No Woman is Worthless
Anger blazed in Sara’s* father’s eyes as he roared at her.
“All this time you asked about Christianity, I thought it would pass. But apparently I did not raise you right!”
He snatched Sara’s phone and locked her in her bedroom. Sara remained there, trapped, for 10 whole days. Later, she discovered her father had erased her name from the family records.
It was a brutal rejection – all because this young Iraqi woman had turned her back on Islam and chosen Jesus instead.
Sara was made to feel worthless. She is not the only one.
Under attack
Across the Middle East, Christian women are the target for intense persecution. According to Open Doors’ latest report on Gender-Specific Religious Persecution, it is women’s value which is under attack.
Believers are shamed by sexual violence, devalued by forced marriage, and stripped of their identity by the loss of family, work, and independence. Often, their suffering is hidden behind closed doors.
"In the Bible, women have so much value. We are seen!"
Simin’s story
Simin*, from Iran, was a young nurse when she opened a Bible for the first time – and God touched her heart.
“In the Bible, women have so much value. We are seen!” she exclaimed. “I started walking with Jesus, and it changed me.”
But faith cost Simin dearly. Her family mocked her. Her father said she had lost her mind. One day, Simin’s home was raided by police – and her sense of worth was stripped away.
“My husband and I were in prison for 18 days. Just a few hours after we were found guilty, the hospital called to say I was fired,” said Simin. “We realized the only way to survive and keep serving Jesus was to flee Iran. It was terrifying, but we had to sacrifice.”
Your gift today helps a persecuted woman know her value, and that she is seen.
God-given potential
No woman should be made to feel worthless. Women like Sara and Simin need to know their value in Christ. You can help them fulfil their God-given potential.
Your gifts and prayers this Easter can provide persecuted women with desperately needed leadership and discipleship training, trauma care and pastoral support.
For Sara and Simin, who lost so much to persecution, the care of their global church family means everything. Sara said, “God brought me down to my lowest, only to lift me up again.”
Two stories. Two women made to feel worthless by persecution. But one powerful church family, which can lift up persecuted women, so they know their value in Christ. .
Will you help persecuted women know their value in Christ?
Please Pray
For Simin, that she will have the strength to support other women and for Sara, that she would deeply know her value as a child of God.
Please Give
You can help a woman fulfil her God-given potential through leadership and discipleship training, trauma care and pastoral support. Click here to give a gift today.
*Names have been changed to protect their identities. The image used is illustrative.
