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Many American soldiers are reportedly seeking to find peace with God, as the United States launched its long-awaited war against Iraq this week. According to "The Christian Science Monitor," armed forces personnel stationed in Kuwait, near the Iraqi border, "are turning to prayer to deal with the fear of death and of the unknown, anguish over the possibility of killing others, and the sheer stress of the war effort." Calling it "spiritual battle proofing," Paul Yacovone, Army chaplain of the 3rd Infantry Division, said he hopes to instill soldiers a lifeline to God that can pull them through the confusion and horror of the battlefield. "The bottom line is: This is as real as it gets," said Yacovone, as he opened a Bible-study session Tuesday in a windblown tent in Kuwait, the "Monitor" reported. "But when you're connected to God, He gives you a sense of peace in the midst of chaos." Yacovone encouraged troops to pick up "rapid-deployment kits" in Ziploc bags, which contain camouflaged copies of the New Testament. Col. Douglas Carver, a chaplain in Camp New Jersey, Kuwait, said his 90-day supply of Bibles was just about gone, hours before the war officially started. (Charisma News Service)

WAR AFFECTS MISSIONARY OUTREACH BY AMERICANS IN FRANCE

Protests in the streets of France have been a regular occurrence since "Operation Iraqi Freedom" began last week. Thousands are making vocal their opposition of the military action backed by the United States and Britain. Evangelical Baptist Mission's Gary Goodge says they are feeling the effects of the ire toward Americans. "I think there is a direct effect on evangelization in that there is a direct effect on evangelism in that people simply don't understand. You can't get to the gospel because you can't get past the fact that you're American." Goodge and his family live and work in France. Their ministry focuses on pastoral help, but he asks prayer for other missionaries in France, too. "Primarily, that we, as missionaries, would be sensitive to the situation. Be informed, on both sides, and have wisdom in what we say and not make the gospel a political issue. Unfortunately, that's the way it tends to go, but that's not what we want to see happen." (Mission Network News)

AID EFFORT TARGETS 'FORGOTTEN CHRISTIANS OF IRAQ'

A Western Assyrian Christian, Ken Joseph Jr., has just made a trip to Baghdad, Iraq, to minister to what he calls "the forgotten Christians of Iraq." Joseph, an American who now lives in Japan, said in a message to prayer partners around the world, "Thank you for praying! You didn't know it but you were praying for us in Baghdad, Iraq. We were not able to talk about it until now but we have been in Baghdad delivering supplies to the precious Assyrian Christians and ministering and setting up a network to distribute relief once the situation calms. "We were the only foreigners in the city of Baghdad without a government agent. All foreigners in Baghdad are required to have a government agent with them at all times. We had none and had complete freedom to travel and stayed with family members, as I am Assyrian. "The people were incredibly kind -- taxi drivers, coffee shops refusing to be paid, hugs on the street -- it was wonderful! "Our hearts were broken with the suffering of the people but also touched by the strength of the church. We didn't want to leave but met with the head of our tribe who asked us to go and let people know the situation of the Assyrian Christians. "We are now back in Amman (Jordan) and preparing to return as soon as the road between Amman and Baghdad is opened again. (Assist News Service)

IRAQIS TUNE IN TO CHRISTIAN RADIO IN SEARCH OF RELIABLE INFORMATION

In search of reliable information about the war, Iraqis often tune in to Christian radio programs. Radio Monte Carlo transmitters in Cyprus broadcast Arabic and Kurdish programs produced by the radio mission Trans World Radio (TWR) to the Middle East. According to a BBC correspondent in Baghdad, Iraqis rely mainly on information provided by the BBC and Radio Monte Carlo. Iraqi state radio airs mainly eulogies on Saddam Hussein. Besides regular newscasts Radio Monte Carlo also features TWR programs for at least two hours a day. Approximately 600,000 of the 23 million Iraqi citizens are Christians, mainly Assyrian Orthodox and Chaldaeans. (IDEA)

* HCJB World Radio reaches across North Africa, the Middle East and Europe with Christian Arabic programming aired via shortwave, satellite and local stations. The Radio Al Mahabba (Radio Love) Arabic satellite network, operated with partner Arab World Ministries, airs programs direct-to-home 24 hours a day. This region has the world's highest concentration of personal satellite dishes.

FEBC INDONESIA STATION STILL OFF AIR AFTER LIGHTNING STRIKE

Much rejoicing greeted the development of a five-month old radio ministry in Bali, Indonesia. However, the outreach has already hit its first major obstacle with a direct lightening strike to the antennae that destroyed the transmitter. Far East Broadcasting Company's Jim Bowman says the station remains silent. There is another problem of credibility, too. "The Hindus consider the strike on this Christian station a curse from God, and they think that this is a way of God saying He doesn't want the station there. That's why getting the station replaced as soon as possible -- the damages replaced right away -- are so important. The sooner this transmitter gets back up, the sooner it will confirm to the local residents in the area, to which we are ministering on FM, that God has not put His curse on the station." (Mission Network News)

EUROPEANS DEBATE GOD'S PLACE IN FUTURE CONSTITUTION

After sparring over Iraq, European countries have stumbled on another roadblock toward forging a larger, more integrated union: God. Or, more precisely, God, religion and spirituality -- three words that may, or may not, be included in the continent's future constitution. The matter has cobbled strange alliances among European Union members and candidate countries. Delegates from Poland and Germany -- at odds over military action against Baghdad -- are united in pushing for a religious reference in the text, which Islamic Turkey and Roman Catholic France oppose. On one end of the spiritual debate sits a coalition comprising the Vatican, an assortment of center-right political parties, and faith-based organizations. Members are lobbying for various references to God and religion, including one mirroring the constitution of Poland, which joins the EU next year. "We cannot flee from the question of Europe's Christian roots, values, the importance of faith and religious motivations," said former Polish Prime Minister Ajozef Olesky. On the other end of the debate, a mix of leftist parties, gay rights groups and other associations want clear language separating church and state. "There's no need for the future constitution to mention our religious heritage," a French diplomat said. (Religion News Service)

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