Author: Opendoors Canada

Christian Student Persecuted at School for Sharing the Gospel

Alim*, a post-secondary student in Central Asia, is just one of the many persecuted Christians in that part of the world who faces hostility for his faith. He sat down for a meal with Open Doors partners to share these words about his experience. 

 “When I started my learning in the college, I was happy, this was a good opportunity to learn the subjects I was interested to know. As the place was rather far from my house, I stayed there in student dormitories at the college. Almost all the boys in my dormitory prayed ‘Namaz’ (Muslim prayers), but I did not”.

“My roommates asked me why I did not pray Muslim prayers and why I was different. I shared about my faith and they asked me so many questions. I like to share the Gospel with people, they need to learn the truth, they need God, so I told them about Jesus. They asked me questions about Quran too. I did not speak about it as I am not familiar with it.

Then somebody informed the director of the college that I was sharing about Jesus.  The director called me to speak to me, he asked questions. He asked me about my faith. His questions sounded more and more aggressive: ‘Why are you telling only about Jesus and Gospel, why do you reject Quran and Islam? Who is the leader of your organization, who did send you to this college to turn students to your religion, did your parents give you religious books to distribute here?’

 “Then he organized searching in the room where I lived, he checked my backpack, he searched for Christian literature and could not find anything. He was so angry, shouted at me. Next day the director of the college called for my teachers and ordered them to watch me, to watch if I speak to anybody, if I have strange books. Then my friends and roommates started to isolate from me, they said: ‘Sorry, but we do not want to have problems, as the director is very angry with you, we would stop communicating with you at least for some time’.

 I felt so alone. I had no phone, could not speak to my parents, all my friends turned away from me, some of teachers oppressed me, were cruel with me, asked questions like: ‘Why are you here, what is your goal – to turn people here into your religion, who sent you?  etc.”, they gave me too many tasks, much more than for other students so that I would fail in doing them, so that I felt tired. I still tried do my best to manage all the tasks, I did not argue. The pressure was so huge, I felt stressed.

“At the same time some of my teachers asked me about my faith and wanted to speak to me in secret, they shared their difficulties and asked, ‘how your God can help me?’.”

In the midst of this, the college director remained furious with Alim, eventually getting in touch with his parents. 

He told them, “Your son is a good student, but he is doing religious activity here, sharing the Gospel with students and even teachers. Your son is rejecting true faith of Islam. You prepared your son as a religious extremist to turn other people to Christianity. I will write the complaint about you to the city administration. You raised Alim as a strong leader, he understands what happen to people, he can convince anybody. If I would speak to him longer, I would believe too. He should be isolated from people! Take him away from here!”

 Alim’s mother Madina said: “We were so upset to hear all these bad words about our son, but at the same time we were encouraged too. Even this person who persecuted our son Alim, he testified that our 16 years old son became a strong leader convinced in what he believed. Alim always was so calm and silent, he liked to share the Gospel and brought many of his friends and even their parents to the church, but we never saw him as a strong leader, he is the youngest of our 4 children. We as a family experienced a lot of pressure for our Christian belief, but this was a first time for Alim when he was alone persecuted for his faith”.

These events were a little over a year ago. Since then, Alim has transferred to another college. In addition, the stress he experienced resulted in major migraines that have caused him to lose some of his hearing.

He told Open Doors about his current situation: “Here in this new college I try to be more careful when I share about my faith, but even after such a stressful period in my life when I was expelled for my faith and I suffered because I believe in Jesus, I can’t stop talking about Him to people. I see that they need Him…I know God is leading me.”

Pray

For Christians like Alim, persecution meant isolation, harassment, and being cut off from social circles and education opportunities. He needs to know that their brothers and sisters around the world are standing with him. Will you pray for Alim today?

-Pray that he will continue standing strong in his faith in his new school

-Pray that his headaches subside and his hearing is miraculously restored

-Praise God for the faith of his parents in raising their children to follow Jesus despite persecution. Pray for many other parents to be given courage to do the same.

*All names changed to protect identity

“God is Intimately Involved”: Recalling 25 Years of Smuggling Bibles

Daniel (not his real name) has been smuggling Bibles for 25 years. Here, he reflects on his struggles, joys, and lessons. 

Daniel can’t sleep.

Despite his wife telling him he should not worry, that he should leave worrying to God, it’s hard to stop the turning wheels in his mind. He thinks about new ways and methods of getting the Word of God into the hands of brothers and sisters. Such is life for Open Doors’ Bible smuggler Daniel*.

 “Do not romanticize the persecuted church.” Daniel is averse of receiving too much honor for his work. At the same time, there’s no reason to put persecuted Christians on a pedestal. He’s met with them, stayed in their houses, shared meals, held meetings, experienced wonderful adventures, argued with them, blessed them and helped them.

 He carefully weighs his words when talking about the people he works with, because he doesn’t want to complain, and he doesn’t want to talk bad about people. At the same time, he wants us to know that persecuted Christians are broken people living in a fallen world just like the rest of us. “In the area I work, sadly, the church is pretty divided. I’ve seen how brothers can fight with each other, and I’ve cried over it.”

Fear of failure

Daniel leans backwards. He is not the kind of person who easily talks about his work. There’s so much at stake; money, goods, people. It is his responsibility to protect the ministry. At least, that is how he perceives it. “But don’t feel sorry for me. I can see many good things too. People come to faith; God has shown his loyalty. The thing is, ever since I was a child, I’ve had a fear of failure. That fear still hunts me in my current work. I know Jesus commands me to cast my worries onto his shoulders, but that’s really difficult for me to do.”

 For over a decade, Daniel has been taking the Bible into a strict part of the Muslim world. “I never thought I would do this for a living. When I grew up, I wanted to study theology, but I was really bad at languages…Then, I came in contact with Open Doors and now look at me. I’m using all my experience and skills to bring the Bible to persecuted believers in creative ways. Who would have guessed?”

 He went to several countries, but God gave a particular country on his heart. He has served this country for over a decade now. “The first time I went there, I heard from local Christians that they hadn’t received any books in a long time. They told me they wanted to do something, perhaps even evangelize. Could I perhaps deliver some Bible portions? I promised to look into it. I designed a way to do it, but it took me a long time to convince my colleagues it was the right way to go.”

 The method worked splendidly. “Not thanks to me, thanks to the Lord. You don’t know how often I’ve pulled my hair because I suddenly realized I had made a mistake or how often I bravely packed my suitcase but sweat over my entire body when I stood in line at the border control. As soon as you see those guys in their uniforms, you’re not so tough anymore. But God came through every time. Yes, every single time.”

The butcher’s knife

There were close calls though. “Once, I brought a box full of books. I had done it before. The scanner at the airport wasn’t big enough and customs always just waved me through. This time I queued up and suddenly I realized they had a new scanner! It was much bigger; the box could easily fit. 

"God came through every time. Yes, every single time."

Bible Smuggler of 25 years

You know that feeling when you are in a car, and you need to break hard because the car in front of you suddenly stands still? That’s what I experienced. Adrenaline shot through my body and my fingers tingled.”

The customs officer required Daniel to place the box in the scanner. Over the shoulders of the uniformed man, he could clearly distinguish the contents of his luggage. The man pointed at the image on the screen. “What are those? Books?”

What should Daniel say? Should he lie? He had no options.

“Documentation”, was all he said. “Open it”, the customs officer demanded.

Daniel took his luggage of the rubber band and and the guard shouted he needed a knife. Other colleagues gathered around the box. There were close to a dozen of them. Finally, someone brought a large ‘butchers knife’ from the kitchen. The man began to cut the tape, while Daniel waited behind him. The blade shot out and almost hit Daniel, who – with lots of theatre – fell on his behind. All the men burst into laughter.

“Sorry, sorry!”, the officer with the knife said, while still laughing uncontrollably. “I wasn’t trying to kill you!”

Daniel pretended to be very upset, making the men laugh even louder. Someone pulled him up and then waved him through. He picked up the open box and left the giggling custom officers behind. He looked over his shoulder one last time. The screen still showed the image of his box with his precious books clearly visible. “How on earth did you do this, Lord?”

The beauty of faith

 Daniel has seen many miracles, but none are more beautiful than seeing Muslims embracing Jesus Christ. One of his local co-workers visited a restaurant once. He had a passion to evangelize in the country, but his ministry had not borne much fruit yet.

“When he was there, he witnessed how a young waitress was scolded by a customer for bringing cold soup. Her boss fired her on the spot, even though the cook was responsible. When the co-worker left the diner, the girl was still outside. She was very upset. He offered her a job in his company, spoke to her about his faith many times and she decided to follow Jesus.”

“I will take care of your family.”

Ultimately, after dealing with a fear of failure, the lesson Daniel has learned is to trust the Lord. 

He remembers one story: “I needed someone to distribute the Bibles in-country. God showed me the right person to ask. Let’s call him ‘Peter’. After I had asked him, I gave him time to pray and think. Later I returned to his house and asked him about his decision. He said ‘My wife and I have decided to take on the risk’.”

Daniel suddenly felt a lot lighter. 

“But”, Peter continued, “If I am arrested, will you take care of my family?”

Daniel felt a lump in his throat and could hardly speak. “Yes”, he said, finally. “We will take care of your family.”

And so as Peter became a key helper for Daniel’s work, it proved how God continues to use broken, imperfect servants for his Kingdom. Daniel is one of them. “My life is really complicated. Sometimes, I want to quit my ministry, sit under a fig tree somewhere and grow old in peace. I would stop if hadn’t known for sure this was God’s will for my life. He confirms it so often. My creative ideas to bring the Bible, people coming to faith, Him making up for my mistakes; God is intimately involved.”

Pray

Will you pray for Daniel and other Bible smugglers around the world? 

  • Praise God for Daniel and for the thousands of books and Bibles that he can smuggle.
  • Thank God that he has been protected on every smuggling trip. 
  • Keep praying for his protection and for protection over the contacts in his country.

Living as Secret Christians in Iran

“They were tearing us apart, one by one. Every time we heard the doorbell, we feared it was the police,” Fatehmeh remembers. “We still can’t forget the day when the police raided our house church, took some of us away, and forced the rest to sign a paper confessing we would never meet or engage in Christian activities again.”

Living as Christians in Iran means living in secret.

Fatemeh and her fellow believers constantly worry about getting arrested or being reported by neighbours who might hear them worshiping or notice their small gatherings. A Christian never knows if the person they approach will betray them and hand them over to the authorities. 

“In Iran, the government sees our faith as a threat,” Fatemeh reflects. “We live under constant surveillance and face different kinds of pressure. It’s a daily battle to keep our faith in such hostile conditions. But God is good!”

Discovering Christ’s light

Fatemeh first heard the message of the gospel when she was 20 years old. Her initial years as a Christian were loaded with challenges, with no resources or places to learn more about Christ nor the ability to gather for worship and prayer due to security reasons.

“We had become Christians, but we still didn’t know how to live like one,” Fatemeh recalls. “God was reviving people in Iran and bringing them closer to Himself, but at the same time, Satan was trying to attack the church, hurting new believers with false teachings.”

Within the house church she attended, Fatemeh faced difficulties, with incorrect teachings from the Bible making the group afraid to even read the Word of God. “Maybe this was a result of not having official churches to attend, and of course, Satan was trying to make us renounce our faith and lose sight of our Saviour,” she says.

Learning to be faithful Christians was difficult without churches and discipleship resources.

The Christian walk was difficult. It wasn’t until Fatemah connected with Fayiz*, an Open Doors partner, that she began to find stability.

After 10 years of trying to hold on to little ways of staying connected to Christians, Fatemeh finally had the chance to join a conference outside of Iran, hosting other Christians from her country. “It felt like a new beginning!” she says. “I truly started to build a relationship with Jesus and began to understand who He really is!”

Imprisonment

However, the joy of finally finding a new community didn’t last long.

During one of the meetings, the police raided their house church. They took the leaders away, and forced the rest to sign a paper confessing that they would never meet or engage in Christian activities again.

When their pastor and church leaders were eventually released from prison, they had to flee the country. Soon after, Fatemeh witnessed a Christian family member facing trouble with the government and being forced to sell everything quickly to flee.

“They were tearing us apart, one by one,” she says. “Every time we heard the doorbell, we feared it was the police.”

With the immense pressure on them, Fatemeh and her extended family avoided visiting each other to prevent accusations of running a house church. For more than three years, Fatemeh lived in fear and isolation. The fear of arrest and imprisonment, based on the experiences of their leaders and other members, was a constant terror.

“After witnessing the arrest, we couldn’t keep Christian materials or even a Bible in our house,” she says. “We had to throw them away and if anyone was courageous enough to risk keeping a small Bible, they had to hide it very well and read it in secret,” Fatemeh explains.

"[My husband] wasn’t sure whether he should continue helping others or stay hidden...he said that sometimes he couldn’t stop himself from thinking of suicide, but Jesus was the only truth and righteous one in the midst of all lies and betrayals that helped him endure.”

Fatemah
Iranian Christian

 “It has only been in the last couple of years that we began meeting regularly again and gathering some resources, secretly.”

The younger believers, teenagers and children, were also traumatized by these events. Fatemeh’s daughter, Shirin*, was deeply shaken, and Fatemah did her best to appear calm for her child.

Protests and more arrests

The 2021 protests in Iran calling for more freedom brought increased mistrust due to spies and hardline Muslims reporting people to the police. That year, Fatemeh’s husband was arrested because his sister was suspected of joining the protests. “I was afraid they might discover his Christian faith and use it against him,” Fatemeh says. 

Fatemeh’s husband was imprisoned for several weeks, accused of false charges. “When he came out, he was changed. He wasn’t sure whether he should continue helping others or stay hidden…he said that sometimes he couldn’t stop himself from thinking of suicide, but Jesus was the only truth and righteous one in the midst of all lies and betrayals that helped him endure.”

During her husband’s imprisonment, Fatemeh had to throw away all Christian materials again, remembering how hard she worked to gather each one of them. She cut off contact with other Christians for their safety. Her daughter began to live in fear that her father would one day never come home.

Unfortunately, this situation is not unique to Fatemeh’s daughter. “I hear similar stories from many parents in different house churches,” Fatemeh says. “Christian children who share these challenges feel lonely.”

The lack of places of worship limits the believers’ access to resources, skilled teachers and pastors. Shirin’s only place of joy now is the children’s online meeting. 

“Although online meetings have their own challenges from the bad internet connection and risk of surveillance, they are vital for us. We pray that God would make a new way for face-to-face meetings, especially for Shirin and other kids.”

Ongoing ministry

Despite the immense trials, Fatemeh remains passionate about serving others. Her small house church faces fear and lives under pressure, yet God uses these persecuted believers to show His love for the salvation of all. Fatemeh, who used to be a nurse in a children’s cancer ward, now visits hospitals to pray for the patients and their families, shares the gospel with them, and her church financially supports those who cannot afford the necessary treatment. “I don’t want to only speak about the love of Jesus,” she explains. “I want to love them the way Jesus loves me!”

Today, Fatemeh encourages young couples in her church to trust God more. “I share with them our experiences, how Jesus worked in our life in the midst of persecution and through the challenges, and He showed us how He works,” she notes. “We know that persecution might increase, but we are not alone! God and His people are with us.” 

Today, Fatemah is working to encourage other Christians in Iran.

Through the support of Open Doors partners, Fatemeh finds strength and hope to continue serving in her country. The conferences and trainings held outside of Iran, along with the online Bible studies and prayer meetings, all empower Fatemeh to stay faithful, to grow and to pursue her ministry.

These gatherings provide a lifeline, offering not only spiritual nourishment but also a sense of community and solidarity. “In every meeting or session, I feel the presence of God and the support of my brothers and sisters in Christ,” she says. “It renews my spirit and gives me the courage to face each day.”

Yet Fatemeh, the mother, wife and servant of Jesus, still struggles today. She is deeply concerned about her daughter’s mental and emotional well-being. “Shirin lives in constant stress and anxiety,” she says. “Every time I return from a ministry visit or a training, I find her in tears, she is always afraid that I might not come back home. She even has nightmares, mostly about the police.” Even in their house church, Shirin constantly reminds everyone to stay silent, fearing another raid.

As a parent, Fatemeh hates to see her daughter live with this fear, and she constantly prays that God would heal her and give her the wisdom to help her daughter. “I am not afraid to lose my life for Jesus, but I wonder what will happen to my daughter without us,” she says. “May God protect the parents and give them wisdom as they raise kids in this country.”

Your prayers and support make all the difference, fueling the faith and resilience of Fatemeh, her family and all those who face unimaginable hardships in Iran today.

 

 

*All names and images used are representative only

A Christian Woman in Yemen: Zahra’s Story

For Christian women like Zahra, life in Yemen is fraught with danger.

One gloomy weekday, Zahra* received the call: “Anis* was killed.”

Anis was Zahra’s brother in Christ and ministry partner. “I used to talk to young girls and women while he served the men,” Zahra says. “It was a fruitful time, and God was working through us!”

Then one day, extremists killed Anis.

“I was shocked. I couldn’t believe it,” Zahra remembers. “He was killed because he was a Christian. He told me to take care of his family if the extremists ever carried out their threats. But in that moment, I couldn’t help them. I needed to help myself first. I needed God more than ever.”

Zahra knew she could be targeted next – all because she is a Christian in Yemen.

Living in two worlds

It is daunting to live out your faith in a country like Yemen, especially as a woman. And yet, in a country where women are considered insignificant, God chose Zahra to be His messenger amidst the darkness, to bring light to the people around her—especially women.

Growing up, Zahra navigated a complex journey between two worlds: a conflict between her personal faith in Jesus and external conformity to her culture. In Yemen, Islam is intertwined with the culture. At home, she was nurtured by the teachings of the Bible, as her father was dedicated to sharing the teachings of Jesus with his children every day. These lessons built a firm foundation, which provided her with love and purpose.

But at school, she was forced to meet the external expectations placed upon her, such as participating in Islamic rituals and studying the Quran. This dual existence created an internal struggle for her. “I felt torn between the life I lived at school and the personal relationship I developed with Christ at home,” she recalls.

Additionally, Zahra was bullied, heightening the difficulty of her school years. “Children at school used to call me ‘kafira,’ meaning ‘infidel,’, knowing that I come from a non-Muslim family,” she remembers.

“During those times, I chose to remain silent instead of replying back, to prevent any additional humiliation and harassment.”

Yet Zahra believes these experiences have made her stronger by God’s grace: “My faith and trust in God’s sovereignty became firm and deep as He kept me safe throughout these foundational years.”

The early years

Because of the role of fathers in Yemen, Zahra’s father’s faith was the most dangerous for his family. During periods of heightened pressures, her father would leave his family until the danger had subsided, prioritizing the safety of his family. These times of separation often made Zahra afraid of losing her father for good. “I didn’t know if I would be able to see him again,” she says. “I was scared as my father is what kept our family secure. His absence weighed heavily on me.”

But again, God’s hand seemed to be at work in even these difficult absences. As a result of several similar incidents, Zahra grew in her faith in Jesus, trusted Him and in return, God gave her unimaginable peace, helping her understand that He’s in control and He will keep her and her family safe.

During her formative years, the available Christian resources were scarce. And Zahra didn’t have the option of going to church to grow in faith—there are no official churches in Yemen, only house churches that meet in secret. 

During her formative years, the available Christian resources were scarce. And Zahra didn’t have the option of going to church to grow in faith—there are no official churches in Yemen, only house churches that meet in secret.

"The Christian TV channel became a window to a world that shared and understood my beliefs; a world where I felt connected to a family from all around the globe."

-Zahra
Christian Woman in Yemen

“My father received different spiritual books, one copy every once in a while, back when there were missionaries inside the country,” she says. The books arrived with different pictures on the cover, hiding the reality of what was inside the pages.

“Those books were treasures to us. My father would teach us from the Word of God often, but in addition to the Bible lessons, my spiritual path was enriched by sermons and worship songs I watched on TV. The Christian TV channel became a window to a world that shared and understood my beliefs; a world where I felt connected to a family from all around the globe. My siblings and I waited impatiently, every day, to watch together. It was my main source, at that time, to learn about Jesus and see how others around the world worship Him.”

After graduating from high school, Zahra felt called by God—she wanted to tell others about Jesus! However, that wasn’t an easy task in a country and culture like Yemen.

Being a Christian Woman in Yemen means risking rejection from family, and harrassment - or worse - from neighbours.

The beginning of ministry in a hostile place

“I wanted to continue my education, so I enrolled in a university, which was away from home,” she says. Zahra had to take daily trips either by bus or taxi to attend classes and then come home—not a common practice among girls in her country.

In the taxi rides to attend her classes, Zahra would sit in the passenger’s seat, right next to the driver. She was afraid to sit in the back where others could sit next to her and assault her. The violence and instability caused by the ongoing civil war in Yemen has made sexual assault an increased danger for women

Every trip, back and forth, hundreds of negative thoughts crossed her mind. What if they take me somewhere else? What if they stab me? What if they beat me up?’ Neighbours and locals knew that I was a Christian.”

In spite of the obstacles, Zahra pressed on with her education, knowing that God was by her side.

“People used to look at me differently, but I praise God that He gave me courage and wisdom, and He led the way,” she says.

At university, Zahra wanted to tell her classmates about Jesus, but it wasn’t easy. In a country like Yemen, it is extremely difficult to think of anything outside of the realm of Islam. And for Yemeni women, the difficulty is even greater; leaving Islam requires great risk. “When you convert, especially as a woman, you are looked at as someone who has sold herself to this ‘other world,’” Zahra says. “It is extremely difficult to face society.”

In Yemeni society, women are objectified and are considered to have a less developed brain. For instance, if a single woman decides to explore any religion outside Islam, she might be physically abused simply for having such thoughts or considerations.

“If you make a decision to ‘follow Jesus,’ your family will most likely confine you inside the house, basically a permanent imprisonment,” Zahra explains. “This is mainly because of the family’s honor. The Yemeni family takes pride in its religion, so they prefer to take care of a rebel themselves rather than exposing them to the authorities, as this might ruin the reputation of the entire family or tribe. While if a young man decides to follow Jesus, it can be easier sometimes, since men can leave the house after a certain age and will be able to live alone, unlike a single girl. There is no such thing as a woman living alone. The culture does not accept it.”

Still, Zahra continues her ministry, sharing her faith with women around her. What began in her university courses has continued into daily life. “I am honestly comforted and encouraged when I see how the church in Yemen, though in secret, is growing!” she says. “Yes, it is difficult, especially when other Yemenis do not even confess that there are Christians inside Yemen. However, we dream with God and we know there are real Christians living for the Lord in our country.”

‘Despite the dangers, God is at work’

Today, Zahra serves as the leader of a women’s ministry in Yemen. She is pioneering this ministry and is one of only a handful of people reaching out to Yemeni women. Her experiences have given her the empathy and understanding to deeply touch the lives of the women she reaches. Zahra disciples several women, meeting them face-to-face and creating a safe space for them to deepen their faith.

Although this puts her at great risk, witnessing the spiritual growth of these women over time has not only been a source of great joy for Zahra but has also reinforced her belief in her calling.

“I believe God has put me in this place to impact the lives of these women,” she says. “To bring them hope, and to reflect the true light of Christ amidst the horrific situation we are all living in.”

Zahra knows she is followed by secret police. “We live among wolves, and we know that,” she explains. “We know that very well.”

However, this does not stop her ministry. “We are afraid of the extremists and the government itself, as at this point, they all work together against Christians,” she says. “This reality discourages us a lot of times, especially that we can’t go out with boldness to tell others about Jesus. Spies are also a worrisome source so we are very careful with whom we meet, and this is why we are always very careful in all our meetings and conversations.

“At the same time, we know that we are stewards of God’s commandments. I have chosen this way, and I know of the trials that come alongside this decision. Jesus took my pain, my suffering and my guilt; He carried His cross, and now it is my turn to carry the cross and continue the journey.”

Zahra’s ministry combines both courage and wisdom. “We hold two meetings per week; one includes a Bible study and worship; the other is a discipleship meeting,” she says. “I also focus on visits. I know that sometimes when I enter a house, I might not come back out. Additionally, I cannot carry the Bible with me. They can search me at any checkpoint on the way, so I try to memorize as much as I can before the visit.

Listening to God’s voice

Zahra’s thirst for a deeper relationship with Christ reflects a profound commitment to her spiritual journey and her role as a leader within her community. She recently decided to enroll in a two-year leadership coaching journey with one of Open Doors’ coaching schools. “It’s been only a few months since we began, and I’ve already learned a lot,” says Zahra. “My longing for studying and knowing more about Christ increases by the day.”

Through the coaching school, Zahra will focus on character development and its effect in leadership. Her engagement in Bible studies, sermons and devotions will help deepen her spiritual roots, providing nourishment for both her personal faith and her capacity to guide. This leadership coaching journey allows Zahra to create a ripple effect that empowers other women to grow in their faith, discover their potential and eventually become leaders themselves.

“I hope to lead by example,” Zahra says. “The skill set I’m building will definitely help me serve the Yemeni women better. I am determined to stay here despite the risks to my comfort and safety because I believe everyone deserves to hear about God’s love. I wish I could share the gospel with every woman in Yemen, but I cannot do this alone. I need more people to help me. Pray for me, that God will give me the strength and guide me to hear His voice, so I can serve Him. I respect the ones who reject Jesus, but my hope is that all women will have an honest chance to hear of Jesus and receive His grace.”

Open Doors partners help Christians in Yemen through prayer campaigns, food and medical aid, rental assistance for house churches and safe houses, discipleship and leadership training, social media ministry, trauma care, counseling and more.

*names changed for security reasons.

25 Prayers for Persecuted Christians in 2025

“See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:19).

As 2025 begins, persecuted Christians around the world may not perceive or feel the sense of hope and renewal the new year often brings to many of us.

Some, like Pastor Barnabas are waking up in the same displacement camp they fled to four years ago when extremists attacked their Nigerian village. Others, like 9-year-old Rumana in Bangladesh, must still go to school where they feel isolated and bullied by their classmates. And nothing has changed for the estimated 50,000 to 70,000 North Korean believers in the country’s inhumane prison camps. These believers may not even know that a new year has come. For millions of Christians – our family – the new year means very little.

But as God’s Church, we are called to pray and care for the displaced, the prisoner, the widow, the orphan, the sick and the poor—all those who risk and suffer for their decision to abide in Jesus and look to Him for their strength.

We can pray that in 2025, God will make a way in the wilderness, that our family will know in their hearts and possibly see with their eyes that He is doing a new thing in their lives.

To get you started, we’re sharing 25 prayers for persecuted Christians in 2025. 

1. It can be difficult to see where God is at work in North Korea. In this new year, pray that God will give North Korean Christians (inside and outside the country) eyes to see His light in the midst of the darkness. 

2. Pray for the 400,000 secret believers in North Korea. Ask God to give your brothers and sisters a chance to gather, read the Bible and worship with other Christians in 2025—and to do so safely.

3 Thank God for our safe house ministry in a neighboring country where North Koreans like Joo Min* can meet Jesus and be strengthened to take the gospel back to their homeland.

4 Somalia can be an incredibly dangerous place to follow Jesus. Ask God to walk with Somali Christians (both inside and outside the country) and give them hope, even when things seem hopeless.

5 Pray that God would watch over Somali Christians who face violent attacks from Islamic extremist group Al Shabab. Ask Him to be their “place of safety” (2 Sam. 22:3).

 6 Libya remains a country divided, with groups grappling for control. Pray this tension won’t boil into war in 2025 that would further endanger believers.

7 There are few churches in Libya, and converts from Islam are forced to follow Jesus in secret. Ask God to open doors in 2025 for believers to find life-giving community and grow in their walk with Christ.

8 The East African nation of Eritrea has one of the most notorious prison networks in the world. Pray for imprisoned believers in 2025 … that they would be released and not lose hope in these trials. 

9 2024 saw yet another mass arrest of Christians in Eritrea. Pray that in the coming year, these believers—and others like them—will be kept from all harm and ultimately, freed.

10 In Yemen, it seems there’s never an end to violence. Pray that in 2025 God would bring peace and justice to Yemen, and that the cries of His people would be heard.

11 Pray for Yemeni women’s ministry leader Zahra* who often talks to women who don’t yet know Christ. “This is the riskiest part of my ministry,” she says. “It’s why Yemeni women coming to Christ is really a miracle.”

 12 Pray for the millions of Nigerians who have been displaced by violence. Pray that God would guide them and give them tangible reminders of His closeness and truth that their hope is in Him.

13 Pray that in 2025, God would work in the hearts of Nigerian government leaders, especially President Bola Tinubu—that they would be convicted and challenged to work to protect Christian citizens and communities.

 14 Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws continue to be used to falsely accuse and target Christians. Ask God to change the hearts and minds of Pakistani decision-makers to overturn these laws. 

15 Ask God to protect and preserve Christian girls and women in Pakistan, Egypt, Nigeria and throughout the world who may be kidnapped and forced into marriage.

 16 In Sudan, Christians have been caught in the crossfire of civil war. Pray for peace in 2025.

17 Ask God to be close to all of our brothers and sisters displaced from their homes by violence. Pray that He would hear the cries of the suffering and that 2025 would be a time of return and refreshment.

18 Every year, pressure seems to increase for Chinese Christians. Pray that believers would experience growth in their faith in 2025, even as persecution rises.

 19 All believers in Afghanistan are secret Christians. Ask God to protect them. It’s impossible to live openly as a follower of Christ, so pray that the Lord will cover and preserve His people. 

20 Praise God for the 2024 election results in India. Ask Him to help the new coalition government protect the rights of all Indians, including Christians, this year.

21 As an increasing number of Indian states tighten anti-conversion laws, pray that house church leaders will not be attacked or imprisoned. Ask God to be their sword and shield (Ephesians 6).

22 Almost every Protestant church in Algeria has been forcibly closed, or fears they will be soon. Pray with church leaders that God will allow these places of worship to remain open and that shuttered churches will be reopened in 2025.

23 Ask God to guide Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, that he would pursue an openness to all minorities, including Christians. Pray for him by name today.

25 Pray that throughout the world, suffering believers would put their hope and trust in God this year, knowing that He is doing a new thing.

Thank you for praying for the persecuted Church in 2025. You can find more resources for prayer by clicking here.

Fatal Attacks in Sub-Saharan Africa During Christmas Week

The Week of Christmas 2024 brought with it multiple fatal attacks on Christians in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Eleven Christians were killed on Christmas Day while preparing for celebrations when armed Fulani militants attacked communities in Kwande Local Government Area, Benue state, Nigeria.

According to survivors, armed Fulani herdsman stormed several Christian communities when the individuals had returned from their Christmas church services. Many were preparing food and their homes for Christmas lunch when the attackers caught them off guard.  

“Unfortunately, yesterday (Wednesday), being Christmas Day, they went to church, and after returning home from the service, families were preparing meals, and some were gathering and relaxing at spots to celebrate Christmas when a combined team of armed herdsmen and Jukum militia started attacking from five different places,” one local told Vanguard news. 

“They were chasing people and shooting sporadically, and whoever they caught up with was killed. They did that till they got to Government Secondary School, Anwase.

 “They killed about 10 people at Anwase in Mbaikyor Council Ward of Turan. And they also killed one person at Iyaav Council Ward… They carried out the killings in communities at the foot of the mountain. It was indeed a sad Christmas for our people.”

Most Christians in these rural communities are subsistence farmers and completely dependant on their land for survival. 

The attack followed several violent incidents in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where at least 21 individuals were killed between December 21-25.

Rebels from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) carried out a series of attacks in the Lubero territory of the North Kivu province.

“From December 21 to 22, 18 civilians were killed in the village of Robinet. The rebels burned houses and took away property. By surprise, on December 25, less than four kilometers from Makele, we found three other lifeless bodies, killed by the attackers,” Samuel Kakule Kagheni, president of the local civil society, told Radio Okapi.

It is not clear if all 21 civilians that were killed are Christians, we do know that Christians are regularly the target of the ADF as they try to establish a caliphate state in central Africa. That, coupled with the timing of these attacks (Christmas week), indicates that at least some, if not all 21 victims were Christians. 

Pray

Please be in prayer for the persecuted church in Nigeria, DRC, and other parts of  Sub-Saharan Africa.

  • Pray for the Lord to be near to all those who lost family in this attack. May God’s comfort be their strength. 

  • Pray that God will confuse all who plot to destroy and kill Christian communities. Pray that they will come to accept Jesus as their Saviour. 

  • Pray that the church will be agents of peace and boldly proclaim the Good News amid so much fear and pain. 

  • Pray that local government will use it’s position and power to ensure all citizens are protected and safe during this time. 

How the Food Crisis in Cuba Affects Christian Communities

The worsening food crisis in Cuba is having a severe impact on Christian communities, which are facing extreme shortages and rampant inflation. Amid this hardship, faith and solidarity have become essential tools for survival.

Antonio*, a pastor with over 30 years of service, remarks, “The country has been in crisis for many years, but the past few years have been the worst in terms of food shortages”. According to The Economist, this is the most severe crisis Cuba has experienced since the fall of the Soviet Union, on which its economy once heavily depended.

For Antonio and many other Cubans, improvement seems impossible under the current government system. “Unlike other countries, here in Cuba, you can’t sell what you produce on your farm. Everything must be sold to the government at prices that don’t even cover production costs, and it’s the government that distributes or sells the products. If this doesn’t change, nothing will improve,” says Miguel*, a Cuban merchant and pastor.

Currently, the Cuban government provides food to at least 90% of the population, most of whom live in extreme poverty, according to the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights. However, a lack of funding for imported supplies has turned the once-available “family basket” of basic goods into more of a dream than a reality. “Though the basket was never enough, it did ensure that no one went to bed hungry. Now, it no longer exists,” Antonio explains.

A Nation of long queues and empty shelves

In recent months, Cubans have been forced to stand in long lines to obtain food. A report from Infobae highlights that only a single loaf of bread per person, small amounts of rice, and no oil or coffee are being distributed.

This crisis is exacerbated by skyrocketing prices at private stores, making essential goods unaffordable. For instance, a carton of 30 eggs now costs two minimum wages – around 4,500 pesos – while the minimum wage itself is only about 2,100 pesos (roughly $7 USD on the informal market), according to Martí Noticias.

The scarcity is so extreme that, according to the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights, seven out of ten Cubans have skipped meals due to a lack of money or food. This crisis affects both Christians and non-Christians alike.

A Worsening Crisis

While food shortages are not new to Cuba, they have intensified since the pandemic began in 2020. Vicente Albornoz, dean of economics at the University of the Americas, observes that “government policies have lacked the capacity and flexibility to help the economy recover,” adding that “in the past five years, Cubans have grown poorer” according to a report by DW media.

Statistics from Cuba’s National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) reveal a 66.7% drop in the food industry between 2018 and 2023, while agricultural production decreased by 7% between 2016 and 2022. These declines have reduced domestic food production and increased external debt, further limiting imports.

Beyond food shortages, a lack of gasoline, medicines, and basic supplies also plagues the population. A report from CiberCuba highlights shortage of syringes for medical treatments. “We’ve seen many sick people, church members, or their families sent home without treatment,” laments Antonio.

The Cuban government largely blames the crisis on U.S. sanctions imposed since the 1990s. However, the main issue lies in the government’s lack of foreign currency, exacerbated by the pandemic.

For example, tourism – one of the country’s main sources of income -, has dropped nearly 50% when comparing 2018-2019 figures with those from 2023. Additionally, sugar production – a major export – plummeted to just 350,000 tons in 2022, a historic low compared to the 1.3 million tons produced in 2019.

"Government restrictions prevent pastors from attending international congresses where they used to raise funds to support vulnerable Cubans. The government fears pastors will 'defame' them or collaborate with foreign organizations to topple the regime,"

Miguel, Cuban Pastor

The Role of the Church in the Crisis

Pastor Antonio emphasizes that the church plays a vital role in not only spreading the word of Jesus but also in providing hope and sustenance to those in need. However, the ongoing crisis severely limits the church’s ability to help.

Both church leaders and members are struggling financially, hindering their capacity to donate resources. This shortage directly affects the church’s ability to care for the most vulnerable, including children and the elderly.

Pastor Miguel also notes increasing government persecution of church leaders, particularly those with international ties. “Government restrictions prevent pastors from attending international congresses where they used to raise funds to support vulnerable Cubans. The government fears pastors will ‘defame’ them or collaborate with foreign organizations to topple the regime,” he explains.

The persecution of Christians in Cuba is marked by heightened surveillance and pressure on religious leaders. According to Miguel, government control over the population has intensified the July 11, 2021 protests, resulting in increased persecution of pastors and other religious leaders, particularly those who do not align with the regime.

Despite these challenges, Christian communities continue to come together to support one another. Since 2021, Open Doors has provided food to approximately 500 families. “Although the number of beneficiaries remains small compared to the total number of Christians affected in the country, it represents progress,” explains Josué Váldez*, a member of the Open Doors team in Cuba.

Open Doors has also, since last year, funded and supported the creation of at least seven productive projects initiated by churches to assist their communities. These initiatives, which include cocoa farming and pig sales, have directly helped more than 30 beneficiaries.

How you can pray

  • The pastors ask for prayers that God will continue to provide support for local churches so they can be salt and light to their communities. They also pray for a change in the country’s policies to bring relief to the Cuban people.

  • “We ask for prayers that this system will change, that the Lord will touch hearts, and that people will be able to live with dignity,” concludes Antonio, emphasizing that faith and solidarity will be essential for overcoming this crisis.

*names changed for security reasons

Q&A with Syrian Christian

‘Everything changed’: Q&A with a Syrian Christian in Damascus.

As the world continues to grapple with what the new leadership in Syria means for people inside the country, it’s easy to miss what’s happening to minority groups such as Christians. Much of the coverage of the rapid ousting of the Assad regime has focused on the joy at the overthrow of a tyrant—and the uncertainty that lies under the authority of Syria’s new rulers.

To find out what is taking place on the ground, an expert on Syria’s context who lives in a neighboring country—and who is affiliated with Open Doors—was recently able to speak with Hoda (pseudonym), a Christian in Damascus. Hoda, who has remained in Damascus since the beginning of the crisis, describes those early days with disbelief and confusion. “Even now, the conflicting information blurs our minds,” she says.

The following is an edited translation of their conversation, with some additions to help clarify and contextualize Hoda’s comments:

Q: Can you take us back to when the events began? How did you process what was happening?
“At the beginning, I couldn’t fully grasp what was happening. It felt surreal—a kind of denial. I was hearing about the church arranging buses to help Christians leave Aleppo, but at the same time, [there was conflicting] news. Some reports said rebels had taken Hama, while government TV assured us everything was under control. It was chaos. I had to call friends in other cities just to make sense of it all, but even then, the confusion remained.”

Q: Was this escalation expected?
“Not at all. Over the past four years, despite the economic crisis, we had a sense of relative peace. But this? It was sudden—just two days, and everything changed after more than a decade of fighting.”

Q: How do you feel about the current situation now?
“I feel terror and insecurity. I fear the unknown. Three days have passed, but to me, it still feels like the first day.”

While Hoda has heard reassurances that Christians would not be harmed, her heart worries otherwise. Her fear is leading her to consider supporting previously unimaginable options, like a division of the country, if only to “cut losses.”

She also points out the underlying political tensions: “For the rebels, their heart is not to protect Christians. This is all very political and could be a facade, and I don’t feel at peace with this.”

Q: How has your faith sustained you during these challenges, and what role has the Church played?
“I’ll admit, I was glued to following the news more than anything else at first. But we had Christian friends who reached out to pray and read psalms with us. That gave us some comfort.”

Hoda also mentions that the Syrian church was ready to receive displaced Christians, but she feels its role in providing broader support has been cautious.

Q: What are the greatest needs for the Christian community right now?
“We need security. We need reassurance. We need to know that we can still worship the Lord freely—go to church, attend Sunday school with no possible threat.”

Hoda also emphasizes the scarcity of basic resources like water and the high cost of living, which came on top of already dire situation. “The essentials are slipping further out of reach,” she says.

Q: How do you explain the fear Christians feel today?
“Personally, I’ve never felt threatened in my own Christian region. But I know this isn’t true for other parts of Syria, especially in Muslim-majority areas where Christians don’t enjoy the same safety. Some even fear walking in public.”

Hoda speaks cautiously but acknowledges the – arguably premature – cultural shift she’s observing. “Even greetings on the street feel different now. It’s as if the true face of this change is hiding behind a mask. During the years of war, it was there—but now it’s being concealed.”

It’s also been reported that in certain parts of Syria, some Christians are scared in their houses and refuse to go out, while non-Christians are out in the streets, living a normal life.

Q: In the midst of all this, what gives you hope?
“Hope feels weak … I pray that this talk of openness and tolerance is real. But if I’m honest, I wish I could leave Syria. I don’t want to live in a country on the [brink of disaster].”

For Hoda, hope is hard to hold onto. She describes Syria as a “political battleground,” with no reassurance from my stakeholder about the future. However, she continues to pray and lean on her faith, even as she dreams of finding peace elsewhere.

Q: What message would you like to share with the global Christian community? How can they stand in solidarity with you?
“We need your prayers and support. We need to feel that we’re not forgotten.”

Hoda stresses the importance of security, the ability to worship freely, and the provision of basic needs like water and affordable living. “We also need clarity—what will the position of the rebels be toward Christian organizations, churches and  other entities like Christian schools? It’s still so uncertain.”

Please continue to pray with your brothers and sisters in Syria. Ask God to bring peace and that the new leadership of Syria would hold to their promises to protect all people, regardless of faith.

So Who Runs Syria Now? And What Does It Mean for Christians?

A look at the history of the group that have taken Damascus, what it means for Christians in Syria, and how we can pray.

The world was stunned this past weekend as Syria changed, seemingly overnight.

Rebels took over the capital, Damascus, and the strongman leader of Syria, Bashar al-Assad, fled for Russia. He’d led the country for more than 20 years, taking over for his father, who’d led for nearly 30 years. Now, for the first time in almost 50 years, Syria won’t be ruled by an Assad.

On November 29, Syrian fighters of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an opposition group supported by Türkiye, reached the center of Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city. A day later, HTS forces headed towards the city of Hama, and by December 5, they took control of Hama. Eventually, they also captured Homs and made their way to Damascus. By December 7, Assad had fled and the rebel groups had declared victory, raising the new Syrian flag over Damascus.

The rebel takeover was swift—though the ground had been laid through nearly a decade of civil war.

But who are these rebel groups? And what does the new political reality mean for Christians in Syria?

Who are the new leaders of Syria?

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (roughly translated, the group’s name means “Organization for the Liberation of the Levant”) started in 2011 under another name: Jabhat al-Nusra, which was allied to Al Qaeda. The BBC says the group was “one of the most effective and deadly of the groups ranged against President Assad” during the beginning of the Syrian Civil War.

In 2016, the group cut ties with al Qaeda, and eventually renamed itself in 2017 when it merged with other rebel groups. After opposition groups were driven out of Aleppo in 2016, HTS mainly controlled the area west of Aleppo around the city of Idlib. They are supported by Türkiye. They are still regarded a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom.

HTS has an Islamic agenda; they have long wanted to oust Assad and Hezbollah—the Islamist Lebanese group supported by Iran—and install Islamic rule in Syria. Under HTS-control in Idlib, Christian clergy was and is not allowed to walk outside in any clothing that makes them recognizable as priests or pastors. Crosses were removed from church buildings.

But, there are no current reports of HTS-fighters threatening Christians or other groups. And public declarations from the group suggest they are trying to rebrand themselves as tolerant of minorities and human rights. The leader of HTS, Ahmed al-Sharaa (who previously went under an assumed name, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani), even told CNN that HTS has “gone out of its way to publicly tell Christians and other religious and ethnic minorities that they will live safely under its rule.”

“No one has the right to erase another group,” al-Sharaa told CNN. “These sects have coexisted in this region for hundreds of years, and no one has the right to eliminate them.”

The latest publicly available set of rules from HTS’s leadership in Damascus also suggests there is some hope for a more moderate Islamist rule. These rules include a ban on revenge between Syrians, a guarantee of freedom for media outlets and a ban on restrictions for women’s clothing, which includes Islamic dress.

“The leadership transition in Syria under HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has provoked mixed responses,” explains Henriette Kats, an Open Doors research analyst on the Middle East. “While he promises safety and peaceful coexistence for all minorities, including Christians, doubts persist due to HTS’s jihadist origins and track record of human rights abuses.”

And so: uncertainty remains.

What does this mean for Christians?

Christians, like other Syrians, feel unsecure as they don’t know what to expect. In general, they are afraid that the change of control might have a negative impact on the freedom they had as Christians. But the main feeling for believers in Syria is uncertainty—there’s simply no way to know what the future holds. Assad was widely seen as a tyrant, which explains the jubilation many Syrians have expressed to international media since his downfall.

But the replacement of a tyrant can be tricky and lead to a power vacuum. This is what happened in Iraq in 2007, when Saddam Hussein was deposed and a power vacuum led to the rise of ISIS.

This is what Christians pray will not happen. There is room for cautious optimism, particularly since HTS is saying many of the right things. But right now, the future is simply unknown.

“For Christians and other minorities, the future remains precarious, as past hardships in Idlib and concerns that these assurances may be a tactic to gain initial public support raise questions about long-term stability,” explains Kats.

How can we pray?

Syrian Christians have asked us to pray alongside them.

Pray for the people in Syria; and especially for our brothers and sisters – that they will find refuge in God and will trust Him in this situation.

Pray that there will be no restrictions on Christians and other minorities in how they practice their faith.

Pray that there won’t be bloodshed in Syria.

Pray that the Lord will give wisdom to each church leader and each individual Christian about what to do and how to respond wisely to the new situation.

Pray the promises of the new leaders of Syria will be true, and that this change in government will ultimately lead to greater stability and reconciliation for all Syrians.

Young, faithful, and persecuted: Moryam’s Story

Young, persecuted and hopeful: Moryom in Bangladesh

There is a song Moryom loves to sing in Sunday School. The lyrics mean a great deal to her:

Stay beside me, dear Jesus.
I cannot live without You.

This simple song includes truth for every Christian, of course. But for Moryom, a 9-year-old girl in Bangladesh, it’s a reminder of the hope that lies beyond the pain of her Christian walk. She’s been beaten, mocked, rejected and harassed—all because she and her family walk with Jesus. “Villagers don’t like us because we are Christians,” she explains.

It’s a heartbreaking reality for someone so young.

And yet, Moryom isn’t someone who seems downcast. It’s clear that God is at work in her and in her family.

Her story is hard, but the fingerprints of the Holy Spirit are all over it.

Abuse and harassment

Moryom lives with her parents and older brother in a small village in northwestern Bangladesh. “We have a lot of trees, rivers, animals, and birds in our village. I really like my village,” Moryom says.

Her family has a small plot of land surrounded by a rice paddy on one side and a stream on the other. If not for the canopy of mango and jackfruit trees, their house and the adjacent church building—both built out of thin metal sheets—would almost be unlivable in the scorching heat. For as long as she can remember, this has been her home.

Her parents are both active in their faith. Her mother teaches Sunday school and leads an adult literacy class. Her father is the pastor of the church on their property, serving as an evangelist in their Muslim-majority village and region. Both are converts from Islam, which often means brutal persecution in this part of Bangladesh.

Despite being a young girl, Moryom is harassed and persecuted for her faith. 

Moryom has already seen this reality. From a young age, she has experienced so much rejection and harassment because of her parents’ decision to serve God. Still, she refuses to let the hostility discourage her from following Jesus and sharing about Him with others. 

She wants to become a teacher like her mother, so Moryom loves to study. “I want to be a teacher, and my parents also [would] like me to be a teacher,” Moryom says. “When I become a teacher, I will tell all the children about Jesus. This is my dream.”

Despite this desire and her love for learning, school is not a safe place for Moryom. Each morning as she leaves for school, she never knows if she’ll be insulted or mistreated and whether the adversity will come from other children or adults.

“I walk 2 kilometers to school because no one wants to take me in their rickshaw,” she explains. “If I want to ride in a rickshaw, people won’t let me; they mock me, saying ‘Christian,’ and tell [other people] they shouldn’t take me. I feel really sad when they kick me out of rickshaws, so, I pray to Jesus and continue walking alone.”

Some days, Moryom tries to find a friend to walk with her, but no one in her village wants to be seen with a Christian. “On the way to school, I sometimes go to friends’ houses so I can go [to school] with them,” Moryom says. “They say, ‘You are a Christian. If you come back to Islam, then we will go with you.’”

Loneliness—and forgiveness

At school, Moryom often spends her day alone. “Most of the people in my school don’t treat me well,” she says.

“Sometimes they beat me with sticks and call me ‘Christian’ as an insult. Even if I want to, I can’t sit with my classmates. They won’t let me sit with them. They don’t allow me to play with them. They say, ‘You’re a Christian! We will play with you only if you come back to Islam. Then we will sit with you and treat you well.’”

Her teachers are the only people who can help her, but they too turn a blind eye when children bully her. “One day, I was playing with one of my Muslim friends on the rooftop of my school,” Moryom remembers. “Suddenly, she pushed me off the roof [of this one-story building].

“I don't respond to them, but I pray for them, and I tell everything to Jesus...also, I pray for them a lot. Regardless of everything, I forgive them.”

Moryom

I had scratches all over my body, and I was hurt! When I complained to my teachers, they didn’t take any action. Only one teacher listened to me. I didn’t want to go to school anymore because my teachers weren’t listening to my problems. I got very angry but still asked Jesus to forgive them.”

You might expect Moryom to hate her classmates and teachers. But God is working through her young faith, and His power is at work within her. “I don’t respond to them, but I pray for them, and I tell everything to Jesus,” she says. “Also, I pray for them a lot. Regardless of everything, I forgive them.”

Even as Moryom has been so oppressed, what she has learned about Jesus through her Sunday school keeps her grounded in her faith. She is not immune to the hurt, but she understands, in her own way, that this is the cost of being a follower of Jesus. Because of her faith, Moryom chooses to forgive others.

“Because we are Christian—we accepted Jesus into our lives, that’s why they treat us like this,” Moryom says. “Because Jesus died on the cross for my sins, I forgive my friends for their wrongdoings. Those who mistreat me, insult me, hate me, or don’t love me, I forgive them all. I feel really sad. Sometimes I cry, but because I’m a Christian, I forgive them.”

‘It’s a lot of fun to celebrate Jesus’ birth’

Persecution has become part of Moryom’s life, but she is also proud of her parents’ ministry. “My mother is a Sunday school teacher, and my father is an evangelist,” she says. “I really like that!”

At Christmas, Moryom looks forward to celebrating Jesus’ birth with other Christians.

The one safe place Moryom and her family have is their church. Here, Moryom isn’t alone, she isn’t harassed, and she can worship Jesus openly. Sunday school is where she, like many other children of believers, feels accepted and cared for.

“My mother conducts Sunday school for 13 to 14 kids,” Moryom says. “I really like Sunday school. There, we sing songs, dance and pray together. We also read from the Children’s Bible.”

The Children’s Bible that Moryom and her friends read and learn from is provided by Open Doors partners. Moryom loves reading Scripture! The colorful pictures and easy-to-read language make it all the more interesting to learn about God. She has even memorized entire passages from Psalms and many more Bible verses.

Open Doors partners also support an annual Christmas gathering for Bangladeshi Christians and their children. Moryom can only look from a distance while most of the children in her community celebrate Eid and other Muslim festivals, so Christmas is her favourite time of the year. Because that is when she gets to celebrate a Christian festival. It’s when Christians who live quite far from each other come together for fellowship.

“On Christmas day, all our church members gather for the church service,” Moryom says. “We have lots of fun. We sing, dance, pray and read scriptures. We also wear new dresses. There are lots of people on Christmas day. I like it when we all come together. We celebrate Christmas because that’s Jesus’ birthday. It’s a lot of fun to celebrate Jesus’ birth by cutting a cake and eating it.”

This kind of community is deeply meaningful for Moryom and other kids like her. It’s a respite from the daily pressure she faces. And it’s a time she can feel the love of Jesus and other Christians. Plus, Sunday school is also where she can sing her favourite song—and be reminded of the hope of Jesus, no matter what: 

Stay beside me, dear Jesus.
I cannot live without You. Hallelujah!
With Your life, You saved us.
You bought me with the cost of Your blood.
With Your life, You saved us.
You bought me with the cost of Your blood.
Stay beside me, dear Jesus.
I cannot live without You.
You took all our sins on Your shoulders.
You sacrificed Your life on the cross for our redemption.
You took all our sins on Your shoulders.
You sacrificed your life on the cross for our redemption.
Stay beside me, dear Jesus.
I cannot live without you.
Hallelujah!

Urgent: 10 Ways to Pray for Syria

Image: Syrian people living in Istanbul gather in Sarachane Park, Fatih district to celebrate with Syrian opposition’s ‘revolution flag’ in their hands as sixty-one years of Baath Party rule in Syria collapses on Sunday when the capital Damascus fell out of the hands of regime control.

December 9, 2024: After this weekend’s stunning developments, here are ten ways you can pray for Syria. 

In the past 48 hours, Syria has faced an unprecedented escalation in its ongoing crisis. This morning, reports emerged that President Bashar al-Assad—who has ruled Syria for more than 20 years—has fled the country amidst escalating violence and political turmoil. Russian state media now reports that Assad is in Moscow.

The fall of the Assad regime has sent shockwaves across the region, intensifying fears of a complete power vacuum and a potential surge in factional violence. Some Syrians are overjoyed at Assad’s downfall. Others are more cautious.

Key infrastructure, including power stations and communication networks, has been targeted in coordinated attacks, further plunging parts of the country into chaos. Civilians are being displaced at an alarming rate, while minority communities, including Christians, are bracing for an uncertain future.

The situation is volatile. But Christian leaders remain committed to serving their communities, even as they face unprecedented challenges and uncertainty as they navigate the new reality.

“Like all Syrians, the Christian community is stunned by this rapid change in Syria’s political reality,” says Chris Summers, global head of content at Open Doors. “In this kind of situation, uncertainty is always present—no one knows how the new leadership in Syria will treat minorities, including Christians. Believers there have endured so much, and many likely remember the worst treatment under some groups at the height of the civil war.”

Open Doors calls on the global community to uphold the people of Syria—especially the Christian minority—in prayer, and to advocate for peace and stability in the region. “Syrian Christians are asking us to pray for peace, for wisdom, and for the new leadership of the country to be committed to reconciliation for all Syrians,” Summers says.

"In this kind of situation, uncertainty is always present—no one knows how the new leadership in Syria will treat minorities, including Christians."

Chris Summers
Global Head of Content, Open Doors

“Christians are also asking us to pray that they will be lights of hope and peace in the midst of a chaotic time in Syria’s history.”

Here are 10 ways you can pray:

  • Pray for unity among leaders, that they keep the Syrian people’s interest as a first priority.
  • Urgently pray for peace in Syria, that the cycle of violence would cease, that there would be no spirit of vengeance against anyone, and that God’s justice and mercy would prevail in this land that has been troubled for more than a decade.
  • Pray for the leaders of all factions to be moved towards reconciliation and for the protection of innocent civilians.
  • Lift up Christian communities in prayer, asking for strength and courage.
  • Pray for the church to remain a beacon of hope and love, even as it faces immense challenges.
  • Pray for church leaders, that they (re)commit to their calling to serve the church and their society at large.
  • Ask God to grant wisdom to church leaders as they guide their communities.
  • Pray for safety and resilience for families forced to make impossible choices about whether to stay or to leave.
  • Pray for the other minorities (Alawites and others), that they will be protected to avoid more bloodshed.
  • Finally, pray for healing for Syria as a nation, that broken relationships would be restored and that the hope of Christ would shine, bringing comfort to the weary and a future to those who feel forgotten. May the global Church stand in unity, interceding for our brothers and sisters in Syria and for all those longing for peace and justice.

Follow @opendoorscanada on social media for the latest persecuted church news.

Bangladesh: Christian persecuted for hosting fellowship

Silpi (pictured, pseudonym used), is a persecuted Christian woman from Bangladesh. Her house was attacked after she hosted a fellowship group. 

Silpi, 30, is a secret Christian convert. Being open about her faith is difficult in the region of Bangladesh where they live, but over the years she has been able to have many quiet conversations about faith, and has seen a number of locals join her in following Jesus. 

In September, Silpi hosted a fellowship in her home.  Around thirty people gathered to learn the Word of God from two pastors. As the gathering was wrapping up, a group of Muslims arrived at the house. 

“They just came in and started destroying everything,” said Silpi. The mob attacked her and beat her in several places, while others vandalized her home. Everyone gathered for the meeting ran for their lives. Some tried to intervene to help Silpi, but were shoved to the side.

After much struggle, Silpi managed to escape her perpetrators, fleeing with nothing but the clothes on her back, leaving her home and her two children behind.

Silpi – tired, in pain, and afraid of what might happen to her children – hid in her relative’s house. But they too were afraid to keep her there for long. “They’re going to come here. They’re going to find you and if you stay here, our home would be gone too,” said her relative.  

So she had no choice but to leave. Currently, she remains homeless and has no idea where her children are.

Open Doors local partners were able to support Silpi with some emergency items when the incident happened but since then, they have not been able to reach her. “She might’ve moved to another place. We have tried several times to reach her but failed every time,” said a local partner. “We are ready to support when we find her, but there’s nothing we can do right now.” 

This is the unfortunate reality for persecuted believers. Especially believers who are so heavily persecuted for their faith. “We will still uphold them in prayer and hope for the day we get to help them again,” said another local partner.

The trauma that Silpi endured is life-changing – will you pray for her today? 

Pray

  1. Pray for her and her children. Pray for God to protect them wherever they are now. She needs much healing – physical, spiritual, and emotional. Pray for God to comfort her and release all her pain and anxiety.   

  2. Pray for the villagers and the perpetrators who stirred up trouble for this family.  Pray that God will reach them and let them understand the rights of other religious people and respect their faith.

  3. Pray that Silpi will find a home, and that her relatives – even those who disagree with her faith – will support and love her in her time of need.

YOUR YEAR-END GIFT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.

Persecution is growing, and so are the needs of persecuted believers. More Christians need Bibles, discipleship, trauma counselling, and relief aid as they face violence, displacement, and loss. 

The Canada Post strikes slowed the arrival of gifts during this critical time of year. Will you help?

Your support will empower persecuted believers through Bibles, training, relief aid, trauma counselling, and more. 

Give a Year-end gift

Your year-end gift is more important than ever.

Persecution is growing, and so are the needs of persecuted believers. More Christians need Bibles, discipleship, trauma counselling, and relief aid as they face violence, displacement, and loss. 

The Canada Post strikes slowed the arrival of gifts during this critical time of year. Will you help?

Your support will empower persecuted believers through Bibles, training, relief aid, trauma counselling, and more. 

Give a year-end gift