On October 27, the world woke up to some good news. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the ISIS terrorist group, had been killed by U.S. forces. Al-Baghdadi was responsible for a genocidal system aimed at wiping out Christians and Yazidis in both Iraq and Syria. His death brings to mind the epitaph given to King Jehoram of Judah during the period of the divided kingdom—“He passed away, to no one’s regret.” (2 Chronicles 21:20).

Of course there are some who are sad to see him go. The remaining, rapidly diminishing elements of the Islamic State are mourning his loss. Even some Americans who go out of their way to criticize or demonize the current U.S. president have tried to redeem the reputation of al-Baghdadi. The Washington Post’s obituary headline briefly lauded the terrorist leader as an “austere religious scholar at the helm of the Islamic State” leading a segment of WaPo’s readers to cry foul, another portion to cheer in agreement, and a third group to simply nod and mutter, “Yeah, that’s Jeff Bezos for you,” before clicking to the next story.

There is another character in this story who must be remembered and praised. In August of 2013, Kayla Mueller left a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Aleppo, Syria. Not long after, she was taken by members of ISIS. She was repeatedly tortured and raped, eventually by al-Baghdadi himself. Ultimately, she was killed and her body has never been found.[1] All the time she was in captivity, she held on to her faith in Jesus Christ. Her relationship with her Savior gave her a heavenly perspective and an amazing strength in the midst of the most horrific of times. For much of her ordeal, she was held in isolation. However, in the times she was seen by other hostages, she found ways to encourage them with her bravery. Once, one of her captors declared to the other prisoners that she had converted to Islam. “No, I didn’t” was her defiant reply.

“I would not have had the guts to say that,” former hostage Daniel Rye said. “. . . All of us were impressed by the strength that she showed in front of us.”[2]

Not only were her fellow captives inspired by her faith, so were those who planned and executed the raid against al-Baghdadi. U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien confirmed on Meet the Press that “the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff named the operation that took down al-Baghdadi after Kayla Mueller, after what she had suffered.”[3] What a testimony and a legacy this brave young woman left behind—one that could even inspire and challenge our elite military forces.

Let us give thanks for the skill of the U.S. intelligence services in tracking down this murderer. Let us appreciate the wisdom of the military leadership who developed the strategy for taking him down. Let us acknowledge the bravery of the forces who carried out this daring raid. But let us also praise God for the young woman who bore the unbearable, who stood strong in the face of unspeakable horrors, and who lived the words of the apostle Paul, “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:20-21). Kayla Mueller lived Christ all the way to the end. We rejoice in the knowledge that she is now experiencing heaven’s gain.

—Joel

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[1] Jones, Emily. “Baghdadi Operation Named After Christian Woman Who Refused to Give Up Faith Before ISIS Killed Her.” CBN News, October 28, 2019, https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/israel/2019/october/baghdadi-operation-named-after-christian-woman-who-refused-to-give-up-faith-before-being-killed-by-isis.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Duster, Chandelis. “The Baghdadi Raid Was Named after ISIS Victim Kayla Mueller. Her Parents Say They’re ‘Grateful.’” CNN, Cable News Network, October 28, 2019, https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/27/politics/kayla-mueller-parents-reaction-to-baghdadi-death/index.html.