At the end of Daniel 5, the Bible briefly mentions the mighty Median Empire coming, along with the Persians, to conquer Babylon. And although the empire of the Medes itself is long gone, the Kurds as descendants are still present in this region today.
About the Kurds
It is very common for a people to have their own country, but unfortunately this is not the reality for the Kurds. The area where many of them live is known as "Kurdistan" and includes a long mountain range that is not a country itself, but parts of several other countries (such as Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria). Understandably, this has caused quite a struggle for the Kurdish people in modern history, especially given their strong cultural heritage, which stretches far into the past.
Because of the fighting in their region of the world, many Kurds have fled elsewhere Some 100,000 Kurds have chosen the Netherlands as their new home, and a large proportion of these men and women live specifically in Rotterdam.
Although there are about 40 million Kurds in the world, only about 12,000 of them are Christian. It is Islam that remains the dominant religious force for a large majority of Kurds.
If history has shown anything, it is that the Kurds are a resilient people. Despite the massive opposition they have faced as a people group longing for their own country, they remain loyal and true to their customs and ways. They are fighters at heart. A well-known example of this is the Peshmerga, the Kurdish forces, who are deeply rooted in the fight against the Islamic State (IS).
The Kurds are an impressive people with an equally impressive history. They have their own extensive culture, language and history and are proud of it. And just as their ancestors were involved in the story of the Bible, they are equally valued and sought after by God today - a point worth sharing and making known among them.
Prayer points
- Against social isolation, racism or mental health problems Kurds may face when integrating here.
- Unity among the Kurds themselves and acceptance and understanding of those around them
- For the Christian Kurds in Rotterdam and their presence in this city
- Areas of interaction between the Church of Rotterdam and the Kurds
- For the operation of Home for Kurds in Rotterdam South
- For Kurdish Christians serving the church in Rotterdam