Six weeks after a car bomb exploded beside the Baghdad Seventh-day Adventist Church, causing $150,000 of structural damage, church officials in Iraq have said that there is little hope of claiming insurance payments for the repairs.

Basim Fargo, secretary for the Adventist Church in Iraq describes the exasperating process involved in filing a claim. “I went to the Coalition office and told them about our case. They gave me a form to fill and we got nothing out of that. Then I got acquainted with a Major in the military who promised to help us and again we got nothing. Last week, three army officers came to the church and they took some photos of the damaged stained-glass windows and told me they intend to help us. They all have good intentions, but the question is how much can they do in the current situation?”

The explosion on Sept. 10 from 150 kg. of dynamite packed into a car, took out most of the leaded stained glass windows, destroyed the entire network of electrical wiring and gutted two rooms in the church. Two weeks ago, five Christian churches were bombed. Although there were no casualties, the Adventist congregation has been fearful of worshipping at their regular church and services have been moved to other locations until security improves.

Homer Trecartin, secretary-treasurer for the church in the Middle East region says that a fund has been created to receive donations for the repair of the Baghdad church. “A pastor from abroad has already organized a special offering at his church and sent a cheque for $745,” says Trecartin. “These and any other funds collected will be forwarded to Iraq as soon as the situation becomes stable enough to resume non-essential building repairs.” If you would like to help, please contact Homer Trecartin on HTrecartin@aol.com.