Your support at work

A snapshot of your gifts and prayers are helping persecuted Christians around the world.

Niger

The scarcity of Bibles in Niger affects Christian youth. Our local partners tell us that Christianity is spreading in the southern region of the country, especially among young people. There are many young Christians and new converts who live in mostly Muslim communities.

Thanks to your gifts and prayers, Open Doors partners recently handed out more than 130 Bibles to young believers in northern Niger. These youth are growing up in a place where they have a hard time getting access to a Bible – many of them live under constant pressure and the threat of attack.

For Rashida, receiving this Bible is an answered prayer. “Whenever I see a Bible around, I will just start reading it because I love reading the Bible even though I didn’t have my own,” she says. “But now I am filled with joy because I received the gift of the Bible.”

“I’m so happy to have a new Bible that I can call my own!” said Dorcas, one of the believers who received a Bible. “To me, this Bible is a weapon to win the battle in life.”

Laos

In October of last year, eight Christian families in Laos experienced the unthinkable: They were expelled from their homes, simply because they follow Jesus.

After the 26 people refused to deny their faith, they packed up their things. Even with heavy hearts, they moved to a new place where they were permitted to relocate, about six miles from their village.

Local leaders, pastors and believers in the area came to help the expelled families rebuild their homes. Many came with food, construction equipment and household items while others offered their services in clearing the land and constructing the houses. Open Doors, through local partners, also pitched in funds to buy tin sheets for the roofs and materials for the walls.

It’s a powerful reminder of how your gifts and prayers are put to work around the world. But the situation is also a reminder of what the ongoing cost of faith looks like for believers in this part of Laos. Our local partners ask us to pray with them, that God would help bring them peace and wisdom, along with provision for their daily needs.

*Representative image used.

Iraq

The Nineveh Plains in Iraq are a special place.

This area, which can trace its roots back to the days of Jonah, was nearly destroyed by ISIS. The Christian presence in Iraq has been under attack.

And it’s where, through your many gifts and prayers over the last 10 years, Christians have begun to rebuild and restore the Christian presence in Iraq.

“Our goal was to stand beside the Church in solidarity with people in their suffering,” shares one Open Doors partner in Iraq.

“The words ‘thank you’ are too little,” says Farah, a hairstylist in the region who was helped by a microloan. “You helped us, stood by us, your support was encouraging. It enabled me to restart my business, to stand back on my feet.”

Your support over the last 10 years (and the support you’re still providing your family in Iraq through your prayers and gifts!) show the world that the people of God truly are one Body. The Christian presence in Iraq has not been destroyed – and by God’s grace, it never will.