Last year, Open Doors workers, partners and volunteers were able to provide Covid-19 relief to 283 000 persecuted Christians in Asia. That means that in Asia alone, nearly 300 000 brothers and sisters could survive until Christmas.

“It’s been a dark year for many around the world. A year marked by uncertainty and loss… Our teams and partners have said they lost many contacts to Covid, yet they continued to take risks and supply food and emergency kits to thousands of Christians in their areas,” said our Communications Director for Open Doors Asia about 2020.

A large majority of these Christians wouldn’t have received anything if Open Doors had not been able to help them. And none of this would have been possible without you, whose prayers and support assisted so many of our persecuted brothers and sisters in their time of need.

This is how your prayers and support impacted our persecuted family in Asia…

“When the pandemic came, we had only 35 Indian rupees (approx. R7) left. Everybody was home, because nobody came to work. Then the pastor (an Open Doors partners) came and asked us how we were. We replied, ‘Okay’, but then we explained our situation. The pastor provided groceries for us, and now we are fine,” says Ranita* from India.

In Vietnam, church leader Thao* said: “On behalf of all the Christians here, I would like to thank all of the supporters. We are so grateful for the help, for remembering to pray and help us. May God continue to bless you and use your lives for His kingdom.”

We know that the difficulties experienced last year due to the pandemic weren’t just felt by our persecuted family in Christ but also our partners around the world, who despite your own challenges stood with our brothers and sisters.

“Our partners in India have shared that more than 80 per cent of all the believers they visited were denied government food aid. That’s why we, our teams, our partners and the persecuted Christians are immensely grateful to the worldwide Body of Christ. We know how hard this year has been for them. And despite bad forecasts for the economy, they still felt compelled to help their brothers and sisters in dire situations,” shared our Communications Director for Open Doors Asia.

Thank you for your love and self-sacrifice in standing with our family in a year that was challenging for all of us. In this new year, our work isn’t done. As the pandemic continues, more of our brothers and sisters need help to take care of their families, so that they can continue to shine the light of Christ in their communities. So if you are able to, please prayerfully ask the Lord how you can stand with them in this new year.

*Names changed and representative image used for security reasons.

Gifts are allocated to where most urgently needed across the globe – thank you!