Newsletter, May 6, 2017

IDC Government Relations

IDC has been meeting with key Members of Congress, Senators, and the White House to discuss the future of Christianity in the Middle East and the security and stability of Lebanon.

Pictured below, IDC Director of Government Relations and Strategic Communications Kristina Olney meets with the two Senators of Colorado, Senator Cory Gardner and Senator Michael Bennett, along with IDC Colorado chapter members.

Pictured above, Father Andre Mahanna, Secretary General of IDC’s Religious Advisory Board, meets with President Trump at the National Day of Prayer Service at The White House.

Pictured below, IDC’s Executive Director Philippe Nassif and IDC’s Director of Government Relations and Strategic Communications Kristina Olney meet with key National Security Council staff along with experts on religious freedom and leading advocates to present a groundbreaking report on international religious freedom and U.S. foreign policy and to discuss the future of Christianity in the Middle East.

IDC Chapter Events

On April 27, St. George’s Orthodox Church of Houston and IDC’s Houston Chapter hosted a special screening of Our Last Stand where over one-hundred members of the Houston community gathered to learn more about the situation of Christians and other minorities in the Middle East. IDC National Outreach Associate Steven Howard was joined by Melissa Marschall, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science at Rice University and Father John Whiteford of St. Jonah Orthodox Church for a post-screening discussion facilitated by Steve Khoury, Chair of IDC’s Houston Chapter.

Left: from left to right: Melissa Marschall of Rice University, Father Anthony Baba of St. Anthony’s Orthodox Church, Father John Whiteford of St. Jonah Orthodox Church, IDC Houston Chapter Chair Steve Khoury, IDC National Outreach Associate Steven Howard and Father James Shadid of St. George’s Orthodox Church.

Right: Daniel Espinoza (pictured left), Constituent Representative from the Office of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, presented a Certificate of Recognition from the Congresswoman to St. George’s and IDC for raising awareness on the subject of the persecution of Christians and other minorities in the Middle East. Fr. James accepted the award on behalf of St. George’s and IDC.

IDC Production and Media Consultant and OLS Filmmaker Jordan Allott with clergy who opened the evening with prayer.

From left to right: Jordan Allott, Father Zacharia Saribekiyan of St. Apkar’s Armenian Apostolic Church, Father John Parks of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, Associate Pastor Marcus Millam of Greenway Bible Church, and Lead Pastor Caleb Campbell of Desert Springs Bible Church.

On April 28, On Friday, April 28, IDC-AZ and Desert Springs Bible Church co-hosted a special screening of Our Last Stand. Over 200 people from Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox communities in addition to those from other religious traditions prayed together and engaged with a lively Q&A panel to learn more about how their advocacy efforts can translate to legislation that improves the situation of Christians in the Middle East.

From left to right: Post-Screening Panel with AZ State Representative Paul Boyer, IDC-AZ Chairman Bill Fathauer, and IDC Production and Media Consultant and OLS filmmaker Jordan Allott.

Questions ranged from how America can be a leader in the international community in stopping genocide to how those in attendance could exercise their civic duty to advocate for Christians and other religious minorities persecuted for their faith.

Guests stood for a minute of silence to commemorate all victims of genocide.

Upcoming Chapter Events

Pot Luck and Town Hall, June 10, Boston, MA.
RSVP HERE.

Don’t forget to check out our website for more upcoming events!

IDC in the News

MTV Lebanon, April 29, special report highlighting H. Res. 252 which was introduced by Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and which seeks support for the stability of Lebanon and the establishment of safe zones in Syria. The report also highlights the work of IDC to make the resolution pass, as explained by IDC Executive Director Philippe Nassif.

Christian Post, April 19, State Dept. Workers Called Religious Freedom Specialists ‘Whack Jobs,’ Former Official Says
IDC Vice President and Senior Policy Adviser Andrew Doran: “Doran, who now serves as the vice president and senior policy advisor for the human rights advocacy organization In Defence of Christians, explained that he feels there is not much that the Trump administration can do to improve the depressing status of religious liberty worldwide.”

EWTN News Nightly, April 18, IDC Executive Director Philippe Nassif joins EWTN News Nightly to discuss Christians in Iraq.

Catholic News Agency, April 10, Global bishops unite in prayer following Egypt church bombings
The advocacy group In Defense of Christians voiced their “solidarity with Egypt, particularly Egypt’s Christian community,” and senior advisor Andrew Doran stated that “we call on Egypt’s government to use all necessary means to make places of worship in Egypt safe, especially those systematically targeted by terrorists.”

The Economist, April 8, The religious response to Syria’s travails is prolix and confused
In the view of Philippe Nassif, In Defense of Christians director, the gas attack in Syria was a “heinous atrocity” by the Assad regime, and the American missile raid was a “very justifiable response”.

Christian Daily, March 28, Egyptian police disperse angry Muslim mob targeting Christian homes
“Americans need to know that one of the oldest Christian communities in the world is under threat from being completely pushed out of Egypt,” In Defense of Christians’ executive director Philippe Nassif told CNA.