually, it was Iraqi currency, paper bills called "Saddams", that were worth 12.5 cents each. Ironically, as you see here, Saddam Hussein is the prevalent figure on the money.
In his presentation, Carmen shared a series of poignant and inspirational photographic slides of the trip and a brief digital movie set to music. The currency, slides, and movie were tangible ways for us to connect with the realities of Iraq that we do not see in the secular media.
The team flew in and out of Jordan, and was in Baghdad for 6 days. The roads were generally clear and in the traveling speeds between towns very fast. Carmen showed a few pictures of the speedometer at 95 mph. Though Iraq is still generally a dangerous place, the team did not feel in direct danger. The team calmed themselves during the trip by humorously using a quote from the recent movie Terminator 3. Arnold Swartzeneggar as the Terminator was responding to the tendency of humans to use laughter in strange ways when he proclaimed in his monotone Austrian accent, "Levity is good, it calms the fear of death." Terminators seem to have keen insights into the human psyche.
God prepares the way
We serve a wondrous God who plans and prepares His plans well ahead of time. God began to prepare Carmen and the missionary team for the trip in the weeks before they left. Carmen confessed he does not have the gift of evangelism (or public speaking), however he pointed out that God uses him and anyone else who steps out in faith, allowing God to use them as He wishes. While on a mission trip early in 2003 soon after the Iraq War had started, several members of the missionary team had prayed that God would enable them to go to Iraq for missions work. Nine months later, God fulfilled that prayer request!
Luke 10:2 was an inspirational scripture for the team - "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few." In this context, there is no confusion over what the definition of the word "is" is. The word "is" is present tense - implying that there is harvest now, and it needs to be taken care of....now!
The goal of the mission team was three-fold:
Prayer - the foundation of success
During the trip there were an estimated 60,000 people praying for the team - this was their prayer support - and the reason the mission succeeded. On the foundation of these prayer warriors around the world, the mission team also prayed constantly. Carmen shared many pictures of the team and Iraqi Christians praying on their knees. In Baghdad, the team received prayer cushions in for their knees to help them pray frequently and for long periods. The women in particular were extreme prayer warriors.
Because of all this prayer, the trip was extremely successful, smooth, and blessed - an abundance above what anyone expected! We serve an awesome God who listens intently to the requests of His people.
Scouting - seeing what is really going on
Carmen pointed out that it is vital that the U.S. succeed in Iraq, not just militarily, but also in building a healthy business environment, and most of all spiritually.
"God is getting ready to do big things in Iraq." The team saw indications of God laying foundations to bring Himself glory and spread the gospel. Many Muslims are coming to Jesus. There were Iraqi Christians including Christian students from Baghdad University that are not afraid to show their faith. The Baghdad house of prayer is a house where Christians gather frequently to pray and fellowship.
As for the economy, there is stable commerce being conducted, as evidenced by plenty of food, fresh produce, open stores, public services, and traffic everywhere the team went. Iraqis are excellent builders, so the road infrastructure is solid.
There is still danger and a sense of military tenseness - though it is not as prevalent as expected. There were soldiers and tanks throughout the city. It was rare to see destroyed military weapons such tanks and trucks, but they did see a few. The soldiers they met were deeply encouraged by their visit.
Politically there are many opinions among the Iraqis who should be in power. As is usual throughout the world with student populations, the Baghdad University students are very opinionated and are adept at discussing the various political options.>
Paul Bremer the U.S. Administrator has a monumental task and it is obviously a weight on his shoulders. It took the team 2 hours to get through the security checks to visit with him. Mr. Bremer met with the team for 15 minutes (shown here) and wanted to hear what they had seen - it is a way for him to hear varying viewpoints and perspectives on the conditions throughout Iraq. He thanked the team for their visit and was willing to have the team pray with him in his office - though they were not sure about his beliefs. As Carmen left, he shook Mr. Bremer's hand and encouraged him by saying "This will be a great nation!" We can only hope that is a prophetic statement about the future.
Witnessing - sharing Jesus with the Iraqis
Carmen reported there are many missions and churches coming into and being "built" in Iraq. They are not brick or concrete buildings as much as groups of fellowshipping believers - a pastor from Tel Aviv who prays for Iraq, a Baghdad Baptist pastor, and the Baghdad House of Prayer. The House of Prayer is a focal point for prayer and fellowship in Baghdad - the team had frequent fellowship and communion there. As for actual witnessing, it is easier for women to talk to women than it is for men to talk to men about God. The witnessing opportunities were few and the team explored them with a degree of caution so as not to offend the Iraqis. Fellow countrymen best accomplish the witnessing.
Summary - What can we do?
As for short-term mission trips, Carmen highly recommends them - he pointed out a few things to consider:
As Carmen indicated in the opening - Iraq MUST be a success militarily, in business, and most of all spiritually. We need to pray diligently for everyone involved there. The country is changing and the goals are succeeding, however there is a long way to go - only through God will there truly be success. May God be glorified!
Epilogue
After Carmen's presentation, we all took our 12.5 cent "Saddams" and pondered when or if the man on the bill would be found. Only 2 days later, on December 14th, Saddam Hussein was captured while cowering in a hole, with U.S. money in his possession, and no "Saddams" (Iraqi currency). The irony is almost laughable, in a tragic way. How the mighty fall.