STRENGTHENING THE PERSECUTED CHURCH WORLDWIDE
More than 365 million Christians face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith in Jesus.
OPEN DOORS IS STRENGTHENING THE PERSECUTED CHURCH WORLDWIDE.
More than 365 million Christians face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith in Jesus. With your help, Open Doors is strengthening Christians where faith costs the most.
More than 365 million Christians face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith in Jesus. With your help, Open Doors is strengthening Christians where faith costs the most.
Want more information? Start here.
Church Resources
Help your church stay connected with your persecuted family, using resources like the Pause Toolkit, the Prayer Calendar, and more.
World Watch List
Download your World Watch List prayer guide: the ranking of the top 50 countries where Christians endure the most persecution.
Prayer Resources
Commit to praying for your persecuted family with the monthly prayer calendar, or join an online prayer meeting.
Church Resources
Help your church stay connected with your persecuted family, using resources like the Pause Toolkit, the Dangerous Faith study guide, and more.
World Watch List
Download your World Watch List prayer guide: the ranking of the top 50 countries where Christians endure the most persecution.
Prayer Resources
Commit to praying for your persecuted family with the monthly prayer calendar, or join an online prayer meeting.
Where are Christians Persecuted?
Every year, Open Doors ranks the top 50 countries where Christians experience the most persecution for their faith – the World Watch List.
Explore the top 50 countries where faith costs the most:
Where are Christians Persecuted?
1. North Korea
Being discovered as a Christian in North Korea is effectively a death sentence. Either believers will be deported to camps as political criminals—where they face a life of hard labour which few survive—or they are killed on the spot. The same fate awaits family members. There are believed to be tens of thousands of Christians held in labour camps across the country.
2. Somalia
The dangers of being a Christian in Somalia are extreme. Most, if not all, are converts from Muslim backgrounds, making them a high-value target for al-Shabab, a militant group that has repeatedly expressed its desire to eradicate Christians from the country. If discovered, believers could be killed on the spot.
3. Libya
Libya continues to be a place with very little political stability. Much of the country exists in a sort of perpetual anarchy, ruled over by militias linked to the official government (in the West of the country) or by the Libyan National Army (in the East), with strong Islamist influences in both cases. Due to lawlessness, Christians can easily be targets for violence and death.
4. Eritrea
Eritrea has lingered in the top 10 of the World Watch List for years, with its intense authoritarian government. Eritrea only recognizes three Christian denominations (Eritrean Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Lutheran), so anyone who follows Jesus outside of these sanctioned churches is at constant risk. Even in the recognized churches, the government closely monitors every congregation. Speaking out about persecution or government interference in church matters is not tolerated at all.
5. Yemen
Yemeni society is strongly Islamic, conservative and tribal, and the tribal punishment for denouncing Islam can be death or banishment. As conversion from Islam is forbidden by Islamic and state law, Christians must keep their faith secret, or risk severe repercussions from their families, the authorities or radical Islamic groups. This can include divorce, loss of custody of children, arrest, interrogation and even death.
Every year, Open Doors ranks the top 50 countries where Christians experience the most persecution for their faith – the World Watch List.
Use this map to learn about the top five countries, and then explore the rest of the list.
STAND AGAINST VIOLENT PERSECUTION
Christians in Sub-Saharan Africa are being persecuted on a scale never seen before. Targeted extremist activity means that murder, torture and kidnapping are an everyday threat.
What’s happening is unprecedented and it’s wrecking lives. The very survival of the church is at risk – unless we act.
Stand with your brothers and sisters facing violent persecution.
Bring Open Doors to your church and learn how you can advocate for your persecuted family.
Open Doors is strengthening persecuted Christians in more than 70 countries. Because of your support, we are able to provide Bibles, Christian resources, church training, emergency aid, and more. In Canada, we work to raise awareness of global persecution, mobilizing prayer, support and action among Christians.
Last Year's Impact
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People received Biblical training and discipleship
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People helped with socio-economic development
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People received Bibles and Christian materials
Because of your support, the global church is being strengthened in the most persecuted countries on earth.
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Bring Open Doors to your church and learn how you can advocate for your persecuted family.
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