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Testimony: Your gifts and prayers provided a lifeline

Your gifts and prayers provided a lifeline to Pastor Soré when violent persecution drove him and his family from their village in Burkina Faso.

The first time Pastor Soré’s village was attacked, extremists robbed people. The second time, they raped the women. The third time, they burned everything to the ground.

Pastor Soré, who lives in Burkina Faso, was left with no choice…

“When the terrorists find Christians, they tell them the time of Christianity is over,” he said. “We had to flee to save our lives.”

Leaving a beautiful home and thriving church, Pastor Soré and his wife, Teresa, escaped with their own two children and 15 others who had been orphaned or entrusted into their care. They are among two million people who have been driven from their homes by jihadist groups in Burkina Faso. The country has lost 40% of its territory, mainly in the north, to terror groups.

After four days on the road, the group was too big to move into a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs). So, they set up a shelter on a desolate piece of land.

“We were so sad when we arrived in this empty space,” says Pastor Soré. It’s a 2km walk to the nearest clean water pump. In the rainy season, water washes through their makeshift tent, bringing mosquitoes and snakes. And in the summer, it’s unbearably hot.

Not forgotten

But thanks to your kind support, Pastor Soré is not alone.

“First you helped me with prayer that really comforted me,” said Pastor Soré. “Then, seeds and fertilisers helped me grow crops and feed my family. I’m holding in my hands the maize we cultivated with your help. We’ve been consuming it for three months now!”

He added: “The Open Doors team visits us regularly, so we know you share our pains and burdens and carry them before God.”

But what matters to Pastor Soré, more than anything, is knowing that you stand with him. Your care strengthens his faith and emboldens his remarkable ministry…

“We are displaced but Jesus is not, and never will be, displaced from our lives,” says Pastor Soré. “I ask God to open doors for me to continue evangelism. Despite our miserable condition, Jesus still brings people who get saved.”

He added: “When I look in the Bible, I see all warriors encountered difficulties. It’s my turn today. An important truth about suffering is that it is never eternal – but Jesus is eternal.”

Please pray

“Christians all over the world, I ask you to pray. Pray for Christians in Burkina Faso, especially those who are displaced and living with me, to stay firm in their faith. Pray for me to keep a strong faith and succeed in the work God has called me to do. And pray for land where my family can stay and follow Christ.”
– Pastor Soré

We are displaced, but Jesus will never be displaced from our lives.

Stand with believers around the world who face violence, displacement and isolation because of their Christian faith.

Your gift can help provide them with things such as shelter, food aid, discipleship and trauma care so that even amidst persecution they can be conquerors!

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