In more than 60 countries Open Doors:
Delivers Bibles and Christian literature
Open Doors delivers a wide range of biblical materials, in various languages, to persecuted Christians – this includes Study Bibles, children’s Bibles, digital Bibles, and discipleship literature.
Disciples and trains persecuted Christians and leaders
Open Doors trains persecuted Christians and leaders in effective church leadership and how to disciple others; helping believers grow in their faith and teaching them how to stand strong amid persecution.
Sustains lives, supports livelihoods
Open Doors supports victims of persecution, violence and natural disasters in practical ways. We assist Christian families, widows, and orphans with, for example, literacy training, livelihood, and business opportunities.
Visits persecuted believers to encourage them
Open Doors brings personal encouragement, or presence ministry, to many persecuted believers in various ways, including writing letters and cards of encouragement, as well as sending Open Doors travellers or staff to meet and pray with persecuted believers in their regions.
Speaks out in advocacy
Open Doors helps persecuted believers by advocating on their behalf, providing legal support, seeking positive policy changes, and campaigning in Southern Africa.
We do the above ministry work in the following regions:
THE MIDDLE EAST
The Middle East is the birthplace of the Christian Church. Yet, in some areas today, the Church has almost been eliminated under Islamic pressure. The decline of the Church and the Islamic revival that is spreading in Middle Eastern countries are of great concern to Open Doors. Our vision is to strengthen the Church in the Middle East to remain and grow, and equip Christians to be the salt and the light in their part of the world and to refrain from leaving the area without a Christian witness.
AFRICA
The advancement of Islam and traditional religions in sub-Saharan Africa place Christians in very difficult circumstances. The Church needs to be equipped to face these challenges or else the battle for the hearts and minds of Africans will be lost. Open Doors aims to train Africa’s future Christian leaders and to provide them with the tools they need to bring the continent to Christ.
CENTRAL ASIA
The Church in this area is facing severe restrictions. Christians have very little freedom and, in some cases, it is illegal for them to even meet together. Christians face expulsion, discrimination, imprisonment, and martyrdom for their allegiance to Christ. There is an immense need for indigenous church leadership as well as discipleship within native settings. There is also a great lack of Scriptures and spiritual literature in the indigenous languages.
CHINA
China has a Christian population of at least 80 million today. Although persecution has changed a lot, the Church among China’s minority groups – especially the Muslim Uyghurs and the Buddhist Tibetans – faces very intense persecution indeed. The government persecute them because they are perceived as part of a troublesome minority. The local community leaders, Buddhist priests and Muslim Mullahs, persecute them because they distance themselves from certain community practices because of their Christian faith. Up until the mid-1990s, the dominant need of the Chinese Church was for the Bible. Today, the Bible need has been “significantly met,” with local churches able to finance, print, and distribute Bibles themselves. The pressing need is to ensure that Christians are discipled, so that the Chinese Church may continue to mature.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Christians in Southeast Asia face much hostility from Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu extremists. Increasingly these groups want to limit, as much as possible, Christian worship and witness through legislation, intimidation, and discrimination. It is becoming very challenging to be a disciple of Christ in this region. Christians face discrimination, restrictions, the closure of churches, torture, imprisonment and martyrdom for their faith.
LATIN AMERICA
Christians in Latin America face revolutionaries, drug lords, and religious extremists in conflicts. Christians are often caught in the crossfire between warring factions. Failure to side with either of the groups often result in imprisonment on false charges or death. In Mexico, Christians may be persecuted for not participating in traditional rituals prescribed by chieftains. They are also often falsely accused of crimes due to their refusal to deny Christ.