What the World Needs Now

my personal take on the situation in iraq

What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love
No not just for some but for everyone

In 1965, as a 9-year-old in California who had just received his first guitar, the words to this song by Jackie DeShannon were very familiar to me. I loved the tune and I loved to play and sing it, but at age 9, I didn’t fully understand what it meant.

The Bible tells us that the world will know we are Christians by our LOVE for one another: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). I now know what that means, and I try to exemplify it in my life. I fall short of being loving at all times, but it’s always a goal.

So what about the current situation in Iraq? What does this idea of love have to do with anything? Well, I’ve just returned from Kurdistan and Iraq where I was ministering and doing my best to show God’s love to a people who have known war and terror for so many years. I was also there several years ago when ISIS reigned and terrorized the people by killing and destroying entire cities.

Central has taken teams to Iraq for the past 10 years to share the love of God in the midst of destruction and hatred. We have loved the refugees in the camps by sharing with them and by breaking bread in their homes—usually a tent or simple “caravan” (mobile home).

We have brought aid, food, medical supplies and Bibles. We have helped our missionary, Jamal, open a training center to teach refugees skills such as sewing, computer, electrical, hair cutting and styling, music, and many other skills. The students, young and old, leave with the tools they need to utilize their newly learned skills.

We have visited the military and encouraged them as they fought on the front lines against Daesh (ISIS) and other militant groups. We took them food, blankets, and other aid. And always the Word of God, which they received willingly and happily. They thanked us over and over for coming to see them and caring enough to share time and aid with them. They have said over and over how they feel the love of the Americans who come and share with them.

We met with widows who shared story after story of how their sons and husbands died at the hands of ISIS, often by being bombed or shot in their own homes. One lady shared about how ISIS had tortured her son and then sent her photos that would torture her for the rest of her life. It’s hard to know what to say to a mother who has suffered like this. So, we love. What the world needs now is love, and Jesus is love! Our ultimate goal is to bring Jesus to a hurting country and to hurting lives. I don’t care who took the first shot, dropped the first bomb…innocent men, women, and children are paying the price. We are called to love them in many ways: emotionally, spiritually, and tangibly.

I don’t know if the people of Iraq and Iran will ever live in peace, but I do know that many more now know the Prince of Peace because of the faithfulness of our missionaries and the team members who have gone to share His love. I pray that God continues to move in their lives and that one day, they will live in a more peaceful world. In the meantime, we obey and go where God calls us to go!

Thank you Central for your love, your care, and support of our Mission team who do their best to be good stewards of the gifts with which we have been entrusted. We are always looking for ways to bring God’s love to a hurting world.

What the world needs now is Jesus! What we need to do is show the world His love—in St. Louis, in Iraq, and around the world!

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34

And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:2

If you would like to learn more about Central’s Mission work in Iraq and around the world, contact Pastor Randy Mayfield ( or 314-727-2777), or click on the button below.

Missions at Central