NADI WESTERN DIVISION, FIJI – When you close your eyes and imagine an island encounter in the South Pacific, say in Fiji, what do you see in your mind’s eye? Let me guess. You see sun-splashed water, a quiet beach, and swaying palm trees. You can thank travel brochures for that. Let me ask you…
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…
VIRGINIA BEACH — With his life and freedom on the line as he challenged Russia’s dictatorial regime, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny reached out to Christian leaders in a search for “eternal values,” a Christian minister to the former Soviet Union told CBN News. Sergey Rakhuba of Mission Eurasia, a ministry that supports the church…
SUNRISE, FL – People respond with a bit of je ne sais quoi when they learn that SONSHINE GLOBAL PARTNERS is headquartered in Sunrise, Florida. If that doesn’t happen immediately, it almost certainly will when they discover that SONRISE is located on Sunset Strip in Sunrise. This story is not about how or why SONSHINE…
MIAMI, FL – Just mentioning the word “Cuba” arouses a myriad of images in the minds of Americans. Those images may depend on the listener’s age, heritage, or location. Castro – Guantanamo – Havana – Missile crisis – Cigars – Miami. Any or all of those many come to mind unless you are one of…
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…
SACRAMENTO — Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC), releases the following statement in reaction to the passing of evangelist Luis Palau: “When I think of how to describe Luis Palau, the first thing that comes to mind is his joy. His radiant smile, his enthusiasm, his energy came from…
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…
ETHIOPIA — When Abebu’s husband was killed in Ethiopia for his faith in 2013 Christian charity Open Doors stepped in to support her family. But seven years later when Covid-19 restrictions again left her unable to feed her children, the charity provided vital help to her as well as thousands of other families across Africa…
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….
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – Dan and Rachel Smither sold their home, their cars, and their furniture to help raise funds to begin the Key of Hope ministry in Durban, South Africa, in 2007. One year later, they had boots – and 16 suitcases – on the ground. At the time, South Africa was ranked third…
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…
MERCER ISLAND, WA — Today, the Best Christian Workplaces Institute (BCWI) honored 157 faith-based organizations as Certified Best Christian Workplaces for 2020. Says BCWI CEO and Co-founder Al Lopus, “Today, we honor extraordinary organizations whose leaders took a wise, courageous, and necessary step. Faced with the simultaneous challenges of managing remote workplaces, shrinking budgets and…
ORLANDO — Christ for All Nations (CfaN) is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Vice President, Peter Vandenberg, joining the team. Born and raised in Zimbabwe and trained in both engineering and ministry, Peter joined CfaN in 1981 after a chance encounter with the founder, Reinhard Bonnke. Peter was so moved by the then young evangelist,…
BORING, OR – InterAct Ministries is based in Boring, Oregon. Nothing about InterAct’s history or ministry, however, is boring. An Unusual Beginning It didn’t take long for John Gillespie and his wife, Nadine, after they arrived in Alaska in 1941, to realize that missionaries there were working toward the same goal, but not many were…
• Francis Chan, Pastor & Author » • Palmer Holt, President, InChrist Communications » • David Mains, Radio & TV Broadcaster » • George Verwer, Founder, Operation Mobilization » WILLS POINT, TX – K.P. Yohannan and Gospel for Asia (GFA World), the organization he founded in 1979, have served the Lord faithfully in 18…
GLENDALE, CA – No, this is not a list of 222 international ministries. It is an introduction to the faith-based 222 Ministries International founded in 1991 to take the Gospel to one of the most difficult places on earth: Iran. 222 Ministries’ Beginnings Lazarus Yeghnazar and his wife, Maggie, left their home country not long…
WASHINGTON, DC – The United States is about to undergo changes in leadership at multiple levels. We will soon have a new President and Vice President, a new Congress, and new Cabinet members, advisors, and department heads. Each of these people will face challenges, the weight of which is as yet unknown. The inauguration of…
WASHINGTON, DC – Preparations for the President-elect to take the Presidential Oath of Office on the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building at noon on January 20 are underway. “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my…
KINGWOOD, TX – The New Hope Initiative (NHI) is a faith-based, non-profit organization that has a compelling desire to bring real positive change to some of the poorest communities in the world, according to their website. The New Hope initiative promotes self-sustaining projects to break the cycle of poverty by partnering with local leadership in…
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…
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…
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…
KANSAS CITY, MO – It takes just one look at the All Nations Family Kansas City website to clearly understand what motivates this FBO. Their message is clear in three bold sentences. Making Disciples where Jesus is not known. One-third of the world hasn’t heard of Jesus. Does your heart hurt for peoples who have…
SACRAMENTO, CA — Samuel Rodriguez, lead pastor of New Season Christian Worship Center in Sacramento, California, and president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference shares on our experience with pain and suffering amid the Coronavirus pandemic, and the assurance of God’s care for us in the midst of it all. No human being healthy…
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…
ARMENIA — On Nov 10th a Russia-brokered peace deal was agreed between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno Karabakh. It brought to an end six weeks of war in which thousands of people were killed and displaced. As the refugee crisis is growing with reportedly more than 150,000 people urgently needing help Mission Eurasia…
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…
ATLANTA, GA – John Edmund Haggai entered the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in Heaven when his work on this earth was completed on November 18, 2020. A tireless and relentless force in evangelism and worldwide missions, he might be the single most prolific producer of Christian leaders over the last 50…
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – BEE World (Bible Evangelism by Extension) exists to address a growing world crisis. With Christianity growing in countries with limited access to the Gospel, ministries are suffering a leadership crisis because seminary-level pastoral training is not only limited but often not available. The Crisis “There are an estimated five million untrained…
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…
ORLANDO — On the 6th of November 2020, Christ for All Nations (CfaN) will host an International Day of Prayer for Africa. The live-stream event will literally circle the globe with 24-hours of prayer for our brothers and sisters in Africa! Beginning in Germany at 04:00am EST/10:00am CET, and moving eastward, each CfaN office will…
EASTON, MD — Iran’s “underground” house church movement — the fastest growing evangelical church in the world — is being fueled by explosive social media use and satellite television viewership, according to new findings. Middle East satellite broadcaster SAT-7 (www.sat7usa.org) reveals thousands of Iranians regularly tune into Christian programs on its SAT-7 PARS channel that…
PORTLAND, OR — There’s no question this has been one of the most difficult years in history, and pastors and church leaders have not been immune to this pain, according to the Luis Palau Association. The ministry reports many are struggling to keep perspective, stay encouraged, and lead their churches well. In an effort to…
PARK FOREST, IL – Reach a Village is a relatively young faith-based parachurch organization. It was founded in 2012 by Robert Craft, a servant of the Lord with more than 40 years of ministry as a pastor, missionary, and evangelical leader. The Need The vision for the ministry is rooted in Mark 1:38 (NET), where…
LOUISVILLE, KY – Life Light Ministries operates children’s homes and Christian schools and trains indigenous Christians for leadership roles in their communities in South Asia. From its humble beginnings, Life Light Ministries model has been to establish a training ground from which to launch disciples to establish self-supporting, self-governing, and self-propagating local churches. The faith-based…
NIGERIA — Following the death of her husband in an attack by militant Fulani herdsmen in April – during which most of the family’s belongings were burnt – Abigail* not only faced the grief of losing a loved one but the anguish of not knowing if there was enough food the next day to feed…
ORLANDO, FL — The Board of Trustees of Wycliffe Associates has announced that Dr. Tim Neu has been selected to serve as Interim President and CEO of Wycliffe Associates’ global Bible translation efforts. Tim has served with Wycliffe Associates for the last 12 years, providing leadership to the ministry in areas of finance, Bible translation…
FRANKLIN, TN – The Amazima story began with an 18-year-old girl, Katie Davis, falling in love. It happened in Uganda while she was on a mission trip to Africa. She fell in love with the people of Uganda. The Story Katie responded to that love by returning less than a year later. During 2007 and…
LENOIR CITY, TN — To document the impact of COVID-19 on churches, Ministry Brands – the leading provider of software, services, and information platforms for churches, ministries, and those they serve – today released new data from a recently completed national survey of churches across multiple denominations. The report, “Coping with COVID-19: Insights from Church…
WHITTIER, CA — The years spent in high school are a pivotal time, where plans for the future, hopes, dreams and the purpose of life are at the forefront of young people’s minds. It can also be a time of confusion, lack of direction, depression and even hopelessness. Knowing that God has a plan and…
SACRAMENTO — Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christina Leadership Conference and #1 New York Times bestselling author, will release his newest book “From Survive to Thrive” (Charisma House) on Nov. 17. In “From Survive to Thrive,” Rodriguez takes an honest look at the pain millions of people are experiencing during the Covid-19…
IRAN – Iran is one of the world’s most dangerous places for Christians. Yet this Muslim nation is seeing an unprecedented explosion of Christianity. Muslims fed up with Islam are becoming followers of Jesus Christ in record numbers. George Thomas of CBN News follows a group of converts that secretly left Iran to be baptized….
BURKINA FASO — Following an escalation in violence against Christians in Burkina Faso in West Africa since June 2019, countless believers have been forced to flee leaving them in desperate need of food supplies. Churches have been attacked by radical Jihadists, with at least 50 Christians murdered and thousands more displaced. Open Doors has responded…
