IRAQ — Iraqi law forbids a person from changing their religion from ‘Muslim’ to ‘Christian on their official ID. Believers who find themselves in this situation can be extremely isolated, treated with suspicion by the Christian community while also rejected by Muslims. Mr Youhanna* gives legal counsel to Christians like Matti* who suffers this discrimination….
SYRIA — Anwar, a Syrian Christian was persecuted and thrown out when he became a Christian – he didn’t have a home or family, but he had the incredible hope of life lived with Jesus. Thanks to Open Doors, a Centre of Hope was able to give him somewhere to live, and the chance to…
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – “There are times that bad stuff is going to happen, no matter how much you try and prevent it. It’s what you do afterward that makes a difference.” – excerpt from the opening of the documentary movie, “Triggered.” All Things Possible is a unique faith-based organization founded by Victor Marx. Marx…
NASHVILLE – In May 2019, One by One – a UK-based global missions organization with a heart for the poor and broken across the Third World – opened King’s Children’s Home, near Lahore in Pakistan, to rehouse and give hope to children rescued from brick factory bonded labor in that country. The home opened with…
SOUTH ASIA – Lalita is a widow who was struggling to make ends meet after her husband passed away. Through its Christmas Gift Catalog GFA World (Gospel for Asia) gave her a sewing machine which enabled her to earn a living through tailoring work. How one simple tool provided income for a family in desperate…
TURKEY — Kouroush* is an Iranian Christian now living in Turkey, after he fled to escape persecution, leaving everything behind. We hear how, with Open Doors’ support, he is now opening a Center of Hope to help care for fellow refugees. Kouroush*, name changed for security purposes: “I didn’t murder anyone. I didn’t steal anything….
CHARLOTTE, NC — Christ’s Mandate for Missions, (www.cmm.world) formerly Correll Missionary Ministries, and CMM College of Theology (www.cmmtheology.org) are expanding globally as more people are hearing about their unique style of ‘team ministry’ empowering many to discover their God given identities we each have in Christ as we go higher and deeper in intimacy. During…
EASTON, MD — A veteran Christian media pioneer who lived through rocket attacks and car bombings in war-torn Beirut, Lebanon, says Christians in the Middle East have never been more willing to risk everything to put their faith on display. After decades of isolation and “underground” church meetings, Middle East Christians are now using the…
BURKINO FASO — For 19-year-old Salamata* from Burkina Faso in West Africa, life has been incredibly difficult. She witnessed an extremist attack on her church and struggles to see God’s hand on her life. Open Doors has provided her with an aid package and trauma counselling but she still has many unanswered questions. Salamata*: “Our…
CENTRAL ASIA — Anastasia* who came to Christ 20 years ago is a house church leader living in Central Asia. The authorities told her they thought she was retired, but she still teaches six times a week and preaches on Sundays! Her passion for the gospel is infectious. In this Open Doors report Anastasia, who…
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO — Samaritan’s Purse is providing tools, seeds, and agricultural training to farmers living with disabilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nicole Solvig, Samaritan’s Purse: We’re heading to one of our farmer’s fields to see the progress of their work. This is a group of farmers who are all living…
NEW YORK – Lift Up the Vulnerable (LUV) leads the only indigenously-directed anti-human trafficking network spanning Sudan and South Sudan. Overview of Sudan and South Sudan The residents of the two countries have suffered decades of instability, military conflict, food scarcity, and economic hardships. Nearly four million South Sudanese have been displaced as a result…
CHINA — When Muslims becomes Christians in China they become alienated from their people group and family. They are often socially marginalized, disowned by their family and rejected by their friends. In response Open Doors workers Philip and Pearl* take great to risk their own safety to visit and encourage these Muslim background believers or…
MIDDLE EAST — *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. In many other countries in the Middle East, worshiping in…
WILLS POINT, TX – GFA World (Gospel for Asia) founded by K.P. Yohannan, has been the model for numerous charities like GFA World Canada, to help the poor and deprived worldwide, issued this Special Report update on Malaria making a comeback amid the worldwide impact of the COVID 19 Pandemic. It’s a back-and-forth battle growing…
LOVES PARK, IL — A U.S.-based mission to the “forgotten children” of the former Soviet Union is aiming to give an “unforgettable summer” to children still suffering from the lingering effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster that shook the world 35 years ago on April 26. Supported by Illinois-based Slavic Gospel Association (SGA, www.sga.org), Camp…
HOUSTON — Countless people across Texas are still suffering from the effects of the deep freeze that hit seven weeks ago: damaged roofs; burst water pipes; burned down homes; and more. Already struggling with COVID shut-down recovery, many families cannot repair the damage from the winter storm. State Farm reported burst pipe claims rose from…
WILLS POINT, TX – GFA World founded by K.P. Yohannan, whose heart to love and help the poor has inspired numerous charities like GFA World Canada, to serve the deprived and downcast worldwide, one of the largest mission agencies in the world, is launching compassion projects in Africa (http://www.gfa.org/press/intoAfrica) for the first time — a…
WASHINGTON — In honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, CityServe, along with churches around the nation will be observing a National Day of Prayer, referred to as Blue Sunday, this April 25th. This day reminds faith communities to intercede in prayer for abused and neglected children and to open their doors to provide good homes…
VIETNAM — Chu is a courageous Christian woman in Vietnam whose husband tried to force her to deny Jesus. He had come under pressure from his local community leaders who threaten to demote or retire tribal leaders if they allow Christianity into their villages. However even though he beat her there was no turning back…
SYRIA — This month marks the 10th anniversary of the first demonstrations that sparked the Syrian Civil War. In that time, the Christian population decreased from two million in 2010 to under 700,000 today. Ten years of civil war in Syria have made life much harder for persecuted Christians – but Open Doors has been…
LOVES PARK, IL — Christians in Russia going door-to-door in the bitter cold reached thousands more children and families with the Gospel over the past few months than ever before — largely because of COVID-19. Illinois-based Slavic Gospel Association’s (SGA, www.sga.org) Christ Over COVID campaign and Immanuel’s Child Christmas outreach helped Russian Christians and their…
ETHIOPIA — Like so many believers in Ethiopia, when Khalid became a Christian he was excluded by his Muslim relatives. Forced to leave he was left with no food, shelter or source of income. But persecution charity Open Doors stepped in to help him establish his own business. Khalid: “Persecution is tough. You are separated…
NORTH KOREA — The persecution of Christian women and girls around the world is hidden, complex and violent. They are vulnerable for both their gender and their faith. As part of International Women’s Day on 8 March, Open Doors has been sharing stories of those who’ve been persecuted simply because they are Christian women. The…
WINTER PARK, FL – Pathway Learning was born in the heart of Dr. Steve Childers when after leading a training session for church leaders in Africa. His lesson included the matter of serving widows and orphans in the communities represented at the conference. None of the churches represented were doing anything. Steve immediately realized that…
SOUTH ASIA — Covid-19 is fuelling a growing, hidden, “shadow pandemic” of gender-based violence, abduction and trafficking, directed towards Christian women and girls around the world. This is one of the findings of a new report commissioned by Christian persecution charity Open Doors, released on International Women’s Day (Mon Mar 8). Global Gender Persecution Specialist…
CHARLESTON, SC – I am going to assume that you know as much about Burundi as I did before I began to investigate the benevolent work of GLO (aka Great Lakes Outreach). So, before I can introduce you to GLO, I need to familiarize you with the African nation of Burundi. Burundi Burundi occupies less…
NORTH KOREA — This story is based on a real-life account of a North Korea Christian sent to prison and then to a re-education camp. Other details have been added from other prison accounts. Open Doors has heard stories like this from numerous North Korean believers – and, disturbingly, the details are all eerily similar….
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO — Following the latest attacks by Islamists that claimed the lives of at least 100 people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Christian persecution watchdog Open Doors is calling on the international community to act urgently to protect the largely forgotten people of DRC. The mass killings of civilians in eastern…
DUNNELLON, FL – January 8, 2021, marked the 65th anniversary of what, at the time, appeared to be one of the worst missionary tragedies in modern history. Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Peter Flemming, Roger Youderian, and Jim Elliot sacrificed their lives attempting to share the Gospel with the Waodoni Indian tribe (formerly known as the…
RUSSIA — An annual event launched by Slavic Gospel Association in 2002 — is on target to distribute Christmas gifts, children’s Bibles, and personalized ornaments to 50,000 Children in Russia. Despite lockdown restrictions SGA church partners are reaching out into hospital, orphanages and the homes of vulnerable children as part of their Immanuel’s Child outreach….
SANTA ANA, CA — This week, persecution watchdog Open Doors USA will announce the 2021 World Watch List, its anticipated annual ranking of the top 50 countries where it is most dangerous to be a Christian – and provide a surprising update on significant shifts in the landscape of Christian persecution worldwide. Open Doors USA…
CHINA — Since 2002, North Korea has been the place where Christians face the most extreme persecution. In response Open Doors secret fieldworkers are supporting Christians who’ve managed to flee to China, through underground networks. Across the river from North Korea, in China, they run secret safe houses for North Korean Christians who have managed…
MOZAMBIQUE — When Reverend Romeno Carico saw the thousands of refugees fleeing to his community in Northern Mozambique to escape the conflict with Islamic militants he knew he had to do something to help. With what little resources he has he opened up his home to feed families traumatised after losing family members in the…
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC — Open Doors partners recently delivered Covid relief aid to over 4,500 Christians in Central African Republic. Beneficiaries included widows, believers from Muslim backgrounds, church leaders, other vulnerable Christians and orphans. Among those helped were the families of Jeovani, Steven and Dieu Fera, who Open Doors have been supporting ever since their…
ROMANIA — God tells us to remember the orphan, the widow, and the stranger. This exhortation has been put into practice by the Evangelical and Charity Association “Jesus Hope of Romania” in Timisoara, which carries out several social projects. One is the “Manna” project, a mobile social canteen that operates daily home deliveries of cooked…
COLORADO SPRINGS – “What Matters” is an interesting phrase. Devoid of punctuation, it could be a statement, a question, or an exclamation. Regardless, it is important that we all know what matters . . . what really matters. What Matters Ministries and Missions is the faith-based organization founded by Ivan and Kim Tait in 1997….
NIGERIA — Christian charity Open Doors is calling for people to urgently pray for the release and safety of 300 kidnapped schoolboys still missing following a raid by gunman on their school last weekend in Western Katsina State, Nigeria. Boko Haram reportedly carried out the kidnappings. Many Christians have also been targeted in this region…
LOVES PARK, IL — One of the biggest evangelical missions to Russia is calling on America’s Christians to help “save Christmas” for children in dire need in the COVID-ravaged former Soviet Union. Illinois-based Slavic Gospel Association (SGA, www.sga.org) has launched a Christmas gift blitz across 11 time zones, stretching from eastern Europe to Siberia. Thousands…
LOVES PARK, IL — An Illinois-based, international organization is leading a major humanitarian effort to feed hungry families and orphans struggling due to the economic devastation caused by COVID-19 in Russia and the former Soviet Union. Slavic Gospel Association (SGA, www.sga.org) has served its grassroots network of 6,350 local evangelical church partners in the vast…
COLOMBIA — Timóteo’s family found Jesus, and converted from the beliefs of their tribe in Colombia. That made them targets for persecution – and made Timóteo a target for guerrilla gangs. You’re 11 years old, and you’re walking home from school. A man carrying a gun calls you over to him. What do you do?…
WILLS POINT, TX – KP Yohannan, founder of Gospel for Asia (GFA World), has been the model for numerous charities like Gospel for Asia Canada, and Metropolitan of Believers Eastern Church, to help the poor and deprived worldwide — shares on the influence and impact of Dr. John Haggai, the one thing we should do…
COLOMBIA — Believers and worshipers from Colombia face persecution if members of their indigenous community find out that they are Christians. It’s Sunday morning in the village of San Pedro de la Victoria, Colombia. Gabriel – an indigenous Christian whose name has been changed to protect his identity – wakes up to prepare a service…
LOVES PARK, IL — Courageous churches on the edge of an active war zone are in a race against time to save the lives of children as bitter winter weather looms. Members of evangelical churches near the disputed mountainous enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh — straddling Armenia and Azerbaijan — are acting as frontline responders as heavy…
BANGLADESH — Ten-year-old Bijli from Bangladesh already knows the cost of following Jesus. Because of her faith, she is bullied at school and her family are ostracised in their Muslim-majority village. Bijli’s father, Badol, became a church leader after receiving biblical training through Open Doors partners. He was worried that his Muslim neighbours wouldn’t accept…
COLOMBIA — Christmas is likely to look different for all of us this year. Some of us will be celebrating the birth of Jesus without our friends and family closest to us. You may have even lost somebody you love this year, and this will be your first Christmas without them. Daniela from Colombia is…
BAKERSFIELD, CA – CityServe is a faith-based organization that enlists and mobilizes local churches to expand a church’s capacity to minister to a specific initiative, empower more people to be a light in their community, and offer Biblical solutions to the broken people in the community. Farmers to Families Food Box Program The organization engages…
WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World and affiliates like Gospel for Asia Canada) founded by KP Yohannan, issued this Special Report on the massive challenge of reducing extreme poverty worldwide, mainly through providing education, transmitting values. In my original special report for Gospel for Asia (GFA) titled Solutions to Poverty-line Problems of…
LOVES PARK, IL — A U.S.-based evangelical mission that partners with local churches to serve orphans, widows, and others in need across Russia and the former Soviet Union aims to share the true meaning and hope of Christmas with 50,000 needy ‘forgotten’ children this year. From Russia’s capital Moscow to the Siberian wastelands — and…
WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World and affiliates like Gospel for Asia Canada) founded by KP Yohannan, issued this Special Report on the horrific realities girls face, child marriage, human trafficking, abuse & exploitation, and the restoration & redemption that God brings to their lives. Nearly 173 years ago, on October 16,…
