Dalton Thomas, a human rights activist, missionary and filmmaker, knew his team couldn't run from the crisis. As head of Frontier Alliance International, Thomas issued a call for skilled volunteers even as he raised his own support. Then he moved to Iraq with his wife and four young sons.

They've seen a lot over the past three years. Recently, the Kurdistan region in Iraq—where their ministry has established an operations base—has been alive with political speculation. On September 25, the Kurdish people will vote on whether to seek independence from Iraq.

Reached via phone from an undisclosed location in the Middle East, Thomas shares his insights from the front lines... and why people of faith should care about this war-torn region.

What inspired you to launch an outreach effort into northern Iraq?

Two events really impacted me. One dates back to when I was little. My dad, who is geopolitically wired, told me about what Saddam Hussein did to the Kurds. Many thousands were killed when he ordered poison gas dropped on Kurdish cities. For some reason, that stuck with me. So I have this affinity for the Kurds as a people.

Then, decades later, I began missions work in the Middle East. We were in Turkey after the so-called Arab Spring began, and I noticed something. The Kurdish people we met were so warm and kind. Being a persecuted minority group often leads to a victim mentality. The Kurds didn't have that. They reflected a profound lack of entitlement and self-righteousness.

There was a deep patriotism that they were Kurdish, but it was different.

As a relief organization, we started looking at northern Iraq, thinking, Maybe we'll start something there some day. Then Fallujah fell in early 2014, and the Islamic State came on the scene. When Mosul fell, we knew it was time. We needed to mobilize quickly. We carried out a few short-term trips to test the waters. Our medical team built initial relationships to start and see what would work best.

We believe a ministry of presence is really valuable. Sometimes the most important thing is to show up and build friendships.

In a relief capacity, we made the Kurds our number one priority in the Middle East. That's when I felt like it was time for our family to move to Iraqi Kurdistan.

Was it difficult to have your family with you?

No, it has been fantastic—it's a great place to raise boys. I have four boys, and they love it. Raising girls is a challenge because of the culture. Societal and religious issues mean that being a female in that environment is very hard. But if you're a male, it's a boy's world.

Our family really took to it. Part of that is because it really took to our family. We were immediately embraced and welcomed. I feel safer there than I do anywhere else. Even with everything raging, we felt this sense of peace about it. Part of it is that peace comes from being in the will of God. It's also that Iraqi Kurdistan is a unique and amazing place...

Continue reading here.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

'This is Christ-mas': Actor Tim Allen Pushed Back on Original 'The Santa Clauses' Plot in Quest to Explore Holiday's 'Religious' History

Account Closed: Banks and Businesses Cancel Christians: 'I'd Heard of This Happening to Literally Dozens of Groups'

White House Doublespeak: We Won't Tell Apple to Allow AirDrop in China Because They're Private, That's a Different Situation from Us Vowing to Watch Twitter

South Dakota's Kristi Noem Bans TikTok, Warns of Chinese Intelligence Gathering

Pastors Take Charge Combatting 'Drag Queen Story Hour' with the Gospel

Project Veritas Posts Part 2 in Its Exposé of HHS Corruption: 'a Very Wicked Thing'

Project Veritas: Biden's HHS Complicit in Shocking Human Trafficking, Part One

'The Chosen' Added to Netflix and Immediately Soars in Popularity as one of the 'Most Liked' Titles

Hawaii's Mauna Loa Eruption: Stunning Video Shows Lava Spewing, Reaching Heights of 164 Feet into the Air

'Genderfluid' Biden Official Sam Brinton Charged with Stealing a Woman's Luggage

Biden Wants Your Retirement Savings to Go Woke. Here Are 3 Ways to Protect Yourself

'They Brought This On Themselves': DeSantis Fires Back After Disney's Bob Iger Regrets Being 'Dragged' into Parental Rights

School Board Walks Out after Being Confronted with Trans Material by Parents; Meanwhile, Doctors Confirm Dangers of 'Gender-Affirming Care'

Senate Ignores Conservative Concerns, Passes Democrats' Same-Sex 'Marriage' Bill With 12 Republican Votes

'Great Reset in Full Force': Dutch Government Plans to Shut Down Up To 3,000 Farms to Meet EU Green Goals

Disney's 'Strange World' Tanks, Indicates Woke Film Movement Is Failing: 'Why Does Everything Have to Be Sexualized?'

Walmart Shooter's Suicide Note: 'I Failed to Listen to the Groans of the Holy Spirit'

Focus on the Family Blamed for Club Q Shooting Despite Jim Daly Condemnation, Suspect's Non-Binary Identity

Medical Clinic Treating People Injured by COVID Shot Opens in Italy

Christian Organization Wins Legal Battle, Will Be Allowed to Hire Christians