2 Evangelical Groups Tell of Iraq Aid Plans

Two leading evangelical Christian relief and missionary organizations say they have teams in Jordan poised to enter Iraq, provide relief supplies and possibly conduct missionary activity.

The Southern Baptist Convention, the country’s largest Protestant denomination, and the Rev. Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse have been criticized in the past year for statements denouncing Islam.

Both organizations said their priority will be providing food, shelter and other needs to Iraqis ravaged by war and years of neglect. But if the situation presents itself, they say, they will share their Christian faith in a country that is estimated to be 97% Muslim and about 1% Christian.