December 14, 2018July 30, 2021

A SECRET HOUSE CHURCH CHRISTMAS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

For most Christians in the West, the leadup to Christmas is often an occasion marked by some of our most precious traditions. But for Christians around the world, it’s not quite so simple. Sisters and brothers in Christ, all over the globe, will celebrate Christmas this year. But they will do so secretly, with a heavy heart, courageously in a culture that discriminates against them, or even with a mixture of triumph and mourning.

Christmas for secret believers can be a time of loneliness, their hearts filled with sadness instead of joy. “We can’t celebrate Christmas openly like other believers here. We can’t go to church and join in the celebration,” shares a secret believer from a Muslim background. “Why? Because we are wanted by the government. Some of us can’t even tell our families that we are Christians.” To encourage them, Open Doors started a Christmas gift project. A month before Christmas, our staff went around town, shopping for gifts for secret believers, both adults, and children.

They bought a variety of presents and packed them into bags. They also inserted letters and cards from supporters of Open Doors from all over the world. “Cards drawn by children were the most attractive,” says an Open Doors staff member who helped put together the Christmas packages. “Their simple words and prayers spoke to me, even though they were for secret believers.”

Just a few days ago, about two weeks before Christmas, the packages were distributed to house church leaders who, in turn, will give them to their members when the church groups meet for Christmas in their homes. These gatherings were held on any day except for Christmas day, just to avoid arousing neighbours’ suspicion. Decorations were only found inside the house, and guests were limited to their house church members and some outsiders they could trust. Open Doors was extended an invitation for having earned their trust.

Celebrating boldly

In one home, the exterior looked as normal as any other day, but inside it felt like Christmas. The interior was decorated in bright red and green—the colours of Christmas in this unnamed country, just as it is in Canada. The hosts were also dressed in traditional red and green wear. Their leader shared, “Let’s boldly celebrate now because we have nothing to fear in the Lord.” In another gathering, a leader encouraged his house church members. “You are not alone,” he told them. “We are your family. Be strong in what you are facing in your family for we are with you.” This message was echoed through the Christmas gifts and cards given by Open Doors. “Thank you for your encouragement to us!” said a secret believer to Open Doors—and the larger body of Christ around the world.

Our Gifts of Hope are delivering hope to believers living in these difficult circumstances. Join us in sending them hope and assurance that they are not alone!

October 26, 2018July 30, 2021

International Day of Religious Freedom

Freedom of religion is a fundamental human right. Sadly, this fundamental freedom is increasingly deteriorating with Christianity being the most persecuted religion in the world. In the face of growing pressure from governmental restrictions and from harassment from communities, Christians are a key target. The mandate of Open Doors is to work with Christian communities around the world, to strengthen and provide hope where most needed.

In Canada, freedom of religion is a constitutionally protected right, which allows for freedom to assemble and worship without limitation. However, for people in many countries around the world, this fundamental freedom is being overlooked. More than 215 million Christians around the world are persecuted because of their faith. The Open Doors World Watch List shows the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution.

Recent findings

In a report released by The Pew Research Centre in June this year, religious freedom in 198 countries was analyzed and its findings revealed that religious antagonism saw its biggest surge in over a decade in 2016. Those following the Christian faith were ranked among some of the top victims of political restrictions and social hostility.

World Watch Monitor mentioned in a recent article where UN rapporteurs said, “Religious freedom is key to ensuring other human rights,” at an event at the UN headquarters in New York on October 22^nd.

Open Doors researchers who compile the annual World Watch List mention that a large majority of Christians living in countries ranked on the 2018 World Watch List experience a ‘high’ level of persecution or worse. The majority of these are victims of non-violent persecution. In some ways, this is far more dangerous because it pervades every aspect of life with the goal of crushing out the Christian faith wherever it is found.

As we work to provide persecuted Christians with hope – be it through the provision of Bibles, Christian materials, training, livelihood skills, advocacy, and many other ways – our aim and purpose is to assure Christians that they know they are not forgotten and that they can stand strong to be salt and light in the places God has established them.

This important work to support the persecuted church cannot be done without the help of supporters like you. So, help us to continue to do this very important work as we remember our brothers and sisters on this day of International freedom of religion. May a government such as ours make it a priority to stand up and be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.

September 20, 2018August 19, 2021

There are two Colombias

I remember sitting at the dinner table at the Children’s home in Colombia as our interpreter declared, “There are two Colombias.” From my Canadian perspective, it didn’t make much sense. There was nothing in my Canadian experience to compare it to. No matter where you travel in Canada, you travel in relative safety. But the more I talked to people from Colombia, the more stories I heard, the more I began to understand the truth of that statement.

When you travel in Colombia, big cities like Bogota are relatively safe. The government is in control and you don’t need to fear guerillas or other armed groups. But as you travel outside of the big cities, things become a little less safe. Don’t believe me, just check out the Government of Canada’s travel website for Colombia and see all the areas of risk! That’s because in these areas, the government has less control and armed guerilla groups, paramilitary groups, criminal gangs and cartels take control. These groups directly or indirectly negatively influence the church. It’s in these areas that Christians are at greatest risk.

However, our interpreter wasn’t only taking about two Colombias politically, he was also talking about how there are two churches in Colombia. The ones that live in safety and the persecuted church. Unfortunately, the safe church seems largely unaware of the issues facing their persecuted brothers.

As we travelled throughout the country, we sat with pastors and heard their stories. As one pastor shared with us his story, a chorus of voices from the street brought his voice to a mere whisper. He wasn’t sure those in the street could be trusted, you never know when a spy might be listening in. The caution in his voice spoke volumes to the reality of persecution in Colombia. He spoke of multiple attempts on his life, threats against his family and how his children found refuge at the Open Doors children’s home. Before we left, he told us that our visit was like God giving him a hug and to please tell others about the reality they face in Colombia.

One of the big issues in Colombia is people who have had to flee their homes and their land because of violence and threats against them. In fact, Colombia has the highest population of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the world at almost 7.7 million.[1] This is a big issue among the indigenous people of Colombia. Many of the children at the Children’s home are from families that were kicked out of their Indigenous territories because they accepted Christ and refused to participate in the indigenous traditional beliefs. One indigenous community kicked out 25 families in one day because they were now Christ followers. They lost their home, their lands and their rights as indigenous people. They were forced to make shelter out of plastic bags. Losing your home and your rights for Jesus is just one example of the type of persecution Christians face in Colombia.

Having experienced the two Colombias, I’m excited for the opportunity we have to make a difference this year in the lives of persecuted Colombian believers by participating in the Ride for Refuge. When you participate in the ride on behalf of Open Doors, the money you raise will go to help our persecuted family in Colombia. So sign-up today at www.rideforerefuge.org and join us September 29^th to Walk/Ride for persecuted Christians in Colombia!

[1] http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/colombia.html?query=colombia

September 4, 2018August 19, 2021

Schools in Nigeria bring hope

What is common with five of the Sharia states in northern Nigeria? Apart from severe hostility to Christians living there, the states of Katsina, Kano, Bauchi, Zamfara and Kaduna have Christian schools established which Open Doors has helped to build or renovate.

As children in many parts of the world start their new academic year, these Open Doors sponsored schools provide quality education to thousands of students living in some very difficult and oppressive circumstances.

Why support schools?

When Boko Haram kidnapped nearly 300 mostly Christian students from the girls’ secondary school in Chibok, Borno Sate in April 2014, there was global outrage. In addition to concern over the welfare of those kidnapped girls, protestors were fuming over the audacity of the insurgents to deny those female students the right to an education.

The reality, particularly in the northern sharia governed states, is that local governments and communities leave little freedom for Christians to live out their faith. Christian communities are often excluded from basic social services like schools, clinics and boreholes as the government allocates funds to Muslim villages.

Christian children face blatant discrimination in state schools. In some states, Islamic education is included in the school curriculum. For many parents this price is simply too high and they choose to keep their children home rather than send them to a school where they would face constant pressure to become Muslim.

What does our support entail?

Open Doors was in touch with one of the Christian communities in these northern Sharia states, and came to know of the desperate need of the community to set up a Christian school. The government had provided them with a building many years ago, but it had fallen into disrepair and was in need of renovation. But the authorities had no intention of helping them. After our visit, we offered to help them put up three new blocks of classrooms, a library and a dormitory for female students. We also sank a borehole.

Today this school provides quality education to 445 students. Sixty girls, stay in the hostel. This school is one of 16 schools Open Doors has helped renovate or build from scratch since 2005: Five schools in Katsina State, five schools in Kano State, four schools in Bauchi State and one school each in Zamfara and Kaduna States. Depending of the situation in each community we help with construction and furnishing of classrooms, laboratories, ablutions, offices, dormitories, and libraries. In some cases we also provide boreholes. In addition we provide textbooks and stock libraries. We also provide worldview training for teachers and management training for administrative staff.

Schools have to stay closely involved in each construction project and take responsibility for things like purchasing land and negotiating with the local government about permits etc. We do not ever get involved in operational aspects and the schools normally charge school fees to cover operational expenses. But our support enables them to charge much less.

The schools is not a fancy place by most standards, but the resources the students have access to here are worth their weight in gold.

The statement by Rev Ayuba Haruna, who thanked Open Doors on behalf of the entire Christian community is a sample of the deep gratitude beneficiaries have for the work: “Thank you for coming to our aid when we had lost all hope of receiving help from the state government who has been denying us all kinds of social amenities. We felt that education was the only thing we really could give our children. Indeed, God answered the prayers of His children through Open Doors in different and sometimes unexpected ways. We want to thank those who have given their resources to help us. May God bless you richly! Words cannot describe the joy and gratitude we feel in our hearts.”

July 24, 2018August 19, 2021

Pakistan’s elections – 5 things you must know

The country of Pakistan prepares for national and provincial elections on July 25. We request prayer for Pakistani Christians at this time, even as pressure on believers in this nation has been on the rise. Pakistan is at no.5 on the 2018 World Watch List, and is designated as the number one country for being the most violent persecutor of Christians.

Christians in Pakistan are considered low class citizens by the majority of the people, and they have been at the receiving end of discrimination and religious persecution. Threats of church bombings during Easter and Christmas are common. They also endure job restrictions, forced conversions, and death sentences as the result of Pakistan’s anti-blasphemy laws.
To help you pray with Pakistani Christians, we asked our local church network ALIVE how our brothers and sisters are praying. Below, we offer five critical prayers you can pray along with Pakistani believers.

5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT PAKISTAN’S ELECTIONS

1. Pakistan is a mostly democratic, parliamentary republic controlled for decades by the country’s army, which in recent years is believed by many to be mainstreaming militant groups. The army continues to grow in financial power and influence.

2. In the July 25 elections, 342 seats in the national assembly are up for grabs: 272 are general seats, which are elected by the public and can be contested. However, Muslims have historically almost always won these seats. Not a single Christian candidate is slated to run. The rest of the seats are reserved for women (60 seats) and minorities (10). These positions are nominated by the party and are meant to assure that women and minorities like Christians and Hindus have proportional representation in parliament. Of the 10 available minority seats, Christians may get two or three.

3. Nawaz Sharif, who leans to the right politically, became Prime Minister in 1990 and oversaw a short-lived transfer of civilian power in 2013. Sharif was then ousted by the Supreme Court last year and sentenced earlier this month to 10 years in jail for corruption. This upheaval puts the election spotlight on four major political parties vying for control, as well as some emerging extremists thought to be backed by the military.

4. The four political parties include the following:
– Pakistan’s People Party The former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto (assassinated in 2007) was part of the PPP, which led the outgoing government coalition. Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto’s widower, is the de facto leader of the PPP. Their son Bilawal will succeed him as party leader.
– Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz led by the ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
– Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, an emerging party led by former cricket player, Imran Khan. The PTI wants to create a welfare state, where the state is responsible for education, health, and employability of citizens. Many Christians fear Imran Khan as the country’s leader because he wants to go back to jirga, a traditional assembly of leaders that make decisions by consensus and according to the teachings of the Pashtunwali conservative ethical code. These non-written ethical codes are dangerous for religious freedom when mixed with the strict Islamic law. In the past, Khan has supported the Taliban cause in Afghanistan, although he denies that today.
– The Jamaat-e-Islami, a leading religious party with links to the Muslim Brotherhood. It is a conservative Islamist political party led by Siraj ul Haq.

5. Most of the opinion polls suggest an overall lead by Pakistan Muslim League’s Nawaz Sharif, with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Imran Khan in a close second. Of these four parties, none really stands in the gap for Christian minorities.

“Who will build legislature to protect us against discrimination and Islamic extremism? Who will build more schools?” a local Christian told an ALIVE worker. “We really need God’s wisdom to determine who to vote for.”
If military-backed extremists are seated, it could mean more danger for Christians in Pakistan and a regression of democracy. It could also mean more difficulty in stopping alleged Pakistani backing of terror groups.
Please pray for much wisdom and discernment for Pakistani Christians at this time.

June 22, 2018August 20, 2021

Hope To Live Again

Wasihun’s family, living in a remote part of Ethiopia, used to be the only Christian family in their entire village. They constantly faced insults and threats for refusing to return to their traditional religion. His father Motuma, always tried to lovingly explain to the other villagers that his family could not participate in their rituals, but they never understood. Eventually they killed him. (For more background, please visit this previously released story.)

Since 2013 when Motuma was killed, Open Doors have been walking closely with and supporting the family. We recently caught up with them again during a return visit to their village. A few days later, Wasihun and his sister Bachu, attended an Open Doors sponsored youth event where they met with other children and young people who have experienced the pain of persecution; to have fun, to laugh, study the Bible and to journey together the path towards healing.

After we finished our freshly roasted coffee (prepared right in front of our eyes over a small fire!) we listened to the stories the family wanted to share with us. First we chatted with Buze, Wasihun’s mother.

BUZE

“Your ministry came to my home and visited me. They asked me what my problem was, how they could support me and they saw everything – my kids, my house, my problems. They told me to hold on and be strong for my children and that they would be here for us. They told me not to give up. They said I am no longer alone. That gave me hope to live again! [Open Doors] told the local church what had happened to me so that they could help me. With the money […] I bought sheep and cattle to make a living for my family.”

WASIHUN

What is your favorite thing to do when you are not in school?

“I usually tend to the cattle. We take turns with our mother, she takes care of the cattle when we go to school and we do that when we are [at home].”

Don’t you like to play?

“I do play, I love playing soccer!”

Tell me about your father?

“My father used to sell firewood to take care of us, his family. I used to go with him into the bush to collect firewood, to help him carry as much as we could. I used to peel the bark and tie it together. He did whatever he could to support us and I feel bad, now that he is gone.”

“Now, we do our chores and also take care of the cattle. We reap and collect grass for the cattle. We bring the cattle from the fields and after that we will go to the river to fetch water, and then go back to spend the day by the river.”

What do you hope for the future?

“We are concentrating on God and we are working for his kingdom.”

Video interview with Wasihun:

BACHU

Why was your father killed?

“They killed my father because he was a believer. They wanted him to follow traditional rituals like them, drink like them and behave like them but he refused. He was a very good person. He loved the Gospel. He loved God a lot! After his death, I gave up on life.”

What do you want for your future?

“After my father passed away we have been getting help. The Lord remembered us and he has been providing. Our lives have changed massively after the support [from Open Doors]. I want to serve this God, who has helped me through the desert, through my trials. I would serve him at any cost. I would leave everything for a chance to preach his love. I would like to go to school and train to be a preacher. I would like to testify about everything he has done in my life, how amazing his love and care was. It will be all I preach about!”

Video interview with Bachu:

YOUTH CAMP!

Two days after our visit to their home, Wasihun and Bachu attended an encouragement event, organised by Open Doors, for children and youth impacted by persecution in Ethiopia.

International visitors were part of the program, helping to connect the global body of Christ. An Open Doors youth worker involved in the program, anonymous for security reasons explained,

“Children and youth experiencing persecution can be greatly encouraged to remain faithful when they know they are not the only ones experiencing difficulties. For some of them this program was also simply an opportunity to leave their daily stressful circumstances for a short time of rest and fun. Through fellowship with others, playing games and learning from the Bible, they had the opportunity to be instruments of the Lord’s healing and encouragement to one another.”

Angelica, a participant from Australia said, “After this trip my first response is to say I will pray for these young people and ask others to pray for them—specifically that they would be strengthened, know that they are not alone, that God is with them, and that they will have a church praying for them. Prayer is the most important thing we can do for them. I have learnt that here. And to see the way that they pray when they have nothing and when they have gone through so much, when prayer is their only way to move forward!”

Open Doors has helped purchase food and pay the children’s school fees. We have supported Buze with income-generating activities and provided access to trauma relief through our widow-care program. Open Doors staff have visited the family and we ran a letter writing campaign to encourage them.

June 22, 2018August 19, 2021

Drops of Hope

Pakistan is always high on Open Doors’ annual World Watch List. There’s a lot of violence, but what’s affecting the Church even more is ‘the squeeze factor.’ In other words, the every day pressure on Christians. Even when you have not been kidnapped, attacked, forcibly converted, victim of a terrorist attack or put in jail for allegedly blaspheming Islam, there’s always the threat. Despite this, Christians squeeze drops of hope from the Bible, from their brothers and sisters in faith, and every other source they can find.

Here are seven examples of Christians persevering in faith.

LEARNING HOW TO WRITE EVEN WHEN SOCIETY DOESN’T ALLOW YOU TO.

Below we see Aroona*. Aroona did not go to a traditional school until she was 16. She dropped out of school when she was six because her mother needed her to help take care of the baby while she cleaned homes to bring in an income. Aroona’s father was a sweeper in the municipal body of the city and addicted to home-brewed alcohol which gave him liver sclerosis. Aroona is one example of the millions of Pakistani Christians who do not have a chance to educate and develop themselves. Through Open Doors’ partner network of churches (called ALIVE), we were able to send her to school. Now she teaches women like herself how to read and write.

“The day I learned to read was the best day of my life. When I teach my students to read I feel like I have added colors to God’s painting before He comes back. I can tell them about Jesus and show them the stories in the Bible. There are all kinds of myths about Jesus. If we cannot read, we cannot tell the difference between myth and truth.”

QUIET FELLOWSHIP UNDER THE THREAT OF SUICIDE BOMBERS

Christians had been warned by ISIS, Taliban and other terrorists that they would suffer during Easter 2017. Despite the risks, they met for a quiet time of worship. “The candles were symbols of the light Jesus shed on our lives, and we said sorry to Him for things we needed to and thanked Him for everything,” said one participant, a student of ALIVE’s Bible College.

But nobody lit their candles. Then a 6-year-old girl went around the room with her own candle and lit everyone else’s. Her smile was brighter than all those candles. “I asked her why the candles needed to be lit,” says a Christian woman who visited the Easter vigil.

“Her answer filled me with joy. She said, ‘Because the candles remind us that even in the darkness of the tomb, there was the hope of Jesus’s promise. When Jesus makes a promise it is like a candle given to us when the lights go out. It is a promise that the lights will come back on again.”

That Good Friday, the authorities uncovered a plot and took into custody a group of terrorists who were ready to carry out Easter suicide bombings. The fear is real and tangible for Christians in Pakistan. “But our faith is real too,” said a mother who brought her children as well. “When I looked around me and I saw all the children, I was delighted that we have them to learn from. Their eyes are so sleepy, yet the eyes of their faith are open so wide.”

HOLDING FAST TO GOD’S WORD DESPITE INDOCTRINATION

The following photo is of a Christian in Pakistan at a discipleship course holding onto his Bible. This picture is symbolic of many Christians across Pakistan and her neighboring countries where Christians hold firmly to the Word of God with their lives, even when they do not have a physical copy of their own. “The greatest tragedy is when people say they are Christians but they don’t know Christ,” says an ALIVE Bible school teacher. “Millions of Christians are brainwashed everyday with Quranic texts, but they never receive any Biblical education. And then it’s very tempting to become a Muslim because you hope you will lead a better life. That’s why it’s so important to teach our brothers and sisters the Bible and how to hold fast to God’s Word.”

AN ENCOURAGEMENT IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY

With high security in churches across Pakistan under the fear of ISIS and other terror organizations promising to hurt Christians, children have demonstrated both faith and fear. Oftentimes it is the parents who help turn their fear into faith. They bring their children to church despite the risks. This father holds his son close and whispers words of confirmation and encouragement in the young boy’s ear.

A BRIEF REST WHEN THE WORLD IS IN TURMOIL

Nobody valued times of rest, prayer and quiet reflection more than Jesus did. Our ALIVE partner organizes annual retreats for pastors, church leaders and their spouses. Below, a pastor’s wife spends time quietly on her own. She says, “Sometimes I feel I have to hold it all together so that when my husband comes home he does not have to experience more stress at home. He has to deal with forced conversions, abductions of girls from our church, visits from and to the police and a myriad of other issues like printing of Bibles and the presence of western cults who really muddy the waters for Christians in Pakistan. I get tired. Sometimes I just want to take my children and my husband and walk through a closet, like the one in CS Lewis’ Narnia… then I remember I can do that through the Bible and I feel God’s peace flood me and enable me.”

FEET WASHING WHEN IT’S TOO DANGEROUS TO GO HOME

A woman who was unable to travel back to her home town for the Easter break is served by the Priest at the ALIVE BIBLE COLLEGE as he washes her feet following the example of Christ. The lady belongs to the town of Youhnannabad and was unable to go home due to the tensions and threats against Christians in that area. She, alongside other ALIVE friends and staff, has been involved in ministry to the Christians of Youhannabad for many years.

SHARING THE WORD WITH OTHER SLAVES

Modern day slavery is a massive problem in countries like Pakistan. Many Christians are bound to the people they work for. This man and his family, whose feet we see pictured below as he brings materials for brick making, have worked as brick makers for two generations, and they doubt there is any way out of this job.

“There are those among these isolated persecuted Christians who have memorized the scriptures,” says an ALIVE worker involved in outreach to brick kiln workers.

“They teach it to those around them on the brick making fields as they are not able to go to church or attend gatherings, which are seen as a threat to their employers. The work is hard and the Christians are isolated. Pray for those who work with Christians in brick kilns, for literacy and Bible teaching teams and for those involved in advocacy work to speak out. Let’s pray for drops of hope and justice for those who have been abused for generations.”

June 22, 2018August 19, 2021

Enabling victims of sexual violence in conflict to stay ‘part of us’

Adrienne* survived a brutal sexual attack during a conflict with ex-Seleka militants in Central African Republic (CAR), only to be ostracised from her own community. Adrienne was alone in her greatest time of need, and the baby born to her nine months later bears the same vulnerabilities, and a label: a “Seleka baby”.

On June 19, 2018, the United Nations calls attention to the situation of those like Adrienne and her baby through the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, in order “to foster solidarity with survivors who endure multiple, intersecting stigmas in the wake of sexual violence, including the stigma of association with an armed or terrorist group, and of bearing children conceived through rape by the enemy”.

The , which included a specific Gender Profile of Persecution for 30 of its top 50 countries where it is most difficult to live as a Christian, recently identified rape, sexual violence, forced marriage, house arrest and abduction of women and girls as the most common means globally of putting pressure on Christian communities and families.

These conclusions are the first inroads into identification of the extent to which violence in conflict and violence in religious persecution follow similar destructive paths.

Churches and Christian communities are not immune to this spiral of shame and exclusion, yet they are also the first place many abused women turn for refuge and comfort. Thankfully, it was precisely through the informed trauma care and practical training from Christian leaders in her home town, to the north of Bangui, that Adrienne found relief and inclusion.

‘A continuation of their dark misery’

Divisions, conflict and war bring out the worst in human behaviour. We easily divide ourselves into ‘us’ and ‘them’ over politics, ethics and socio-economic differences. Once ‘they’ are considered enemies, not our neighbours, the door is opened to give ourselves and others the ethical permission to suspend our moral obligations to our enemies.

Women caught in the crossfires of conflict are attacked both because they are considered purest and dearest to the ‘other’ group and because their family’s honour is seen as resting on them. Yet survivors of violent sexual attack in conflict regularly find the aftermath a continuation of their dark misery. Rejected and discarded, both sides of the conflict now consider these women and their children to belong to ‘them’, not ‘us’.

This imprisoning isolation and exclusion from two communities is also experienced by female Christian converts who are forced to marry men of a different religion and held under family-monitored house arrest. Tala*, a Persian-speaking young woman, told Open Doors about how her father forced her middle sister to marry a very strict man who disapproved of her Christian faith. “My sister tried to refuse to marry him. Now she is living with him and he is controlling her every movement. She can’t attend house church anymore; in fact, she is barely allowed to have contact with her brothers and sisters in faith.”

‘Display of solidarity’

When Jesus taught a certain expert in the law about loving our neighbours (Luke 10), he refused to establish a boundary line between Jews and Samaritans. The expert in the law wanted to limit his duty to love to a pre-defined, comfortable group of ‘us’. Jesus’ answer defined for ‘us’ that ‘they’, too, are our neighbour.

The overlap of dynamics common to sexual violence in conflict and sexual violence in religious persecution are perhaps most clearly illustrated by the horrors experienced by Yazidi women in Iraq under ISIS. In a move meant to address injustice with a unified voice, Open Doors UK and Ireland recently co-hosted an exhibition of portraits of Yazidi women in the UK Parliament to bring these women out of the shadows of excluded ‘otherness’.

The same display of solidarity will be made by Open Doors Canada on 23 June in Toronto through a multimedia exhibition which does not shy away from continued embracing of all Christian women through the aptly named #OneWithHer campaign. This simple expression beautifully captures a refusal to stigmatise victims of sexual violence in conflict, no matter the source of the conflict, or to forget that she is a part of ‘us’.

This year, the UN is explicitly considering the strategy of “enlisting religious and traditional leaders to help change harmful social norms and dispel the perception that these children and their mothers were complicit in the crimes committed by their captors”. By working together with UN Women initiatives, faith-based groups can be a powerful unifying force for restoring community to ostracised survivors of sexual violence in conflict.

*Name changed for security reasons | Representative image used.

June 14, 2018August 19, 2021

Brother Andrew reminds believers in Pakistan: ‘We are here for the Book’

The Dutchman who became known as ‘God’s Smuggler’ celebrated his 90th birthday just days after a rare trip to his beloved Pakistan. His message was just as strong as when he first arrived in this beleaguered nation.

What a milestone…what an exceptional life! This past May 11^th, Brother Andrew celebrated his 90th birthday just after a trip to Pakistan. It took a lot out of him, but he enjoyed every moment, telling them, “Don’t ever forget we are here for the Book, and the One who gave us the Book”.

The trip to Pakistan was a private one to visit his many friends, old and new. His mission, as always, was to encourage the local Church. “We are fatigued, weary and aching”, one church leader said. “We were waiting for him. Seeing him and his friends, reminded us that we are neither forgotten nor alone. We are loved ever so much by the Body of Christ, this time represented by Brother Andrew”.

The trip took place just a few weeks after his beloved wife, Corry, went home to be with the Lord. Christians in Pakistan remember her as a stalwart woman, full of faith, always praying for countries like Pakistan.

Brother Andrew met with a long-time friend who began corresponding with him over 30 years ago. Ever since, the two men have been close. Years ago, Brother Andrew challenged him to strengthen the church in his home country and he faithfully took up that challenge.

During his visit, Brother Andrew participated in the opening ceremony of a new chapel, called ‘St. Stephen And All The Martyrs’. A Pakistani church leader explained, “The Chapel of ‘St Stephen And All The Martyrs’ remembers the call to lay down our lives as did Stephen, the first martyr of the Church, and as a remembrance to all martyrs ever since”.

Brother Andrew led a procession into the church, followed by family members of Pakistani Christians who had been slain for their faith, as well as survivors of attacks.

“My daughter and I are so happy to be in your midst”, Andrew said to the guests. “Because we want to see what God is doing in Pakistan. We feel so much one with you. And when we go back to our own country, we will certainly tell your story. The only thing that matters is that Jesus Christ grows in your heart”.

A local Christian woman who was encouraged by the visit said, “God has worked in brother Andrew’s life as well as the lives of people here. We see how He has brought to fruition a vision, a new font of living water to flow to the nations. His teaching is grounded in the word of God, strengthens what remains in a shattered community of believers and brings hope and joy.”

During his visit, locals told him about modern slaves, many of whom are Christians forced to work in brick kilns. They are being ministered to by pastors and offered the opportunity to have their chains of slavery broken. With vocational skills training, education and employment, a whole new life awaits for them. But this ministry is extremely difficult, challenging and even dangerous for the Church.

Brother Andrew was also asked to bless students who had just finished a literacy course and are now able to read and write. He had met some of them several years ago and warned them that more persecution was coming their way. Now, many of them have suffered violence and brutality at the hands of extremists.

“That was a solemn moment”, a local Christian said. “Brother Andrew spoke from John 15:13, ‘Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends’. For us, his family in Pakistan, Brother Andrew continues to be the reminder of God’s call to ‘go forth’, ‘take risks’ and ‘sincerely love’ our neighbour.

Many Christians were crying as brother Andrew set out to leave. As he left he said, “Don’t ever forget we are here for the Book. If we are here for the Book and the One who gave us the book, we have to obey Him. Obey Him. Be Jesus in your form in Pakistan.”

April 1, 2018July 30, 2021

Celebrating Easter Across the Globe

In Canada, we have a variety of Easter traditions. Many of us will attend church services with special music, drama and messages. Others of us will see our church attendance swell and see many faces that we’ve never seen before (or haven’t seen since Christmas)! We’ll have memorable get-togethers with family and friends, eat special food and lots of chocolate! It will be a time of celebration. For many of us, we’ll think of these traditions as making Easter special, but that’s not the case.

Easter is a celebration of the most important event of our faith. It is a time to reflect on the death, burial and, ultimately, resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no denying the importance of Easter. The cross is central to our faith. As the Apostle Paul says, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Cor 1:18).” Without the cross, our faith has no power. The resurrection is equally important. Again, Paul states, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins (1 Cor 15:17).” Without the resurrection of Jesus, our faith would be useless. This is what makes Easter so special – what Jesus accomplished on the cross and through His resurrection.

As we look across the globe, we see a variety of Easter celebrations and observations. Let’s look at how some of our persecuted brothers and sisters will observe Easter this year:

- For many Christians from Myanmar, Easter will be observed differently than they may normally observe it. They will be away from home and country, living in refugee camps as they have fled the intense fighting in Kachin and Shan State.

- Many of our brothers and sisters will observe Easter in secret gatherings. Perhaps with only one or two other believers as they can’t openly meet for fear of violence against them. Many of these believers have been forsaken by their family and need the prayers of their spiritual family this Easter.

- Some of our brothers and sisters will observe Easter with hesitancy and fear that it will bring about a fresh onslaught of persecution against them.

Some believers in places like Iraq and Syria will celebrate Easter at home for the first time since returning to their cities after being displaced by war. It will be a joyous celebration!

No matter how Easter is observed, we must remember what makes it special: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. May we take a few minutes to pray today for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are undergoing suffering for Jesus’ sake. May remembering Jesus’ suffering on the cross bring them joy and strength to endure.

Happy Easter!

March 31, 2018July 30, 2021

Ten ways to pray with the persecuted church at Easter

During the Easter season, many followers of Jesus face increased persecution because enemies of the gospel seek to disrupt the work of the gospel and cause fear among Christians. As Easter draws near, here are some ways that we can support our brothers and sisters around the world in prayer:

1. Pray for boldness and wisdom to tell others about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Pray that they’d have wisdom to know who truly is a seeker and who is not. Pray that they would have the words to speak (Ephesians 6:19-20).

2. Pray for Christians in Egypt and Pakistan. Pray for protection as they gather together to worship Jesus this Easter (2 Thessalonians 3:3) and pray for comfort as they are reminded of the attacks of previous years (1 Corinthians 1:3-5).

3. Pray for Christians who will meet secretly to observe Easter. Pray that they will have a rich understanding of God’s presence as they meet together (Matthew 18:20).

4. Pray for Christians who don’t have access to the Bible to read the Easter story. Pray that a bible would be delivered to them soon.

5. Amidst the persecution and suffering that they face, pray that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, would guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

6. Pray that those suffering persecution would be able to pray for and forgive their enemies (Matthew 5:44).

7. Pray for Christians living in refugee camps. Even amidst dire circumstance, may they experience the hope of Easter in a profound way (Romans 15:13).

8. Pray that they would sense the encouragement of the Holy Spirit and may they know that their Church family is praying for them (Acts 9:31).

9. Pray for the younger generation. Pray that they would experience the truth of the resurrection. Pray for parents to have wisdom of how to teach their children about their faith and to continue to follow Christ even amidst persecution (Deuteronomy 11:19-21).

10. Pray that believers would have the strength to persevere and continue to follow God even though the situation remains difficult (James 1:12)

Finally, here’s one last prayer to pray: Pray that we in Canada would wake up to the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ from around the world. As we celebrate the cross of Christ this Easter, may we remember the suffering of those around the world who bear His name.

If you want more ways to pray for the persecuted church, I encourage you to request a copy of our World Watch Guide which is available here. This guide will give you more information about how to pray for the 50 most dangerous countries to live in as a Christian and how you can pray for those countries.

Blessed Easter season.