By Dan Wooding, Founder of ASSIST Ministries and the ASSIST News Service
KURDISTAN, NORTHERN IRAQ (ANS – April 12, 2015) – Do Remember Heather Mercer? She was one of several Christian aid workers held hostage by the Taliban in 2001.
She and the others were rescued by U.S. Special Forces during the military's invasion of Afghanistan later that year.You would think after almost losing her life, she would now want to settle down to a quiet life here in the States, but that’s not for her.
According to Wendy Griffith of CBN News, today Mercer is back in the Middle East serving among the Kurdish people in Northern Iraq. This time, it's not the Taliban but Islamic State, also known as ISIS, that is threatening to destroy their way of life.
But Mercer, who is now married to Mohanad Alkhoury, an Iraqi Christian, is fighting back with a new campaign called Hope-4-Iraq.
“Mercer is used to serving on the front lines of war. In Iraq she served just 200 feet away from ISIS fighters. You could see their black flag flying over a nearby water hut,” said Griffiths.
“She and her staff from Global Hope were there to offer aid, encouragement, and prayers to the Kurdish soldiers fighting ISIS.”
Since her arrival one soldier and 60 others were killed in one of the deadliest battles with ISIS so far -- in the exact spot where Mercer had visited.
Wendy Griffith spoke with Mercer about her experiences. Here's her inspiring interview:
Griffith: Are you feeling the effects and seeing the effects of ISIS where you are?
Mercer: We are in some ways... The Kurdish region has done a good job in trying to secure the space but ISIS is there, we know ISIS is there. There are sleeper groups in the region and we're less than an hour from the front lines. And there's not a Kurdish person or family that hasn't been effected by the conflict. They're
sending their troops to the frontlines every day and many are losing their lives. So people live with the reality that ISIS is on the front door step and they're doing everything they can to hold them back.
Mercer said the fall-out from ISIS has resulted in the greatest humanitarian crisis Iraq has ever seen. Some 15 million people in Syria and Iraq have been affected.
In response to the unprecedented suffering, Mercer recently launched the campaign called Hope-4-Iraq.
Mercer:
People need just basic food, shelter, basic needs. There's a million
children sitting idly in camps because they're not able to go to school.
We need to address the education issue.Mercer said another big focus will be helping support and restore women in crisis.
“So right now there are over 3,000 women who are being held captive by ISIS and literally they have no place to turn, so we're focusing on ways to help rescue and restore them,” she said.
Griffith: How can people and churches help?
Mercer: We're looking for at least 100 churches around the country that would join us in this campaign--we're hoping that's an under-estimation--and asking people and businesses as well. This is a huge humanitarian crisis and everybody has a part to play.
Griffith: You've already been through a hostage situation. Any fears about living over there at this time?
Mercer: You definitely calculate the risk almost on a daily basis but I find that that's not the question I want to ask. The question I want to ask is what's God's heart? And where would He be? And I believe Jesus is walking the streets of these towns and villages that so desperately need Him. And where He is that's where we want to be.
For more information on her work, please go to http://www.globalhope.com/
To watch the interview with her, please go to http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2015/April/Frmr-Taliban-Prisoner-Returns-to-Middle-East-to-Bring-Relief/
Photo captions: 1) Heather Mercer on the frontlines. 2) Heather in the KWVE studios after an interview with Dan Wooding for his Front Page Radio show.
** You may republish this or any of our stories with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net)
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