Updates from the field
Bringing Scripture Home in Iraq
A Bible distribution project revives spiritual life and cultural identity
July 11, 2025 | by Charmaine Hedding
As part of an ongoing effort to strengthen Christianity in its ancient homeland, Shai Fund, in partnership with local leaders, has completed the distribution of 5,000 Bibles in the Chaldean dialect, 5,000 Bibles in the Assyrian dialect, and 2,200 Western Aramaic Bibles to families across Iraq. This milestone marks a significant step in a broader mission to preserve both faith and language among Aramaic-speaking Christians. The next phase will include printing and distributing 2,800 additional Western Aramaic Bibles, responding to strong community demand.
In a special video message, Monsignor Ghazwan Yousif Baho, who recently was able to give one of the Bibles to Pope Leo XIV, shares more about the impact of the project and the hope it brings to communities long overlooked and often under threat.
A Personal Story of Impact: Salma’s Voice
Among the many touched by this initiative is Mariam, a devoted mother and cultural advocate. Fluent in Syriac, Arabic, and English, she is a living link between generations, committed to preserving her community’s Syriac heritage and Christian identity.
Mariam reflects on how receiving a Western Aramaic Bible has transformed her family’s spiritual life:
"Having the Bible in our spoken Aramaic dialect has brought God’s word into our daily lives. Now, my children and grandchildren can read and reflect on the scripture in a language that feels personal and familiar.”
For Mariam, this Bible is a lifeline to her heritage and faith . She regularly leads family readings, using Scripture to instill resilience and cultural pride in the face of ongoing challenges. She believes this initiative helps safeguard a future where both the Christian faith and the Aramaic language can flourish.
Scripture in the Language of the People
This Bible distribution program is part of a strategic and compassionate response to the erasure of Christian life in Iraq. After decades of war, persecution, and displacement, many families are reconnecting with their spiritual heritage for the first time through modernized, readable translations of the Bibles in their native dialects.
The work continues, and so does the impact. These Bibles are symbols of endurance, instruments of cultural revival, and seeds of hope for the future of Christianity in the region.
Watch Monsignor Baho’s video message to learn more about this remarkable journey.
