Aiding the Persecuted Church during COVID-19
These are some very dark and uncertain days with the coronavirus pandemic spreading across the world. The situation for persecuted Christians grows worse at a time like this. However, if there is one thing that our persecuted brothers and sisters have taught us, it is this: “In times of difficulty or darkness, the light of God in us can often shine brighter.”
In Open Doors we have a saying: “Work as if everything depends on you and pray as if everything depends on God”. In other words: we work with the skills and understanding the Lord has given us, yet, we realize that outside of God we cannot do anything. We need Him to come through for us, so we pray.
Our founder, Brother Andrew, says that “prayer is the real battle and that fighting is done on our knees.” He also reminds us of a song by Johan Bos, a Dutchman who sang, “Lord forgive my dry eyes.” Praying is indeed suffering with another person, and we want to encourage you to continue to uphold our dear brothers and sisters around the world in prayer.
In this challenging time, let us pray fervently for renewed strength and protection for our brothers and sisters, as well as for those on the front lines who are so bravely fighting the virus both here – close to home – and for those in nations where they are persecuted for their faith.
Will you continue to show your love and commitment to our persecuted brothers and sisters affected by COVID-19 with your gifts and prayers?
A Message from Eun-Hye to Open Doors Supporters
Eun-Hye, her sister Nari, her mother Hannah, and her other relatives live in South Korea, in a city that has been hit very hard by COVID-19. Eun-Hye is originally from North Korea and has a poignant testimony of how God showed Himself true to her and helped her escape the regime.
“Since the coronavirus reached the city where I live, my family and I have remained in the house for more than a month for safety reasons. For now, most of the churches stopped Sunday services. Instead, I watch the online live worship service at home on Sundays. The schools closed till at least early April and my daughter cannot attend school, instead she watches online classes. My husband cannot go to work anymore.”
Yet, she remains positive. “These days I cannot help but praise God and sing worship songs. I thank God [for bringing me to South Korea]. Thank God that my family and I are not infected by the virus even in this pandemic situation. Thank God that I have clothes to wear and food to eat. In North Korea, we didn’t have anything at all.”
Eun-Hye’s life was particularly hard when she was a street child. She is so grateful for at least having a home. “Thank God that I can sleep in a heated house, which I didn’t have when I was a child. Back then I was all alone; now at least I am with my family.”
She confesses that sometimes she has felt sorry for herself that her life has been so hard, especially compared to people in other countries. Not anymore. “Now I realize that I shall not be in want because God chose me and saved me from the shadow of death so many times in my life. I have become a stronger person because of it.”
Eun-Hye conveys thanks to everyone who is praying for Christians in North Korea and other countries impacted by COVID-19.
Eun-Hye represents just one of the many believers whom Open Doors’ teams are keeping in touch with thanks to mobile connectivity and technological advances even in the most remote places. These believers are encouraged through the prayers of the body of Christ in Canada. They, in turn, are praying for us, as the wave of COVID-19 has hit North America.
Thanks to your support, persecuted believers are receiving the help they need. Your gifts continue to provide Bibles, discipleship training, emergency relief, medical assistance, trauma care and more to Christians whose situations are worsening because of the coronavirus. This is what we are called to do and it is what we will continue to do with the help of God.
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You can strengthen a persecuted believer affected by COVID-19 with your gifts and prayers. Would you give a gift today?
March Prayer Points
Pray for the Lord’s wisdom and protection over staff and provision for the work of equipment and encouragement to continue in innovative ways in the midst of the pandemic
Pray for believers in countries like North Korea and Syria who don’t have the health care system to deal with an outbreak
Pray for persecuted believers who have lost jobs because of the outbreak and have no family support because of their decision to follow Jesus
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