AMMAN, JORDAN - Jordan is experiencing a surge of Iraqi refugees who escaped the Islamic State (ISIS) persecution.

In what seems to be a modern day biblical exodus, around 100 Iraqi Christians are taking refuge at St. Mary's Church in Marka, Amman. They only brought clothes and other important personal belongings after fleeing from their homeland to evade certain death.

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"We had to leave everything and go...To be Christian and to stay in my religion," said Zaki, one of the refugees who chose to leave Iraq together with his family. "Maybe in two years or three years, you will not see any Christians in Iraq. All of them will leave," he added.

ISIS members are forcing their Christian captives in Qragosh and Mosul to either convert or die. The Iraqi Christians chose to leave, escape and live.

Refugees at St. Mary's Church chose to leave Iraq and retain their religion.

Ann Danyal escaped the ISIS onslaught with her seven-year-old child and recalled how ISIS threatened them.

"All of a sudden, they threaten you. They uprooted us...I left without saying goodbye to my parents, their graves," Danyal said.

Another refugee, Nadira Haddou, 57, said that she did not regret leaving Mosul.

"I don't want to go back. They took our homes and belongings. I have nothing to go back. I want to go to America," Haddou said.

Meanwhile, Fr Khalil Jaar of St. Mary's Church said they are helping the refugees the best way it can, relying mostly from private donations and assistance. Most of the evacuees slept on floor mats and blankets.

Jaar added that some of the refugees are also Muslims.

There were around 60,000 Christians living in Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq. When the ISIS rebels took over the city, all Christians have left.

TagsWar Conflict, Religion Belief, Social Issues, Mosul, Fertile Crescent, Jordan, Christianity in Iraq