“Let the terrorist group, ISIS, see the manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ,” decreed Pastor Chuck Lawrence this past Sunday during the morning worship service at Christ Temple Church in Huntington.

Pastor Lawrence referenced the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria’s recent rampage of violence and religious cleansing across northern Iraq following the return of a Christ Temple missionary from the troubled region. On Wednesday of last week, the humanitarian crisis was upgraded by the United Nations to a “Level 3 Emergency,” the organization’s highest ranking of severity.

ISIS jihadists have now declared the captured territories a new Islamic State, restoring “caliphate” in the Middle East. Multiple reports confirm that religious minorities, including Christians, are enduring horrific atrocities for refusing to denounce their religion and convert to Islam.

Understand the scope of all Islamist movements from their earliest inception was to re-establish the Islamic Caliphate, which is believed to be the panacea to every Muslim ill around the world.

But Islamic jihadists are ruthless in their approach to eradicating Christianity.

While addressing the plight of Christians in Mosul, national spokesperson for Iraqi Christians, Mark Arabo, said the “evil” being carried out by ISIS militants in Iraq now shockingly includes beheadings of children.

“They are systematically beheading children, and mothers and fathers,” Arabo told CNN’s Jonathan Mann. “There’s actually a park in Mosul that they’ve actually beheaded children and put their heads on a stick.” Mann described the acts as the “most heartbreaking” things imaginable.

Reportedly, Christians were given three options: convert to Islam, pay a fine or die by the sword. Those fleeing to neighboring areas of Iraq harbor little hope of returning.

“They’ve marked the red stamp of death on Christian homes and basically saying we know who you are and if you come back, you will be killed,” said Arabo.

In his weekly address, President Obama told Americans the U.S. will not be dragged “into fighting another Iraq war” despite his authorization of military air strikes in the region.

But I submit that if the president hadn’t completely ignored the escalating unrest in the region and misled the American people for almost two years, ISIS may never have been allowed to balloon into such a regional power.

Experts agree that while these ISIS jihadists are now a distinctly different organization, they were parented by al Qaeda. Yet, Barack Obama described al Qaeda as having been “decimated,” “on the path to defeat” or some variation at least 32 times since the attack in Benghazi, according to White House transcripts.

Excuse me, Mr. President, but how did this group become so powerful in just a few months? Your recent disclaimer to being responsible for the decision to withdraw troops from Iraq is very telling. Apparently, once again, you see failure on the horizon and want to re-write history and blame your predecessor.

So I’m certain you shoulder no blame for the thousands of Christians being persecuted for a faith many are simply willing to die to protect.

May Pastor Lawrence’s heavenly request be honored and Iraqi Christians be protected by God’s mighty hand.

Mark Caserta is a conservative blogger, a Cabell County resident and a regular contributor to The Herald-Dispatch editorial page.

Tags: Foreign Affairs, ISIS, Islamic jihad, Muslim radicals, Obama