Persecuted Christians

This year, despite the pain our persecuted church family often experience, your prayers and support have brought hope, healing and joy to thousands of persecuted Christians – thank you! North Korea: “You strived to help the weakest part of the body of Christ” Brother Simon* is an Open Doors partner working with North Korean believers through networks in China. You may have...
Čítaj ďalej o Here's how you made a difference in 2021 »

According to the Union of Catholic Asian News (UCAN), church leaders in India believe a case registered against the Missionaries of Charity in Gujarat is part of an intentional strategy to denigrate the institution and its founder, Mother Teresa. On December 13, police in Vadodara city launched an investigation into a shelter home run by Missionaries of Charity nuns. A complaint was...
Čítaj ďalej o Church Leaders in India Believe Attack on Missionaries of Charity Part of a “Well-Orchestrated” Strategy »

Adel (10) felt like his life had no purpose – until he came across a children’s ministry class in a nearby church supported by Open Doors local partners. There, he encountered Jesus! Find out how your prayers and support are making a life-transforming difference for hundreds of persecuted children like Adel. All names in this article have been changed for security reasons.    ...
Čítaj ďalej o Egypt: Adel’s first Christmas with Jesus »

The incident stems from rumours that baptisms were performed in the school. In reality, only four students out of 1,500 are Christian. For Bishop James Athikalam of Sagar, the attack is part of “a planned strategy” linked to upcoming local elections; “local (nationalist) leaders want to gain prominence by attacking Christian schools.”   After churches and other places of...
Čítaj ďalej o Hindu extremists attack Catholic school in Madhya Pradesh »

Despite the current food shortage in North Korea, leader Kim Jong-un has told his people that they ‘must eat less food until the country re-opens its borders with China in 2025’. In a seemingly hopeless and despite situation, North Korean escapee Timothy Cho, who himself lived through the last famine in North Korea, reflects on where his hope – and the hope of the North...
Čítaj ďalej o ‘Prisoners of hope’: keeping the faith in a time of famine »

As a minority in Bangladesh, Christians are acutely vulnerable to persecution. These three stories highlight how costly it can be to be a Christian in Bangladesh – which is  number 31  on the World Watch List – and how, with your help and prayers, Open Doors local partners are coming alongside them to provide support – even if only to remind them that they are not alone.  ...
Čítaj ďalej o Three stories of courageous faith in Bangladesh – and your role in them »

(International Christian Concern) – According to Asia News, a 12-year-old Christian girl from Pakistan’s Punjab province was abducted by an adult Muslim man last week. The girl’s family believes she has been taken to another province to be forcefully converted to Islam and married to her abductor. On November 2, Meerab Abbas, age 12, was abducted by Muhammad Daud, a Muslim adult and...
Čítaj ďalej o 12-Year-Old Christian Girl in Pakistan Abducted by Muslim Man »

The Olive Tree Bible app has been removed from China’s Apple Store after its creators were unable to provide a permit to distribute the app in China during a review process. Sadly, this is part of a continuing trend that is seeing the Chinese government assert their control over religious groups in the country.  It comes as part of a wider crackdown by Chinese...
Čítaj ďalej o Bible app removed from Chinese Apple Store in further crackdown on Christian resources »

(International Christian Concern) – Hajaruya Peace is a 26-year-old single mother with three children. She lives in Makindye Kosovo, Uganda. Peace, who speaks Swahili, shared her story with ICC through her interpreter and caretaker, Mrs. Margaret Mukamazimaka. “ My husband kicked me out of the house when I became Born Again on January 12 th , 2021,”  she recalled . “I went to my...
Čítaj ďalej o ICC Supports Persecuted Mother of Three with Retail Shop »

Timothy from North Korea grew up scared of Christians. When he escaped the country, he ended up at a safe house which had a Bible and a cross. It terrified him – but it proved to be the start of his journey towards knowing Jesus. This is his story, and why safe houses – which Open Doors helps fund – are so vital in helping sustain the North Korean church. Please note that Timothy’s...
Čítaj ďalej o Propaganda, fear and faith: how God saved this North Korean »

The mass grave was 15 feet wide, 30 feet long, and 5 feet deep. In it lie 38 Christians, murdered in their homes during yet another attack by Fulani militants in Nigeria’s middle belt. While speaking at the funeral service, Reverend Michael Cosmas Magaji offered encouragement to the grieving crowd.  “It is true that we are afflicted but not crushed,”  he said.  “It...
Čítaj ďalej o 38 Buried in Mass Grave, Massacred “Simply Because They Were Christians.” »

Matti (name changed) from Iraq was born into a Christian family and loves Jesus – but his ID card says he is a Muslim. This has stopped Matti from living the life he wants to live, including having a family of his own. And he is not the only Christian affected by this law. But thanks to you, lawyers like Mr Youhanna are fighting to restore their true identity. ...
Čítaj ďalej o Restoring identity: Matti’s fight to live as a Christian in Iraq »

German language Repräsentative Erhebung zur asylrechtlichen Situation von 5.207 christlichen Konvertiten   Christliche Konvertiten stehen besonders in islamisch geprägten Ländern unter enormem Verfolgungsdruck. Manchen von ihnen gelingt die Flucht nach Deutschland. Hier angekommen stehen sie vor neuen Problemen: BAMF und Verwaltungsgerichte misstrauen oft den sie...
Čítaj ďalej o Missachtung der Menschenwürde von Flüchtlingen in Deutschland »

 (International Christian Concern) –16-year-old Nitish Kumar was attacked with acid last week in north India’s Bihar state, leaving him with burns covering 60% of his body. The victim’s sister, Raja Davabi, told ICC that the incident occurred  at 6:30am, when Nitish left the house to go to market. Almost immediately after leaving, Nitish was carried back into their home by...
Čítaj ďalej o Christian Boy Suffers Acid Attack in India »

As India marks the 74th anniversary of independence this Sunday (15 August), Christians and other religious minorities across the country report a growing climate of intolerance and intrusion – whipped up by Hindu extremist groups, utilising social media like Facebook and WhatsApp. Videos go viral for different reasons. Often it’s because of something funny, profound, or unusual. ...
Čítaj ďalej o Attacks on Christians in India are regularly filmed – then widely shared online to perpetuate hatred of believers »

Preetha was violently attacked while praying with some friends - and then she was denied treatment in hospital, because of her faith. Here's her story - and how you're helping her, and can support other believers facing the same ordeal. Preetha was savagely attacked by Hindu extremists. When she woke in hospital, she found that doctors wouldn't treat her - because of her faith When...
Čítaj ďalej o Preetha was denied treatment after a horrific attack »

They both worked in a pharmaceutical factory. The owner, Mohammad Naeem, and the supervisor Mohammad Imtiaz pressured them for marriage, promising wealth and demanding their conversion to Islam. But the women, married to two Christians, had refused. Lahore (- Two Christian sisters, 28-year-old Sajida and 26-year-old Abida, both married and with children, were kidnapped, raped and...
Čítaj ďalej o Lahore, Christian sisters Sajida and Abida kidnapped, raped and murdered »

In May, a Christian in Pakistan was abused and threatened by Muslim coworkers at a hospital in Karachi after he received a promotion the month before. To protect his own safety, and the safety of his family, the Christian eventually decided to forfeit the promotion and request a transfer to a new hospital. According to documents received by International Christian Concern (ICC), Riaz...
Čítaj ďalej o Christian in Pakistan Forced to Forfeit Promotion Due to Abuse and Threats »

Saghar managed to escape the secret police, who wanted to arrest her for leadng a house church. Here’s her astonishing story of courage and miracles Saghar was in the airport when she spotted the secret agent. Only three days earlier, he and several other members of the Iranian secret police had raided her home. They were the reason she was making a quick escape from Iran, the country...
Čítaj ďalej o Saghar’s miraculous escape from Iran »

 According to local sources, 13 Christian families in India’s Odisha state have been displaced from their home village since January after they refused to recant their Christian faith. The displacement happened after radical Hindu nationalists used a disagreement over a local Hindu festival to foment tensions between villagers. The 13 Christian families used to live in Bandhugaon...
Čítaj ďalej o Indian Christian Families Displaced from Village After Refusing to Recant Faith »

Taher and his family were secret believers in a closed country in the Middle East. When their faith was discovered, Taher was arrested and ruthlessly interrogated by the secret police - but he refused to give up the names of fellow believers. Here's his story. When the man came to Taher and Donya’s door, only Donya was in. The man said he was a postal worker. Donya knew he...
Čítaj ďalej o The secret police wanted names. Taher wouldn’t give them. »

When Kusum’s husband and son died, her in-laws said her faith was the reason. But God has worked miracles in the lives of her family and community – and used your prayers and support to sustain Kusum. When Open Doors local partners in India first visited Kusum*, she was facing terrible persecution from her own family. She had already suffered deeply – losing both her husband and her son...
Čítaj ďalej o Kusum’s in-laws blamed her for her husband’s death. But God stepped in. »

Fears that ‘Islamic State’ once again threatens the lives of some of the Middle East’s largest Christian population have emerged again, after the radical militant group killed an Egyptian Coptic businessman who’d funded the construction of the only church in his north Sinai village. The  death of 62 year old Nabil Habashy Salama  was reported last week, but new points are worth...
Čítaj ďalej o Death threats, by Islamic State in Sinai, against Egyptian Copt sons who mourn dad »

After Suraida came to faith in her 60s, she has been sharing God’s love with her family, and she has seen God move in miraculous ways – particularly during the month of Ramadan. Although she and her husband face persecution for their faith, they are continuing to share the gospel. Please pray for them this Ramadan as they tell others about Jesus. All names in this article have...
Čítaj ďalej o Just one spark: how Suraida’s faith has led many more to Jesus during Ramandan »

Chien and his family were left homeless when villagers burned their house down – but you stepped in, and your prayers and support have put a new roof over their heads. Chien and his family were able to rebuild their house, thanks to you When you go to a Bible study, you hope to learn something, and to connect more deeply with God. You don’t expect to come home and discover...
Čítaj ďalej o You helped Chien when his house was burned down »