8/22/2014  Mark Andrews and Kyle Patterson

Before sending the first wave of military “advisers,” U.S. officials expressed reservations about putting combat “boots on the ground” in Iraq again to deal with a fierce Islamist terrorist threat in the country’s unstable northern regions.

But a Tennessee-based Christian relief organization has had its own “boots on the ground” in this dangerous territory for the past nine months and is showing no signs of backing down in the face of the ruthless militants’ convert-or-be-slaughtered ultimatum.

“Despite the atrocities being committed by ISIS [short for the Islamist State of Iraq and Syria], Iraq represents an opportunity to bring the hope and love of the Gospel,” says Crisis Response International (CRI) Director Sean Malone.

Teams of CRI responders–a combination of staff and trained volunteers–are committed to bringing a witness of God’s love in tangible ways providing food, shelter and medical needs to hundreds in Iraq daily, he said. But most importantly, CRI is praying and bringing the peace and salvation of Jesus into the hearts of hundreds of Iraq residents who are desperate for answers.

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