All Saints church, Middlesbrough, is hosting a 24 prayer vigil for persecuted people in Iraq and Syria.
The Revd Richard Brown of The Ascension, Middlesbrough, said, "I would like to share with you a story about an Iraqi priest which was told to me by a lady who has visited Iraq a number of times over the past year. This lady met Father John during her first visit to the country. At first, she didn’t recognise him as a priest as he wore no clerical shirt and neither did he carry a stole. He ministered faithfully under harrowing conditions to a group of displaced Christians in the mountains of Northern Iraq. It was at the end of her first visit that he chose to send back to the UK the only Christian symbol he possessed; a small cross with the request that we pray diligently for the Christians of Iraq. To him, this small cross became a symbol of hope for those persecuted Christians who are isolated and ignored by the world.
"Father John was killed by an Islamic State attack on the camp in July this year.
"And so, to continue his challenge to us, I would like to invite you to a 24 hour prayer vigil on Friday 18th September 2015. This will take place at All Saints Church in Middlesbrough at 6pm
"I do hope that you and your parish will be able to commit yourselves to this important prayer vigil and, in particular, to attending the opening Eucharist on Friday 18th September at 7pm. The Celebrant and preacher will be the Rt Revd Peter Ramsden (Retired Bishop of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea)."