Author: Opendoors Canada

Event Recap: Open Doors presentation to Canadian Parliamentarians in Ottawa

“Freedom of religion is the canary in the mineshaft. If freedom of religion is doing well, all other freedoms are doing well.”  

That was the Honourable John McKay’s assessment of the importance of religious freedom at the 2023 World Watch List Parliamentary event on March 8.  

Mr. McKay, Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Guildwood since 1997, was the co-sponsor of this year’s event along with Ms. Kelly Block, MP for Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek since 2008. Ms. Block encouraged her parliamentary colleagues to consider the importance of religious freedom on a social, economic, and financial level: “The value added to the global community is that free people are often happier people.” 

The Open Doors World Watch List presentation for Parliamentarians has been an annual event since 2019. This year, we were pleased to return to Ottawa in person after online events in 2021 and 2022.  

The Hon. John McKay, co-host, was among those to offer comments on religious freedom.

In the weeks leading up to the event we asked you, our supporters, to invite your MP to join us. Many of you did exactly that and it led to a great turnout: 14 Members of Parliament from different political parties attended in person, with several others represented by staff. In total, the event was attended by 40 individuals.  

Open Doors Canada presented the research behind the 2023 World Watch List, highlighting the importance of supporting religious freedom around the world and strengthening the persecuted church. The event included comments from Mr. McKay and Ms. Block; a talk from Dr. David Guretzki, president of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada; and words from Rev. Paul Estabrooks of Open Doors and Rev. Gary Stagg, executive director of ODC. We also had Helene Fisher, Open Doors gender persecution expert, talk via video about the struggles that Christian women face. There was also a Q&A time and good conversation with the MPs both before and afterwards.  

Open Doors Canada is thankful for the chance to hold this event, and grateful to Mr. McKay and Ms. Block for their co-sponsorship. It was a great opportunity to inform our lawmakers about the importance of standing for freedom for our persecuted brothers and sisters. We are already anticipating next year’s event! 

14 MPs attended in person, with several others represented by staff

ODC Executive Director Gary Stagg with event co-hosts the Hon. John McKay and MP Kelly Block. 

The team from Open Doors Canada

A Visit to a Secret Church Service

This is a small house church that meets in a suburb of a city in Central Asia. The two of us – Open Doors partners –  make our way to join a group of about fifteen believers to worship God. We pass by people going about their business on this quiet, grey and overcast Sunday morning.

We arrive outside a Soviet-era tower block. There are many such buildings still standing long after the collapse of Communism. After checking we have the right address we ring a bell, enter the building and make our way up to the fifth floor via a non-descript elevator. When the doors open we are met by a young man with a smile on his face. We are in time for the ten o’clock service.

This is a secret service led by a former member of the Russian Secret Service, the KGB. After coming to Christ and leaving the shadowy world of surveillance, Tahir* is now a pastor and we are ushered into his home. 

The living room has been cleared and seating placed around the edges. Some people have already arrived and we are given a warm welcome. I saw young families, men and women, young and old. When the service began the men sat on one side and the women and children on the other. I noticed people’s clothing was a mixture of traditional and modern. And while no one spoke English we quickly learnt to communicate through smiles and gestures.

Always mindful of who might be listening, the tactics of the KGB slow to forget, we quietly sang hymns together. Sitting on mats on the floor we listened to the pastor speak and then it was my turn to share a word from the Lord. With the help of an interpreter, I spoke about persevering in our faith and encouraged those listening that Christians around the world were praying for them. I also said they were like many around the world suffering for Christ, but that they were not alone.

Gendered Persecution

After two hours of fellowship, it was time to leave. The small congregation would stay for food and to encourage one another. We were left with a real sense of their struggle but also hope. Our brothers and sisters are on the front line of persecution trusting God for their future.

Prayer Requests from Pastor Tahir

  • That new believers would receive more strength and courage to share the Gospel.
  • That God would raise evangelists to speak the Good News to society.
  • Many have left the country because of the poor economic situation which in turn depletes the church of members. May Christians have the heart to stay and make their future here.
  • May God protect the house church. It is too small to be registered and that is why it has to stay secret. May the eyes of neighbours and officials be blind to our meetings.

*name changed

Remaining faithful despite family persecution

Persecution can take many different forms, but in most cases the end goal tends to be the same: to get the Christian to renounce their faith. For believers like Abed Ali, this persecution came directly from his family.

For the longest time, Abed Ali (40) kept his faith a secret. He knew the consequences he would face if his family or community found out about his faith. Living in the northern part of Bangladesh, Abed Ali is the eldest of 5 siblings, tasked with the responsibility to set an example for the rest of his family. 

Abed’s life changed when he met Jesus. He had never experienced this kind of love before, and after much thought to it, Abed decided to get baptized. With such a public proclamation of faith, news spread like wildfire and people began to talk about a man named Abed Ali who became a Christian.

The villagers did not take it well, and his family, especially his wife, couldn’t accept his faith. Abed’s wife became angry and would argue with him about renouncing his faith. When his faith remained strong, that made her angrier. Her anger drove her out of the home, taking her 8-year-old son with her, whom she knew Abed had a special bond with.

“My wife left me saying, ‘if you do not renounce your faith, I will not stay with you.’ I love my son a lot. I never sleep through the night without him. Now it is already around 4 months since I’ve seen my son. They (the family) do not allow me to meet and talk with my son. My heart is crying for my son. My heart is breaking every day,” said Abed.
Not only are his parents and siblings against him, but the local religious leaders are also after him, threatening to kill him if he doesn’t renounce his faith. They’ve also revoked every opportunity for him to work, if he tries to sell something in the market, the villagers will kick him out. Abed has nowhere to go, hiding every day.

“I cannot go home in the daytime. I just go at midnight and sleep for a while and then just before the brightness of the day comes, I leave my village and hide here and there. I am a day labourer, I have no work, no food. I am tired and getting weaker and weaker day by day.”

Even with his torment, Abed remains faithful in the Lord, believing that God would come through for him. Abed says that his persecution has made his faith stronger.

“I am learning to love people and love the Lord. I am rejected and isolated from all my family and friends. But I believe my Lord is with me. He will protect me. I believe someday this pressure and persecution will stop. I will not forsake my Lord. I will not renounce my faith. I will follow the Lord until I have breath. You just pray for me continuously.”

Pray

Will you pray for Abed today? Open Doors local partners have been able to provide some support to meet his emergency needs. They also visited him, and they spent some time together reading the scripture and praying.

1. Pray for brother Abed’s protection and God’s guidance. Pray that God would give him protection and lead him on how to respond during his conversation with the Muslim people.

2. Pray for his wife and in-laws. Pray that God would open their hearts so that they will understand and respect Abed’s decision. Especially pray that his wife’s heart would be softened to see the love of the Lord and her husband. Also, pray that she will understand that Abed has the right to meet and talk with his son.

3. Pray for the local believers that they would extend love and welcome him to their house for his shelter. Pray that Abed won’t feel lonely and that frustration and depression won’t grow in him.

Ruth: “Tomorrow will be better.”

Ruth lost everything – except her hope in God. We sat down with Ruth and talked about why she still hopes for a better tomorrow.
We meet Ruth* at her hair salon in a busy neighbourhood. Eight people awkwardly try and fit into the narrow front room where she has set up her business. In the back is her bedroom. It’s small and simple, but she can call it her own. She has prepared a traditional coffee ceremony for us. We drink the required three small cups of coffee to complete the ceremony – thankfully itgets weaker with each round. Ruth passes around popcorn and roasted barley. She may not have much but what she has, she shares with her us, her visitors.

The young woman is only 22 years old but could easily pass for 16. Looking at her it’s easy to envision her on a university campus; a bookbag casually slung over her shoulder, wearing a fashionable dress as she walks to class, or even sitting care-free with a group of friends taking a break between classes. Except Ruth wears a pink hairdressing apron as part of her work uniform and worries each month if she will be able to pay her rent. She’s had to grow up quickly.

“The area I come from is dominated by traditional religion, so it’s very difficult to live there as an evangelical Christian. Family and community life is dictated by traditions and rituals. It is a very small city, so almost everyone knows each other. If you are an evangelical Christian, they will know. They refuse to talk to you or even have any kind of relationship. Right now, my family doesn’t talk to me at all.”

Ruth came to know the real Jesus, the One who saves through His finished work on the cross, at the age of 14. A friend’s mother shared the Gospel with her. “I was told clearly ‘Lord Jesus Saves, Salvation is through Christ’. When she told me there is no way to be saved other than Him, I said okay.”

Learning that God doesn’t require endless rituals or fasting to be in relationship with Him made the decision easy. However, at that young age, she couldn’t foresee the fallout her decision would have. For two years Ruth secretly worshiped with a small local church. Then her family discovered a Bible in her room. Very quickly the dreams she had of receiving an education and a promising future vanished. Her family abandoned her, and her friends looked the other way when she approached.

“Isolation is painful. It’s hard to understand how my family, who used to love me, could suddenly hate me. All of this creates horrible feelings.” Still, Ruth still remains hopeful, even if her life hasn’t turned out the way she thought it would.

“When I was a child, I dreamt about studying. I wanted to reach higher levels. I didn´t want to fall behind. All my friends are still studying and some of them have graduated already. When I see all of this, I feel really sad.”

Ruth keeps a tight grip on her emotions and, maybe more importantly, her faith in God and that He will take care of her.

“May God be praised, even if life is hard now, even if I am not living the life I thought I would and continued my schooling like my peers… I am still here saying tomorrow will be better.”

For the most part of the interview Ruth remains buoyant. In each answer she praises God but also evades many of the questions so that she doesn’t have to dwell on the past and her present predicament. Eventually the thin layer of positive varnish cracks and she begins to cry. It’s as if all the tears she had kept to herself for months, possibly years, could not stay suppressed any longer and jumped at the opportunity for a way out.

We sat there with Ruth, thankful that we were there to comfort her and she did not have to cry alone. A train of tissues passed from hand to hand, we put our arms around her while tears kept rolling down her face, her lips trembling and her knee jumping up and down. Silently we prayed for her until she calmed down and was able to continue.

Ruth was stuck in her hometown. She stayed with someone from her church but without support from her family there was no future for her there. Though Ruth is a bright woman, all the pressure caused her immense anxiety, and she failed her grade 10 year. With no one to support her, she had to start working in menial jobs. Her church contacted Open Doors and we helped her complete a vocational course in 2021.

“My pastor talked to the organisation and they said they could send me to do a short course in hairdressing. May the Lord bless you, I want to use this opportunity to thank you. Because of the support of believers around the world, the organization has helped me a lot. You have helped and supported me. I told them I want to work, at least I want to earn something which I can call my own. I told them I want to change my life.”

Life isn’t easy. Ruth feels isolated many days, without any friends to encourage her in her journey and to walk alongside her. In addition, Ethiopia’s economy has struggled due to armed conflict, and hairdressing has become a luxury many people cannot afford. Ruth needs to work other jobs on the side to make ends meet, but she is determined to meet every challenge with God at her side. 

We left that meeting encouraged. The future of the church in Sub-Saharan Africa is in the hands of young people like Ruth, and she welcomes that commission with open arms. 

Pray

Ruth asks: “Please pray for me. Ask God to help me in everything. The Bible says the beginning of Wisdom is the fear of God. So, I want to make God first in everything I do. I want God to help me and keep me safe from all evil.”

Pray that Ruth will soon make godly friends who can support her emotionally and spiritually.

Pray that God would build his Church among young people and that he will raise leaders among them that can shepherd the numerous young people that are coming to faith in this region but face severe persecution.

Pray that Ruth’s testimony of God’s faithfulness through the wider Body of Christ will be a great encouragement to other believers who may be young in the faith and intimidated by their challenges. Pray that, like Ruth, the young will put their faith in God and say ‘I am still here saying tomorrow will be better’.

Learn more

Sub-Saharan Africa is a region with increasingly violent attitudes towards Christians. In this podcast, we talk about why that is, and how we can be praying for this region.

Attacks in Kyrgyzstan show no sign of stopping

In the eyes of people in her village, Nina* was an infidel who abandoned her faith. At first, her husband who was Muslim had no idea that she had become a Christian and was attending church in secret until the villagers found out and told him. They said he could not now be buried in his native village because they considered him an infidel too.

He was so angry at the perceived shame Nina brought on him that he beat her so badly she could not leave home for 5 days and ended up in the hospital for 8. He also beat his son because he too went to church with his mother.

Nina’s husband told her to renounce her faith in Jesus Christ and stop going to church, but she refused and stood firmly in her faith. Because of this, he left her. Currently, she is living alone with her son. She has lost hearing in her right ear due to the traumatic beating she suffered from her husband. We urge you to pray for Nina and her son.

Nina is just one of the many people in Kyrgyzstan suffering for their faith.

In regions outside the capital, Bishkek, Islamic extremists continue to target and violently attack non-Muslims.

According to data from Forum 18, the sharp rise in these attacks that began in 2022 shows no signs of slowing down in 2023. Many believe that local authorities are complicit in these targeted attacks. With no one to turn to for help, non-Muslims are in a vulnerable state.

There have been cases of Islamic radicals preventing non-Muslims from conducting funerals and hindering them from honoring the wishes of the deceased. In order to bury their loved ones, some had no choice but to convert to Islam.

In November 2022, a mob threatened ethnic Kyrgyz Christians to force them out of their homes if they did not convert to Islam. Forum 18 reported that local authorities had intervened to calm the situation but did not bring any charges against the perpetrators.

Officials refused to explain why no legal actions are being taken against the people involved and did not comment on any plans to prevent such attacks from happening again. Local believers stay silent without complaining due to fears of reprisals from authorities and mobs if they were to raise their voices.

Kanatbek Midin uuly of the State Commission for Religious Affairs, while speaking about the attacks, said, “These are only isolated cases. They cannot cast a shadow on the generally positive situation for religious freedom.” However, considering the numerous attacks and injustices Kirgiz non-Muslims are facing, religious freedom seems like a luxury only Muslims can afford.

Pray

Pray for Nina and others who suffer attacks for their faith

Pray for the country of Kyrgyzstan, that they will see changes in laws that bring about religious freedom

A New Well Provides Water for Refugees

This is a note from Ahmad (pseudonym), an Open Doors partner in Central Asia.

I want to tell you some very good news. We have started a ministry on the border between our (undisclosed) country in Central Asia and Afghanistan. This is a very difficult and closed area for the Gospel. But by the grace of the Lord, we can serve in this region. There are now a lot of refugees from Afghanistan, many of them are hiding in a deserted area without clothes, food and drinking water.

Those who live there cannot get their water because of the climate changes and harsh terrains. Those who earn, at least, a small income in a family can afford to buy water, but such people are very few. Basically, people drink rainwater and water from rivers and ditches. The risk of disease is very high.

We prayed a lot about this situation and by God’s grace, your prayers, and your help, we were able to make our dream and the dream of many people in this region a reality. We started drilling 240 meters deep and found water there!

This path was very difficult, many of those who were engaged in the drilling were initially reluctant to get involved with this project, especially because they were not sure whether they would even find water in this area. And besides, there was no equipment that could reach such depths. Fortunately, one company agreed to help us and ordered additional specialist equipment to drill to the required depth.

The team drilled for 240 metres before finding clean water.
The machine was drilling, with three shifts of workers working around the clock to find the underground water. And finally, a miracle happened. After a month of work, we reached the desired depth and found water. Now, local residents, Afghan refugees, our minister and his family, and other believing brothers and sister can use this water source free of charge! Praise the Lord!

Tun’s Story: Two Years After a Coup in Myanmar

Story by an Open Doors worker in Myanmar
I have met Tun* before. In his home, in 2018, where he and his wife Lhing* led bible studies with their neighbors. Back then, Tun showed us his backyard – he had rows and rows of sugarcane ready to be harvested, and healthy goats, chickens, and pigs shuffling about. This is livestock he has raised, he proudly says, with the knowledge he learned from Open Doors livelihood trainings.

This time, we meet again. But now, Tun is a refugee.

When the military took over the Myanmar government in 2021, Tun’s life turned upside down. At the onset, Tun knew that sooner or later, bloodshed was coming to his town. And true enough, it wasn’t long before the military tankers came when he, his wife, and three children were forced to flee to safety.

Until today, Tun and his family could not go back home. He has been a refugee for two years.
“When the Myanmar military tankers came in to destroy our town, we knew that they were going to be engaged in the fighting,” Tun recollects.

It has been years since we had last seen each other. Despite the toll of running for his life and resettling somewhere in the mountains, Tun looked healthy and happy to see us.

“We were scared in our hearts, and we looked for a way to escape.” He was at home on February 1, 2021, when the military announced the coup. “On that day, all the phone lines were cut off. There was no internet, no phone connection. We felt like we were staying in another side of the world.”

Since the takeover, tensions in Tun’s neighborhood grew. Curses and protests filled the streets. People cried “Justice! Freedom!” amid booming patriotic music. The people hated the military. They wanted democracy back. The rallies had become so common that Tun’s children, used to seeing the commotion outside, began imitating the protesters. “I had to step in to encourage my children that we are not on the slogan side – we are on the prayer side.”

On March 9, the military junta shot one of the public protesters on the head, triggering civilians to take up arms and form the People’s Defense Forces (PDF). A week later, on April 6, Tun and his family began their escape. It was a two-day operation. “Early in the morning on the first day, my wife and I investigated the road to find out where the military was posted. When we confirmed which way is safe, we packed our goods and emergency needs.”

The next day, Tun and Lhing left, taking their three children on separate motorbikes. “We only took small, small bags – we packed one shirt for the daytime and another shirt for night-time. That’s it. If we carry a lot of clothes, bags, and lots of things, the military – those who are waiting in the checkpoints – they won’t allow us to go outside of town.” They may have looked like they were just out on a day trip, but Tun and his family did not come back.

Once they got to a safe location, Tun called for help. “God prepared our friends and our partners to take care of us and to host us,” he shares. “We stayed in their house for 10 days, and during that time, we looked for another house to rent.”
“It was just like 30 years ago”

It was certainly different – and difficult – to be suddenly thrown into displacement, but Tun does not regret leaving his home. The coup isn’t his first dance with the military and seeing them occupy his village led to flashbacks of his hardships from when he was a young man, when Myanmar was still under the decades-long leadership of the junta.

Back in the 1990’s, when young Tun was in church, a soldier stormed into their pulpit, demanding that if no one from the church would step up to carry the military’s cargo, the army would stop the service. Tun and three of his friends stepped up. “We didn’t want the church service to stop,” he shares. “That day, we carried those heavy loads – weapons like rocket launchers – and travelled by foot for 35 miles.”

Before fleeing, Tun harvested sugar cane and raised animals.
In the middle of the journey, one of Tun’s friends tried to run. “He ran from the army line and went farther and farther away while the soldiers shot at him. We couldn’t look back. All that time, we wondered whether our friend managed to escape or if he died.” “That same night, when the military was asleep, we ran away. There were 10 of us. We had one torchlight and made it through a narrow road to escape. If we hadn’t escaped, we would’ve been forced to walk another 52 miles.”

“Churches are bombed, but not a single bullet hit the pagodas”

Nowadays, believers aren’t being forced to carry heavy loads, but since the coup, the crackdowns on churches and desecration of Christian property in Myanmar have intensified.

“When the coup started, the military junta forces raided churches – bombing and torching church buildings, opening the mission boxes, taking all the money from the church, breaking all the windows.” Tun laments. “Without giving any respect, they just destroy the church buildings, but leave pagodas untouched. In our neighborhood, not even a single bullet hit the Buddhist pagodas and shrines. So, this coup, we can directly and indirectly say that this is persecution.”

Just before the New Year, the military bombed a Catholic church in Kachin state, killing one and injuring five people. Last November, a bible school in Kachin State was shelled, killing 4. It’s one attack after the other, casting fear among Christian population from Chin and Kachin tribes, where Tun belongs – “We are afraid, we are running for our lives, and we cannot come back yet to our place.”

Tun, a refugee from Myanmar, trusts that what the Lord Jesus Christ said to his disciples in John 16:33 is true: “That in this world you will have trouble, but take heart, for I have overcome the world.”

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“Some churches I know are still unable to gather together for church service because their church building was marked with the red ink,” he shares. “Those who come together for fellowship in certain church buildings, the army will shoot, or the police will arrest. When the fighting takes place near the church building and they’d get angry, they would just burn the church.”

Tun shares that as soon as they hear news of another church attack, or see it in social media, they feel a deep pain. “But deep in our hearts, and as we’ve learned from our persecution preparedness trainings, we know that they can destroy the structures, the buildings, but they cannot destroy the believers, the real church, the universal church. This is how I console myself.”
“The military is not our real enemy”

Despite the hurt, Tun knows that the battle is not against flesh and blood: “The military is not our real enemy, the real enemy is Satan. And the works of our real enemy, as it is mentioned in John 14, is to steal, to kill and to destroy the body of Christ… He doesn’t want God’s plan for His church to be fulfilled, that is why he is using his power as much as he can, as much as he could, to disturb and to hinder the Gospel from being carried out into the world.”

Tun laments the victims of this war – not just believers, but everyone in Myanmar: “My wife and I are not happy when we hear of the army dying. They also have children, they also have parents, they also have brothers and sisters, they are also citizens of Myanmar. When we hear of the civilian forces dying, we also feel sorry because they are young, educated, talented and they could have had a hopeful future. It was just because of the coup that they took arms and got in the middle of the killings and the tension.”

Even amid displacement, Tun doesn’t stay idle. Once he and his family have settled in their temporary shelter where more than 2,000 displaced believers are also housed, he found more opportunities for ministry. “All of their livelihoods are gone. They are jobless since the coup and the COVID pandemic happened … They have already spent their savings, and now they are striving for their daily food… They sold their plots of land, their earrings, their gold necklaces – all of these, they already sold to survive.”

Though they are thankful for the practical aid given by international agencies, Tun doesn’t want his fellow displaced believers to be dependent on these. Already, he sees them doing their best to make a living despite their situation. “Some of them they make business catching wild meat, like wild boar. Some sell foraged vegetables at early mornings at the bazaar.” To further support his fellow believers in surviving and even thriving under their current circumstances, Tun used his time in displacement to give them livelihood trainings.
Tun leads a Bible Study with neighbours and family.
“The believers are very receptive and very open minded. It is good in one way, because before the coup, they were so busy with many things. Now, they are the ones asking! ‘Brother, can you give us livelihood trainings? How do we raise pigs? How do we plant vegetables so that we can sustain ourselves?”

Tun also took the opportunity to give persecution preparedness training. He is amazed at how God is transforming the anger in the hearts of his fellowmen towards forgiveness: “Last time, at the refugee hostel, I conducted a persecution preparedness training. Before I entered the training hall, there was a big white board and I saw the attendees composing a song in Burmese despising the Myanmar military. There was so much hate for Min Aung Hlaing, the coup leader, and the participants’ song cursed him to die an untimely death.”
He encouraged them to instead pray for their country, their commander in chief, but they were not ready. “They gave me a strange look, and they said, ‘they are killing us, burning our house, burning our churches!” But Tun continued with the training – telling them about how the devil is working in their hearts, and after the second and third day, the believers slowly began praying for their persecutors.

“This is the hand of God working in the believers’ hearts,” he shares. “I have to fight with prayer”

In all of this, he trusts that what the Lord Jesus Christ said to his disciples in John 16:33 is true: “That in this world you will have trouble, but take heart, for I have overcome the world.”

“This spiritual warfare is something we cannot overcome with our physical strength, so I have to fight with prayer. Near my house, there is one prayer mount where we can see the hills of Myanmar. Whenever I have free time, I go with my children to lay our hands over Myanmar, and pray: ‘In the name of Jesus, we grant freedom, peace, justice!’”

He admonishes Open Doors prayer partners to keep on being on their knees for his country: “Continue to pray for our country, pray for the believers. My prayer is that one day, Min Aung Hlaing will also accept the Lord Jesus Christ. In the book of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar mentioned that the whole Babylon will worship God of Daniel, so my prayer is that the whole Myanmar will also worship the Lord Jesus Christ. This is my hope and belief, and this is what I am praying for.”

Tun is also grateful for the people supporting him and his fellow refugees over the course of this two-year coup. “Thank you very much for the prayer support and the financial support. May God bless you a hundredfold. May the Lord richly reward you and bless you… Because of your prayers, we are still alive.”

Prayer

· For Tun and the work of the Lord in and through his life. Praise God for how He is using Tun to minister to his people through livelihood and persecution preparedness training, even amid such difficult circumstances.

· For provisions for all those who have been displaced, healing for the wounded, and hope for the hopeless.

· For the youth of Myanmar who have been left with little choice – either they join the military, the civilian forces, or succumb to the temptation of opium. 

· For God’s Shalom to be upon everyone affected by this civil war, for an end to the violence, and for the Lord’s protection for His church. Pray for the Lord to turn the hearts of both the military and civilian forces towards Him.

“I Dream for His Kingdom to Come to North Korea.”

Sister D, a North Korean woman, left behind all that she knew and began a perilous escape from North Korea. Although she only encountered Jesus Christ in China, even before she left North Korea, He had been guiding her, moulding her, and preparing her for His grand dream of restoring North Korea and its church. It is her hope to return to North Korea and strengthen the Church to grow in Christ. Through her story, we discover God’s amazing grace in searching for a lost soul and using it to strengthen what remains of the Body of Christ in North Korea.

Born and raised in North Korea, I was a patriotic kid who revered the supreme leaders. While I was still in primary school, to my amazement, I discovered that I had an aptitude for sports. I thought for sure that my life’s calling was to be a highly decorated athlete and bring pride and joy to the supreme leaders, Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. It was my dream, but my parents discouraged me from pursuing it.

I studied diligently, finished my university education, and even worked for some time before going back to university for my postgraduate education. Even though my dream of being an athlete was behind me, I was pursuing yet another dream: to marry a wealthy and powerful man from the Party or from the army and live a comfortable life. Little did I know that my life was about to be turned upside down.

During that time, Kim Il Sung, the supreme leader whose reign we thought would be eternal, suddenly died. His death and the instability that followed plunged the country into an economic collapse. Millions of North Koreans were starving to death. Those that were alive were scavenging for food in farms and woods for the better part of most days. Hearing about the people who were crossing the border and going to China in hopes of a better life, my mother and I too hatched out a plan to escape our eventual slow death.

The Journey

On one pitch dark night, leaving my siblings and other family members behind, my mother and I set out on our escape with the help of a broker. We were fully relying on the directions of the broker, as we had no idea where we were or where we were going. While crossing a river to get to China, my mother never made it out of the water to the other side. Our journey had just started but sadly my mother did not live to see the happy ending we were looking for.

I managed to find my uncle and aunt who were living in China. They were living very modest lives but compared to North Korea, living with them felt like heaven. As my uncle and aunt were Buddhists, I also embraced Buddhism and even practiced it.
During this time, I met a South Korean woman working for a Christian organization who, one day, invited me to participate in a programme where I would have the opportunity to learn about Bible and get some pocket money. She was very nice to me, so I happily obliged. This seemingly incidental turn of events would change the trajectory of my life. Little by little my heart was opened to the gospel and before long, I was praying and attending Sunday services at a nearby church. Though I accepted Jesus Christ, my life was not short of challenges and tribulations.

While living with my aunt and uncle, one of my cousins was against me staying there and was threatening them by saying that he would report me to the police. With every passing day, the family conflict intensified, and finally my cousin reported on me. To make things worse, I was reported not as an illegal immigrant, but as a secret agent from North Korea. Government agents were quick to come looking for me, but by the grace of God, I was able to hide from these agents and escape to another location.

After leaving my aunt’s house, I was on the run from place to place. At every juncture, I met wonderful people who helped me and cared for me. Especially, Mr. and Mrs. Jireh (pseudonym) a Christian couple in China, were instrumental in my spiritual growth. “I will definitely go back, set their house on fire and kill everyone,” I once furiously told to Mr. Jireh, to which he listened intently and responded by telling me the story of Joseph, whose brothers sold him as a slave, yet he was able to forgive them. Mr. and Mrs. Jireh were also kind enough to help me get settled and find a job.

I had many difficulties during my time in China. At a time when I could not even afford to get medicine, I was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Before, my anger was towards my cousin who betrayed me, but now, I also felt resentful towards God. “Why didn’t you just kill me back in North Korea? After all these suffering, is this how it ends?” I would sometimes cry out to God. For a long time, I couldn’t go to work or visit anybody, but God used this time to transform me and help me grow closer to Him. By the power of God’s Word, I started to find strength again. He spoke to me through dreams and showed me that He was truly there. God raised brothers and sisters of the church to take care of me.

During my time of recovery, I kept thinking to myself, “if God called me like Joseph to save my own people, I should not stop here.” It was then that I felt the desire to go to South Korea and study theology. Getting better treatment was another factor that motivated me to go to South Korea. With the help from a deaconess and another organisation, I was able to go to the South Korean embassy and stay there until an opportunity came for me to go to South Korea. I was dreaming of the day that I get to step foot on my new homeland. That day did not come for over a year.

The New Beginning

I was jumping with joy when I finally got to South Korea, as I had been eagerly waiting for so long. To my surprise, doctors in South Korea cleared me and told me that I was fit as a fiddle. I praised God for restoring my health. For once in my life, I felt that everything was falling into place. Just like how God used 40-years in the wilderness to train Moses to lead the people of Israel, I was also called for such a journey. My athletic ability and my education were all part of my ego. In my journey, I had to be on the run, I could not speak the language and was barely able to support myself. I always had to ask for help. Ten years of such “wilderness” brought me to the lowest point. Looking back, I can now see that God has been using my journey to break me, teach me humility, and mould me into a person that can be used by Him.

Until now, coming to South Korea was the dream. But slowly but surely, God was putting, not just another dream but a vision in my mind—to serve my fellow North Korean brothers and sisters.

Answering the Call

After coming to South Korea, I was able to study theology and participate in ministries serving my people from North Korea. I could not have been happier to share the message of Jesus Christ with my brothers and sisters here, at every chance I got. I even led various prayer meetings with them. I was continually meeting new people and developing friendships. I was not just a minister to them—I was one of them.

Ever since I encountered the Gospel of Jesus Christ in China, God has been faithful to me. He was there when I lost my mother and stayed at my uncle’s house. He was there when I escaped to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jireh. He was there when I was fighting fever and cough all alone in a small damp basement. He was also there with me in my time of waiting at the embassy. I had acknowledged the existence of God and had also been praying for some time, but it was during these times of uncertainty and helplessness, that I truly experienced Him in the most tangible ways. All these experiences helped me serve my people even during challenging times, as I am confident that He is always with me.

I thank God for visiting me first and calling me to participate in His mission. God spoke to me through dreams and helped me be a dreamer for His kingdom. I will forever praise him and give myself to Him as a tool for His mission. One day, when the time comes, I will go back to my home country and devote myself to the Christians and the Church there. Above all, I would like to see His kingdom come and His will be done in North Korea.

Prayer

· Please pray for this dear sister, that she will faithfully hold on to God’s vision for North Korea. Pray also for wisdom and guidance as she continues the ministry to her people.

· Please pray for the Open Doors ministry in North Korea, that we will continue to seek God’s face, declare His Word, and become His hands and feet to persecuted underground believers.

· Please pray for secret believers in North Korea, that they will keep their eyes focused on Jesus Christ, be strengthened in His power, and experience the presence of the Holy Spirit wherever they are.

· Please pray for the shelter and safehouse ministry, that it will continue to strengthen the underground churches in North Korea.

· Please pray for the secret delivery projects for food, medicine, and Christian resources, that God will use these projects to provide for the needs of underground believers.

Afghan Refugees on being Christians in Afghanistan

"We have lost our homeland."

On August 15, 2021, Taliban fighters swept into Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, the last step to their complete military control of the country. By the end of the month, American military forces had withdrawn from Afghanistan, and the nation’s conversion into an Islamic emirate ruled by the Taliban was made official.

It’s been nearly 18 months since that date and Open Doors wanted to bring you this first-hand look at what the situation is like for Christians living in Afghanistan, as well as for Afghans who made the painful decision to flee to Central Asia and live as refugees.

These are real quotes from real people who are from Afghanistan and surrounding areas. For security reasons, names are disguised throughout—but please pray with your sisters and brothers who risk everything to follow Jesus in and around Afghanistan.

Last year, Open Doors reported: “Christians are in grave danger. Anybody who is exposed, will be severely punished.” That was shortly after the Taliban took over in Afghanistan. What’s changed since then?

Hana, Open Doors partner in the region: Tens of thousands of people have fled the country; hundreds of people [who were] seen to have “collaborated” with the United States and the previous government were killed. The Christian community in particular was exposed to the Taliban. Many of our families had to flee on the night the Taliban arrived; others [fled when they heard] homes were being cleared out and friends and family members were being martyred.

“Ordinary people in Afghanistan live in great danger. When they get up in the morning, they can’t be sure if they’ll live to see the night. And when they go to bed at night, there is no certainty that they will live until morning. A lot of terrible things are happening there, [which ] we … learn about from our friends and relatives. They say that the Taliban often go [out] in the evenings; they break into houses and can just kill for any reason.”

—Abdulla, Afghan refugee in Central Asia

The Taliban swept into power with promises of moderation—for women, religious minorities, etc.
What’s the status of those promises?

Hana: The moderation is yet to appear to the people in Afghanistan. In fact, things are getting worse; on days when policies become moderate, they are changed to even more harsh policies in hours. [The Taliban] have lost the trust of all people, and many live a life of uncertainty.

“It’s been a year from last year[’s Taliban takeover] to now, as I can say with confidence that there hasn’t been a single day that I’ve been happy.”

—Sitara, Afghan refugee in Central Asia

“It is very difficult to live in Afghanistan now. Women don't have any human rights there. [They] have been forced to wear the hijab [head coverings]. And if a woman refuses to wear the hijab, she will either be killed or severely beaten.”

—Shafika, Afghan refugee in Central Asia Tweet this

“It is very difficult to live in Afghanistan now. Women don't have any human rights there. [They] have been forced to wear the hijab [head coverings]. And if a woman refuses to wear the hijab, she will either be killed or severely beaten.”

—Shafika, Afghan refugee in Central Asia Tweet this

What is daily life like for Christians in Afghanistan?

Hana: Afghanistan’s Christians are on the move, trying their best to avoid detection. Many families who faced persecution in the past see a continuation of this persecution; however, now there is no safety anywhere, for anyone. The schools were closed and are now only open for boys; many girls are very upset that they had to stop their education mid-stream. They are capable and intelligent—our Christian girls and boys are compassionate, and willing to serve people. However, the opportunity for the church to engage with the wider community for now is on hold.

“The Christian [in Afghanistan] is a ‘kafir’ [‘sinner’ or ‘infidel’]. If [it’s discovered] that some man is a Christian, they would kill [him] immediately. And not only the person, but also the whole family … would be killed.”

—Nilufar, Afghan refugee in Central Asia

During the Taliban takeover, Open Doors was able to confirm multiple reports that the Taliban had a list of Christians and it was going door-to-door, searching for believers. What was the result of that door-to-door action?

Hana: The door-to-door action involved groups of soldiers launching violent attacks on those on the list, and their families. Many have been killed as retribution for years of being out of power. Others have fled the violence and live in hiding. Christians who worked with the former regime and the West are under particular pressure. There is no sign of any forgiveness.

“In the morning, leaving home, people say goodbye to their parents and relatives because there is no certainty that they will return home and see their family again.”

—Abdulla, Afghan refugee in Central Asia

A believer from Afghanistan recently told us that her parents, still in Afghanistan, describe the country as “a prison” for women. Can you talk about the specific impact of the Taliban’s rule on women?

Hana: This is the return to the ways of [an extremist branch of] Islam that sees women as the “property” of men who have one purpose: to produce more soldiers for the fight or jihad. Therefore, for some it is a prison; others have been forced into marriage with Taliban fighters who abuse them for the purpose of raising a family. This strategy also ensures a long-term link with the community, and it is the best way to embed their ideology and fighters. The levels of fear rising in the community in Afghanistan ensures compliance, as anyone who disagrees with the regime are tracked [now] and killed later. The numbers of female activists killed in Afghanistan continues—now as state-sanctioned and -approved [actions].

“The women now live as in prison—[like] how it feels to be in a closed box. They can’t breathe. If a woman goes out, she doesn’t know what will happen with her in the next 10 minutes. Will she return home … or not?”

—Nilufar, Afghan refugee in Central Asia

“It is very difficult to live in Afghanistan now. Women don’t have any human rights there. [They] have been forced to wear the hijab [head coverings]. And if a woman refuses to wear the hijab, she will either be killed or severely beaten.”

—Shafika, Afghan refugee in Central Asia

“I have two nieces [still in Afghanistan]. They also have daughters. They can’t go outside. If they come out, they will be caught and killed.”

—Hadija, Afghan refugee in Central Asia

Where do you see God at work in Afghanistan?

Hana: God is continually at work in Afghanistan – because He has always worked in Afghanistan. Even though there are only a handful of believers, He has been faithful to them. He continues to answer their prayers, give them the strength to endure suffering and call them to Him at the time of His choosing. God continues to lead the visible and freer church like [yours in the West] to pray for them, so you can recognize yourself as being of one Body. God continues to open doors for those searching for Him.

“Please continue to pray; not only for us, but also for the Taliban. Of course, the Taliban are our enemies, but I ask you to pray for their salvation.”

—Abdulla, Afghan refugee in Central Asia Tweet this

“Please continue to pray; not only for us, but also for the Taliban. Of course, the Taliban are our enemies, but I ask you to pray for their salvation.”

—Abdulla, Afghan refugee in Central Asia Tweet this

Pray

How can people pray for believers there?

Hana: Pray for:
1. Security for all believers and seekers, for people to meet with Christ in dreams and visions, that Christ may direct them to a place of nurture and discipleship. Pray for our teams as they navigate minefields and dangerous parts of the country to reach our family in Christ.
2. Access to education and medical help: Apart from food and relief, the way out of an existence [where the church simply “survives”] is the access people can have to education and medical help.
3. For vision and prophesy in the church that will lead us to a thriving and growing church even in these circumstances.
4. For our team who continues to work under grave conditions. Pray for the men and women with their own families and children who are willing to put themselves at risk for the strengthening of the Church.

“Please continue to pray; not only for us, but also for the Taliban. Of course, the Taliban are our enemies, but I ask you to pray for their salvation.”
—Abdulla, Afghan refugee in Central Asia

“I would ask [people] to pray for the simplest of things. I am not asking for a big thing, but, for example, about the basic things: about education, work [and a] peaceful life.”
—Sitara, Afghan refugee in Central Asia

A Visit with Afghan Refugees

Open Doors partner Miranda* was recently blessed with the opportunity to visit Afghan refugees, in an undisclosed location. She shares her reflections here. 

The smell of urine flooded my nostrils as we entered the apartment block where many Afghan refugees were staying. Our contact told us that these refugees had come even before the fall of the Kabul government on 15 August 2021. It all started when the Taliban began its quest of capturing the country—step by step, village by village, town by town.

As we climbed up the narrow stairs, I saw that the sides of it were filled with broken old stuff: furniture, bicycles, broken wood etc. When we arrived on the top floor, happy faces of women and children enthusiastically greeted us at the entrance of an apartment. They were all smiles, looking at us and saying something to us that we could not understand. “They are just saying thank you for the help you have provided,” said our local contact.
We were then ushered into a small room where we were greeted by three men and one woman. They invited us to sit on the carpeted floor. The closed room still felt cold as it was winter and there was no heater or fireplace in the room. A few young Afghan women came in to serve us tea and sweets as refreshments.

An Afghan refugee camp. 

“I sang Afghan songs for a living. My career is considered sinful by the Taliban. And I have three daughters. The Taliban will take them as wives, even without my approval,” said the singer. All of them had sold everything they owned in Afghanistan to come here. But life has been difficult for them as refugees. They are unable to get a permit to work and earn an income, but still have to pay to renew their refugee status every year. On top of that, they must pay rent for the place they are staying.

“Sometimes, we don’t know what to spend our limited money on – food, rent, medicine or sometimes renewing our refugee card,” said a mother, with a baby crying in her arms. She and many other women were part of the Afghan refugees that we visited that week. “The Taliban took my husband away when we were crossing the border. My son, my three daughters and I made it here, but one of my daughters died from an illness,” one refugee woman told a team member. As the woman was sharing her story, we noticed her son. The expression on his face clearly showed it all – anger, bitterness, hatred. There was so much pain.

I thought to myself about how extremely difficult it must be to be a refugee. What future is there for them? They say no one asked them how they could be helped. Right now, they cannot work. They are
professionals – doctors and nurses – but they cannot practice their profession in a foreign land. There is paperwork to do and permits to chase. There is no telling how long they will be here, in transit between
countries – longing for a home, and trudging toward whatever lies ahead. They lost their husbands and children to the Taliban, and now they are picking up the pieces of whatever is left.


“What hope do we have, for ourselves, for our children?” said another refugee woman, who worked as a schoolteacher back in Afghanistan. Pointing to a young girl sitting next to her, she said, “She finished her school education in Afghanistan. She is supposed to be in college. But now she can’t. She can’t study. She can’t work. What can she do?”


 Hope. It is the one thing that they need so desperately. “Please don’t forget us!” they pleaded with us before we left.


 Through your support, Open Doors helped this refugee family with practical aid, and continues to be present with them in their time of need. “You’re the only group who came to help us,” they said. A listening ear and visits from a ministry partner can give our Afghan brothers and sisters hope. But I know that there is still so much to do. Yes, we can help practically, but the greatest hope we can give them is to pray for them to know the source of hope – Jesus Christ.

Pastor in Bangladesh holds to the faith

July 31, 2012.

The date forever engrained in Pastor Sarkar’s heart. It was the day he chose to leave Islam to follow Jesus. And it was the first day he realized that his new decision would mean a lifetime of suffering and persecution because where he lives in the northwest region of Bangladesh, leaving Islam for another faith is considered betrayal and brings dishonor on your family.

That day, Sarkar couldn’t control his joy and happiness at receiving salvation and he immediately began to share his faith with family members, friends and community.

“I could not control myself when I was baptized, and I felt I must tell my salvation to others,” he remembers.

He assumed others would want the same joy he was feeling. Instead, they rejected his offer and attacked him.

“When I shared my conversion news with my family, they became very angry, and at the beginning, they tried to influence me,” he shares. “But when it did not work, they became harder and started torturing me mentally and gradually stopped me from eating food.

“At a point, they tortured me physically and beat me up, even threatening to kill me if I did not renounce my faith. But, I was strong in my faith and I did not renounce my faith

Finally, his family kicked him out of his home at age 21—a young man without a job or a place to live.

“I lost my home and daily food. For many years, I did not go to my village where I was born and grew up. I always pray for my parents and siblings but cannot visit them.” He recalls his father’s hurtful words: ‘I will not give you anything (inheritance),” he told Sarkar. “You will get nothing so you never come back to my home.’”

Through continued adversity, Sarkar held to his faith. A couple of years later, God brought him the the opportunity to serve Him and the local believers as a pastor. He knows the joy of serving God’s people and the truth of God’s Word:

“You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matt. 10:22).

Because of Pastor Sarkar’s ministry activities, life is more difficult. Some people hate him, others insult him. He told Open Doors of an instance when he was beaten up at a local market because he was talking about Jesus to local Muslims. Publicly, he was physically punished, beaten and driven away by the locals.

Still, he continues to persevere, sharing the gospel and serving everyone: including local believers, Muslim, Hindu and tribal people. His family—his wife and their 4-year-old son—also are faithfully continuing to serve God’s people.

“I love sharing the gospel and telling people the good news of salvation,” he says. “I believe this is very important for every person.

“But it is not easy, especially among the Muslims. They are very aggressive and torture me publicly and insult my faith, and my family.”

Recently, Pastor Sarkar contacted Open Doors local partners and requested prayer for his family—for safety and protection. They are praying and also preparing a love gift to support the family. But he needs more prayers, our partners share, for resources to serve the local believers. Please continue to pray with Pastor Sarkar and his family.

Please pray

  • Pray that God would extend His blessings to Pastor Sarkar’s family and protect them from persecution and suffering.
  • Pray for God to open a way for Pastor Sarkar and his family to earn income so that they can serve the Lord. Pray for God to help him overcome his family crisis so that he can continue nurturing the local believers.
  • Pray for the local denominations and churches to extend their supporting hands to offer him a job of serving believing people so that he can use his strengths and passion for the Lord.

5 Bible Verses You Can Pray for Persecuted Believers

As we head into 2023,  it’s important to look at ways we can pray for the persecuted church. These blogs are mainly used to inform and educate you on what’s happening in the global Church. Usually, these updates are tied with prayer requests because we know that prayer is powerful, and God does hear us and work through our prayers.

However, the call to pray for the persecuted can seem daunting, we are so far away from these people, and we have little understanding of what they are feeling and experiencing. We need to remember that even though we aren’t all-knowing, God is, and we can lift people in prayer even if we don’t know their real names because God does. He knows who we are praying for and exactly what they need, regardless of how well articulated and informed our prayers are, He knows.

If you ever struggle to know what to pray, it always helps to open the Bible and pray scripture verses over our persecuted brothers and sisters. There are many potential scriptures that you could use, but here are five you could pray over persecuted believers in 2023:

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
  2. Ephesians 6:19-20 – Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
  3. Psalm 91:1-2 (or the entire chapter) – Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

4. Psalm 92:12-13 – The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.

5. Deuteronomy 31:8-9 – The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

And a bonus:

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

You may have heard by now, but the first thing our persecuted brothers and sisters ask for is prayer. Your prayers are valued and deeply appreciated by your brothers and sisters.

You may never know the impact your prayers are making this side of heaven, but keep praying, because you are making an impact!

YOUR YEAR-END GIFT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.

Persecution is growing, and so are the needs of persecuted believers. More Christians need Bibles, discipleship, trauma counselling, and relief aid as they face violence, displacement, and loss. 

The Canada Post strikes slowed the arrival of gifts during this critical time of year. Will you help?

Your support will empower persecuted believers through Bibles, training, relief aid, trauma counselling, and more. 

Give a Year-end gift

Your year-end gift is more important than ever.

Persecution is growing, and so are the needs of persecuted believers. More Christians need Bibles, discipleship, trauma counselling, and relief aid as they face violence, displacement, and loss. 

The Canada Post strikes slowed the arrival of gifts during this critical time of year. Will you help?

Your support will empower persecuted believers through Bibles, training, relief aid, trauma counselling, and more. 

Give a year-end gift