tebowing. >> today on "christian world news" u.s. troops will pull completely out iraq by the end of the year. how will it effect the christians? >> in film inspiring christians to wipe out global poverty. searching for victims how victims of the war in bosnia are finding hope and healing through jesus christ. welcome everyone to "christian world news." i am wendy griffith, george thomas is on vacation. president obama's announcement that all u.s. troops will be out of iraq by the end of year is

getting mixed reviews. many with ties to the military are grateful, it is not unanimous. some fear iran will gain greter influence over that country. mark martin reports. >> reporter: troops in iraq will become more frequent. some troops had been away more than a year, many on third or fourth deployment. in san diego military families are looking forward to military families coming home. some are cautiously optimistic and weary of politics. >> republican presidential candidates have serious reservations of pulling out the remaining troops. >> this administration has telegraphed its intentions all too often and that is just not acceptable. >> some of the toughest words

came last night at an iowa conservative faith forum from newt gingrich. >> after eight lives, thousands of lives, hundreds of billions of dollars, we will leave in defeat. iran is stronger. >> president stands by his decision. >> in iraq, we have succeeded in our decision to end war. >> veteran john mccain has this to say. >> it is a serious mistake ch i believe we could have negotiated an agreement. i am concerned about increased iranian influence in iraq. mark martin, cbn news. >> persecution of christians has intensified. hundreds of thousands have escaped homeland to escape pressure from ms. muslims.

lee web has that story. >> reporter: since 2003 u.s.-led invasion, many have lost their lives. >> we are happy to see -->> her husband was kidnapped, beat and choked him to death. his crime being a member of iraq's tiny christian community. >> there are people behind the scenes that want to drive the christians out of iraq. this is nothing short of ethnic cleansing. >> some iraqi christians have taken extreme measures by forming a new militia armed with heavy machine guns, christians have taken an oath to protect

their other believers. >> we don't go out killing people. we stand here to protect our people. they wanted to kill us. if we don't defend ourselves, who will? >> before the u.s.-led invasion, there were one million christians in iraq, they were free to build churches. a report in 2009, the null number dropped. >> tom doyle, recently gary lane spoke with him by skype about the future of the church there. >> reporter, tom, thanks for joining us. we know you are in contact with church leaders in iraq. how do they view this pullout?

>> they have mixed feelings. they have been attached to the west yet on the other hand, they don't feel their country is strong enough. i think generally, believers in iraq are nervous. that is sad because 80 percent of them have left iraq at this point. so i think, i think they have mixed feelings. >> what are the greatest risks to them? >> right now, you have terrorists groups that have dedicated themselves to ridding iraq of christians. that is the biggest target. i think the government will be lax, some what like egypt. and christians will have to fight off some of these terrorist groups that have vowed to get rid of christians in iraq. >> tens of thousands of christians have left.

what impact has that had on the country? >> it is a different country. at one point a million iraqis in jordan. i am sure a million in syria. it has severely impacted the country. we need to pray for the iraqy leaders stay. we are praying think can help build a strong and vibrant church, there. >> how optimistic are the leader that is the gospel will continue to be spread there? >> they very much are. so much happened with the curds in the north. people are open. there is a desperation in iraq. many think eiran could come in and take over. the leaders are excited and thrilled to move forward but they know it will be dangerous. >> many people seem to be open to christ and christianity.

what is attracting them specifically to christianity? >> i think they are seeing a difference among christians, the love they have for everybody, even their enemies, as jesus calls us to love our enemies. many muslims have had dreams and visions about jesus in iraq. god's even doing that to help move the gospel along. in new what about here at home, tom. don't we have the danger, perhaps, with the american involvement with troops out of iraq. christians and others will lose interest in iraq? >> i do think iraq is going to stay in the news. they have gotten so chumy with iran. that spells a bigger problem down the road. gary, we may have accidentally

recreated the persian empire if iran and iraq get back together. for believers in america, pray for the iraqy believers and iranian believers, they need it. >> what do christians and others need to do for iraqi brothers and sisters? >> intercession is important. they can get online and help church planters that have very little resources. i heard from an iraqi leader, they are all the sudden doubling the rent. he maybe out on the street with his family. lots of financial needs, they can get on websites, e-3 partners reaching out to people in iraq. >> tom doyle, thanks so much for joining us. >> thank you. >> you can find out more information about how to help

iraq's christian, go to our website cwnews.org. libya's transitional leaders say sharia law will be the basis. mustafa abdel-jalil declared libya a liberated nation three days after the death of moammar gadhafi. the basis will be run to islamic principles. it will be more adult for christians in the new libya. a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit turkey. today the death toll is over 500 and continues to climb. operation blessing international is in the heart of the earthquake zone. >> hopes are fading fast for survivors because it is so cold. the focus is turning on to what

can we do for those that have survived. 170 families living and operation blessing secured two truckloads of supplies full of bottled water in huge demand and ready to eat canned meals and diapers for the infants. >> keep them in your prayers. other foreign assistance is beginning to arrive. israel is helping despite a strange relationship with turkey. the world is trying to bring us together and humanitarian groups are bringing us together. it is only in the church where real reconciliation is possible. >> how the church is bringing hope and healing the war-torn streets of bosnia.

>> welcome back. just 16 years ago, sniper fire echoed through the streets of bosnia. sushs, crow ats and muslims culling each other. today the country is at peace. but still divided. now christians are trying to bridge the faultlines. george thomas has the story from sarajevo. >> the one place where all boz kneeians can find forgiveness. >> the church is a proto type of something special. >> sarajevo held the opening ceremonies to the olympic games. today filled with thousands of people, victims of the boz kneeian war. this is what the tiny evangelical church has to deal with bringing healing and

reconciliation to a nation bitterly divided by the acts of war. >> politicians are bringing us together, world is trying to bring us together, humanitarian groups bringing us together. only in the church where real fellowship and communication is possible. >> the church sits in the heart of bosnia's city, sarajevo. on any given sunday morning you'll find them worshipping under one roof. fo during a recent service, that unity was on dramatic display when a muslim convert to christianity and a couple from surb and croate backgrounds

declared their love for jesus christ. >> we are from different backgrounds, it is god who reunited us. today i have found what it means to be happy. >> unity is what this country needs to move forward, 16 years later, remains of those killed during the war are still being discovered. as cities try to recover, these images still haunt them all these years later. hatred. >> during the height of the war, less than 20 evangelical believers. everyone else fled. god stilled poured his spirit on us. >> the church has grown significantly since then and still represents a tiny percent.

>> this is a very small number. it is not easy to share the message of christ. >> majority of boz kneeians, orthodox, catholics or muslim. the only pastor that has an official building designated as an evangelical church. >> we got routine threats, all kinds of graffiti on the church wall. >> one of those who thought evangelical christians are potentially dangerous. that changed when this former drug addict -->> i saw different groups, worshipping god. i gave my heart to the lord and eventually set free from drugs.

>> he says overcoming the wounds of the past is difficult. >> the majority of muslims were author which you a tortured. >> you have to spend a few minutes on the streets of bosnia and people remember the horrors of the war. they remember the reign of terror that struck every corner of this nation. now boz kneeians worry unchecked and ethnic tensions could spark another war. something christians here are praying will never happen. >> we have to pray and work hard that reconciliation is a powerful message that comes from god through jesus christ and then reconciliation with one another. i pray 2nd chronicles 7 over our

nation, deny our stubbornness, religious differences and turn to god. then he will heal us. i want my country filled with the awareness and knowledge of god. i am praying bosnia will know a god that loves us, forgives us and a god that sent his only son to the world for our sins. this is my hope and prayer. >> george thomas, cbn news, bosnia, sarajevo. up next, britains christians observe a grim memory of abortion. the trauma of aborting their babies.

noo >> abortion has been legal in the united kingdom for 44 years.

pro-life christians joined together on the anniversary of england's abortion law. peter wooding has the story. >> reporter: 20 years ago, angela went through two abortions. >> my family said we are not going to support you. i went through it. afterwards, i thought i was going to lose my mind. she said it was devastating. >> i felt so terrible. i was never going to tell anyone. >> the tragedy has been multiplied across the upper cast thousands of times since the act

came into being 44 years ago this week. >> to mark the 44th anniversary, christian concerns held a make abortion history rally here outside parliament to speak out and speak up to change. >> seven million babies aborted since that act passed. we are here to ask the question, what can we do? how can we make the unborn child human, real, alive? worthy of protection? >> william says they are facing changes to bring about key legislation to limit abortion. >> we failed from 24 to 20 weeks. we failed to get a reasonable amendment on to a recent piece of legislation asking women to have independent counseling when

they present with an unplanned pregnancy. >> one of the people tackling this is angela cokes. she has set up a christian research center for those facing post abortion syndrome. >> they will cry and say i am holding on to my marriage with my fingernails. i don't want to get up in the morning. i have had the pleasure of praying with some people. >> cokes says it was a challenge but believes god has used her experience to help many others. >> he wants to restore them and bring them into abundant life.

>> peter wooding, london england. >> thanks, peter. hi hi py")♪

>> a new coalition says christians can end extreme poverty in a couple of decades. paul strand reports they have a new film they hope to inspire everyone in the church to do their part. >> god is going to use us to end the worst poverty. >> isaiah 58. it embodies this key theme of god's heart for the poor. >> dr. scott todd says extreme poverty can be ended in this generation. in new 1981, 52 percent of extreme population. as of 2005, 26 percent.

>> global poverty chobed in half. tim was showing the film at the white house with todd. >> we have the call from god. we have to do this. >> film screens in 53 theatres and live58.org is offering live screening kits. todd gave up a lucrative medical career. >> christian organizations that are world class have experienced trustworthy, get it done. >> todd says abortion on their own can't end poverty. god can. >> god has given his people, his church, not just the resources and people and everything else. he has given this ordained promise the church will overcome the very gates of hell. revival will come out of obeying, isaiah 58.

>> we sing in our churches lost and revival unless we have concern for the poor. that is not going to happen. we feel passionately about this. when people get on board, we are going to see god move powerfully in our own lives. >> paul strand, cbn news, washington. >> love their passion. thanks so much for joining us this week. from all of us here at "christian world news" good-bye and god bless you.