Weekly devotion: Caring for creation in Iraq
Ankawa Humanitarian Committee, Iraq
Street art in Akawa, Erbil
The effects of climate change are a serious problem in Iraq, causing a rise of extreme temperatures, the expansion of desert areas and the loss of farmland. Embrace is responding at a grassroots level by supporting a local partner – the Ankawa Humanitarian Committee (AHC) – with their Climate Responsive Schools Project.
Ankawa is a suburb of Erbil in Iraq’s Kurdistan region and home to many displaced Christian families who were forced to flee by ISIS in 2014. Operating in three schools there, the project aims to increase awareness, and reduce the widespread use, of single-use plastic. Each school has been provided with a water filtration system to make the piped water safe to drink and students have been given reusable flasks.
In addition, the project is seeking to identify other ways that the three schools can reduce their environmental footprint. It has carried out an environmental audit, looking at the water and energy consumption of each school.
As well as addressing the climate crisis at a grassroots level, the AHC hope that the project will inspire and empower young Iraqi Christians by showing them that they have an important contribution to make to society.
Bible reading
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
Psalm 19: 1-4
Thought
This psalm is a reminder of how God’s creation testifies to his greatness and goodness. Despite using no words, the message of the skies flows out across the whole world, ‘proclaiming the work of his hands’.
Ask yourself: Think about what we can learn about God from his creation. Why is it so important for us to be good stewards of this world?
Prayer
Loving God,
We remember that you are the creator and sustainer of everything. You alone made the goodness of the land, the riches of the sea and the rhythm of the seasons. We thank you for your gracious provision and we pray that you would help us to be good stewards of this planet.
We lift before you the Ankawa Humanitarian Committee and the important project they are running in three local schools. May the young people be inspired to care more deeply about your creation, and may your hand of blessing be upon them as they try to make a difference.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Listen to our podcast series!
My Middle East features conversations with people who know and understand the Middle East. Explore the region from the comfort of your armchair:
Inspired by what you read here? Share it on social (don’t forget to tag Embrace!):