Syrian Church.

A CHRISTIAN church in Syria has stood up to Islamic State extremists by continuing to hold services.

Express.

PA/GETPastor Edward Awabdeh's church continues to thrive despite the threat from ISIS

Pastor Edward Awabdeh returned to his homeland after working as a dentist in the United States 

With the Islamic terror group taking large swathes of territory in civil war-torn Syria, many Christians have fled the country. 

But Pastor Edward has seen his congregation grow with people turning to his church for support in an act of defiance against the extremists.

He has taken threats to his own life and had an incredible escape when a bomb fell on his house but did not explode. 

With Syria ranked as the fifth most dangerous country in the world to be a Christian, many have questioned why he has stayed.