Military in Iraq celebrating Christ amidst war, chaplain says

Military in Iraq celebrating Christ amidst war, chaplain says
Dec 22, 2006
By Staff
Baptist Press

BAGHDAD, Iraq (BP)--A Southern Baptist chaplain in Iraq says military personnel are celebrating the birth of Christ in the midst of a war-torn country.

Chaplain LTC Jim White, 3rd Infantry Division, says "in spite of the circumstances," America's finest are celebrating Christmas in Baghdad and throughout Iraq. White, stationed in Baghdad, requested prayer for members of the military who are away from family during the Christmas season -- that they may "sense God's presence each and every day."

Following is the full text of White's message to Southern Baptists:

"Here in Baghdad our soldiers are celebrating the Christ in Christmas in spite of the circumstances. All across our area of operations, Christmas trees are going up, choirs are singing. We're celebrating the birth of our Lord. On behalf of all military Southern Baptist chaplains, we'd like to thank you for your support and wish each of you a Merry Christmas. We'd like to ask you to lift us up in prayer this time of prayer, praying for our Soldiers and Sailors and Airmen and Marines as they go about their work in some of the most dangerous places in the world. As they go about that work, may they sense God's presence each and every day.

"We also [ask that you] pray for our families and loved ones back home, [asking] that you will lift them up before our Lord in a very special way, that they might sense His presence also and that they might have the Christmas spirit and bring us all safely home to them. We also ask that you'll pray for each of our chaplains, that they will sense the when, the where and the how to share God's love this Christmas season to all that they serve. Meanwhile, here in Baghdad, we continue to celebrate the Christ of Christmas."

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