ALEPPO – Jina was married to Rober in 2011. Their son, Abraham (known as Apo), was born in 2012. Rober was kidnapped in 2013 in Syria – targeted because he is a Christian. They don’t know if he’s alive.

Jina and Apo live in Aleppo, Syria, where they are supported by Open Doors partner Pastor Abdalla’s church, receiving food parcels and winter fuel, and attending kids’ groups and Bible studies.

Open Doors is helping to restore hope and rebuild lives for thousands of Syrian Christians like Jina and Apo.

In 2013 Rober, a Syrian Christian was travelling for work when his bus was stopped by Islamic militants. Rober and another Christian were singled out and marched off the bus.
He has not been seen since.

Jina, Aleppo, Syria:

“I got engaged in 2011. I got married in 2011 too. I gave birth to my son in 2012 and my husband was kidnapped in 2013.

When our son Apo was born we were very very happy. Our dreams were to set up a home to raise our child to be a good person. There were our dreams then. My husband was working as an industrial parts salesperson. He was sent to collect money from the town of Qamishli. He was one of the only Armenian Christians (on the bus). The rest of the workers were Muslim.

The militants told Rober to convert to Islam, time after time. But Rober refused and said ‘I have my God, and that’s it.’

He went out to work and never came back. I pray ‘Lord please return him to me.’

It’s so hard to raise a boy alone, by myself. We get aid from the Good Shepherd Project (Open Doors Partner). Secondly, they help us with the cost of gas. I would struggle so much if that church didn’t help us. Life would be so hard.

Apo asked me: ‘Mom, when will it be Friday? I want to go to children’s church.’ I ask him ‘for what?’

He replies, ‘To know about Jesus.’ He loves to be there so much.

My faith in God is very big. I say to him ‘O Lord as you like. May your will be done. O Lord I ask you to return my husband safe and sound.”

About Open Doors UK

For over 60 years, Open Doors has worked in the world’s most oppressive countries, empowering Christians who are persecuted for their beliefs. Open Doors equips persecuted Christians in more than 60 countries through programs like Bible & Gospel Development, Women & Children Advancement and Christian Community Restoration.

To read more news on Syria on Missions Box, go here.