During the Christmas service in Baghdad a bomb exploded near a Catholic Church. More than 30 persons were killed. The Alliance pastor Joseph Fransis, asks to pray for the brothers and sisters in Iraq. They live under continuous pressure. At the same time he expresses gratefulness for the Christmas morning service in the Alliance Church. 650 members attended the celebration as well as government officials and a Shi’ite religious leader. The Alliance pastor of the church in Damascus, Syria, told the AWF they had a wonderful Christmas celebration as well.