But ST Thomas Church in Mosul, Iraq, is more dust and debris these days.

So a team of volunteers is hard at work, sweeping away the remnants of what was once Islamic state territory and hoping the Christians who once lived there will return to be their neighbors again.

Mohammed Assam is a leader of the volunteers.

First of all, it's a message to say, Come back, We need you, We want you.

Mosul isn't complete without you.

You are the trust the heart.

We miss you from all our heart.

For Riel, Syria Catholic Church dates from the mid 18 hundreds but was looted by Islamic state, which controlled this region for three long years.

The militants were driven out three years ago, but not before a Sam says he saw atrocities against religious minorities like Christians on on the other side of the city, Father Ardell holds a Sunday service in Mosul's main operating church off Bashara.

He says about 45,000 Christians lived in Mosul until the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2000 and three.

Now, he estimates, only about 50 Christian families have returned to live in the city so far, but more and more are coming to work or study each day, he says.

Helped by young people like the volunteers, Hack a dash.

I always say Hope lies in our youth and implement a poll by the youth are the hope of this city after it suffered from so many difficulties and problems.

It was a tunnel of darkness.

He field hockey coffee, a Shabab youth today or the Hope and the beautiful thinking that will make this city beautiful.

Jamil Lady Sage album had the Medina Djamila.

They hope that Christians will soon feel able to stay.