The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Iraq Celebrates Its 100th Anniversary

Country leaders reassure Adventists of their commitment to religious freedom.

July 17, 2024 | Middle East and North Africa Union Mission, and Adventist Review

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Iraq marked its 100th anniversary with a special centennial celebration in Erbil, Kurdistan on Sunday, May 12. The event was graced by government representatives, church officials, and members from various denominations. While the main celebrations took place in Erbil, important government meetings were held in Baghdad.

Among the distinguished guests were Pshtiwan Sadq, Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs in the Kurdistan Regional Government; Attila Toth, Hungarian counsel representative in Kurdistan; Razmek Moradian, former Ishtar TV director; and Akad Yousif, Academy Society Club member in Erbil. Also present were Magdiel Pérez Schulz, assistant to the General Conference (GC) president; Elbert Kuhn, an associate secretary of the GC; Germán Lust, an associate treasurer of the GC; Rick McEdward, president of the Middle East and North Africa Union Mission (MENAUM); Darron Boyd, president of the East Mediterranean Region; and George Yousif, legal association president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Iraq.

As part of the centennial celebrations of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Iraq, church leaders met with Dr. Rami Joseph Aghajan, Head of the Christian, Yazidi, and Sabean-Mandaean Endowment Office in Iraq [Photo: Office of Endowments for the Christian, Yazidi, and Sabian-Mandaean religions].

In a special video message, GC president Ted N. C. Wilson extended his congratulations and appreciation. “It is my distinct pleasure to bring special greetings and congratulations to those attending the centennial celebration of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Erbil. I especially want to thank the officials of the Kurdistan regional government and the Iraqi government for their commitment to freedom of religion and worship.”

Wilson continued, “The message of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is one of love and respect for all people as we seek to bring hope into a world facing enormous challenges. May each of you trust in the Almighty God.”

Yousif, a long-standing church leader in Iraq, recounted some of the struggles the church faced in the past. “The Seventh-day Adventist Church, like many other churches in Iraq, faced persecution, displacing, and bombing. We thank the Lord, however, that despite all of this, the damage to our buildings was limited to material losses and no one was hurt. The church plays an important role in society. It spreads the language of love, peace, and coexistence.”

At the conclusion of the centennial celebration, church representatives Pérez Schulz, Kuhn, and Lust shared their vision for the work in Iraq, offering messages of encouragement to church members. Lust reflected on the church’s historical significance. “The 100 years of the [Adventist] Church in Iraq is significant because of the history of this country. Looking back, we can see the growth of members who, through their experience and resilience, have remained steadfast in the faith.”

Kuhn extended an invitation to those wishing to get involved. “Being here, I have seen many opportunities to advance God’s work in the region. That is why I invite everyone who has not yet decided to collaborate with God in this region. The work needs you; the Middle East needs you; but more importantly, you need this work.”

Pérez Schulz emphasized the sacrifices of the early followers. “With God’s help, they did the impossible to share the message of hope so that in the future, there would be a place to openly worship the Lord. We must remember that God has been with us in the past, and we fear nothing in the future. This is why we must be strong and continue to take firm steps forward to share the gospel and work for the Lord.”

The week-long visit of church officials also included productive meetings with government representatives in Baghdad. On May 13, the church administration met with Raad Jabbar Al-Khamisi, the administrative and financial undersecretary, and Khalil Shamo Khedida, the director general of Governorate Endowments. Rami Aghajan, head of the Office of Endowments for the Christian, Yazidi, and Sabian-Mandaean Religions, referenced the Adventist church in Baghdad, which has been closed for years. “We will strongly support keeping the doors of churches open and encourage the reopening of those that are closed.”¹

The next day, meetings were held with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, who affirmed that “the government views diversity as a strength for Iraqi society, enhancing unity and social peace, and is committed to preserving it.”²

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Iraq traces its origins back to Bashir Hasso, a young Iraqi pharmacist who purchased a copy of Daniel and Revelation from a Seventh-day Adventist colporteur. After receiving Bible studies from Walter K. Ising, the first foreign worker of the Adventist Church in Lebanon, Hasso returned to Iraq inspired and shared the message of salvation with his family, forming the first Adventist movement in the country.

Today, regional church leaders said the Adventist Church in Iraq “comprises of members who, with unwavering faith, pray for a revival in the Middle East and for God’s continued protection as they share the love that Christ offers to each person.”

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1. From the Facebook account of the Diwan of Endowments for the Christian, Yazidi, and Sabian-Mandaean religions in Iraq, https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=122193370298011732&id=61550351984191&mibextid=qi2Omg&rdid=zh1pVatPOoi67RdH

2. “PM Al-Sudani Announces Plans for Iraqi Diaspora Affairs Directorate,” https://shafaq.com/en/Iraq/PM-Al-Sudani-announces-plans-for-Iraqi-diaspora-affairs-directorate