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Beating Isolation Social Media Throws a Lifeline to Secret Believers

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Beating Isolation Social Media Throws a Lifeline to Secret Believers MAGAZINE | May 2020 Beating isolation Social media throws a lifeline to secret believers STAND WITH YOUR PERSECUTED FAMILY DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS Open Doors is an international ministry Letter from Henrietta serving persecuted Christians and churches Connect with persecuted Christians worldwide. worldwide in your own home. Open Doors supplies Bibles, leadership training, literacy Thirst Around the world, thousands of Christians have been self- programmes, livelihood “It is not good to be alone” GENESIS 2:18 isolating for years – not because of a biological virus, but support and advocacy because their faith is seen as dangerous. Learn from their services. We also mobilise example with our range of free home resources for churches, the church in the UK and In recent weeks, we’ve all become used to the idea of ‘self- Ireland to serve Christians individuals and families. Featuring small group sessions, prayer isolation’ and what that can mean - on the one hand, protection, but living under religious resources, videos, children’s activities and more. on the other, potential loneliness. As an extrovert, I need people! I persecution. have been so blessed to have many people in my life who, over the Visit www.opendoorsuk.org and click on Church at Home If you have any questions years, have sown seeds of faith and encouraged and mentored me. and Children at Home or call 01993 460015. about the work of Open I need the warmth of fellowship to survive. Doors, or would like to Secret believers in North Africa and other countries on the reprint any of the articles Open Doors World Watch List, however, don’t have that luxury and in this magazine, please do during Ramadan they can feel particularly alone. The word means get in touch. ‘parchedness’ or ‘scorching heat’ and for new believers this can be an accurate description of their experience. At a time when their faith Contact us: needs to grow, they are surrounded by fear, ignorance and loneliness. England and Wales Islèm’s story (p8) breaks my heart: desperate to get to know PO Box 6, Witney Jesus but with nobody to show the way. Praise God for the internet! It Oxon OX29 6WG has provided a wonderful way for us to reach Islèm and others with LIVE T 01993 460015 information, inspiration, fellowship and prayer. Her thirst for the Bible STRONG Ireland - and friends to share her questions with - shows how important PO Box 873 webinars Belfast BT15 1WZ fellowship is and, when face-to-face meetings are not possible, T 02890 751080 phones and social media are a true blessing from God. Now that we are all confined to our homes much more, we can Stay connected to your persecuted church family and come together with the worldwide Scotland appreciate some of what persecuted Christians go through regularly. church for worship and encouragement through Standing Strong Live webinars, hosted T 01292 800006 What a privilege! And I am excited that, at this time, God is continuing fortnightly on Thursdays from 8.15pm. Email [email protected] to build His church, not only through visions and dreams but also While we’re not able to meet as a church or see extended family, we can take this opportunity Find us on: through the internet and social media, thanks to your gifts and to learn from our persecuted brothers and sisters who know what it is to worship in secret www.opendoorsuk.org prayers. Many Muslims meet Christ during Ramadan and Open Doors and often on their own. Find out more and register today at www.opendoorsuk.org has found some brilliant ways to support them and reach people who would otherwise be unreachable, apart from our prayers. Indeed, just like the internet, our prayers can go where we cannot. Open Doors UK & I As a keen gardener, I grow many plants from seed, some of which Registered as a Charity in England and Wales No.1125684, Scotland take a very long time to germinate. The trick is to keep providing No. SC043710, Republic of Ireland them with warmth, oxygen, light and water, then to wait patiently for 20140984 © Open Doors 2020 growth and not lose your nerve! Our prayers are like that. We often pray without knowing whether it makes any difference at all. But then we hear stories of people coming to faith and realise that, all the time, the Lord has been at work. So be encouraged as we stand together with our brothers and sisters around the world, and let faith rise in your heart. Together, we can quench the thirst of new believers like Islèm and have the excitement of seeing the desert ‘blossom and rejoice’ (Isaiah 35:1). Cover image: Damali* is a secret believer in North Africa. Thanks to your support, she knows she’s not alone and has been able to attend discipleship training for young people. Henrietta Blyth *name changed for security CEO, Open Doors UK&I reasons 2 3 World Watch News CHINA Virtual church in Wuhan Open Doors brings vital aid to Asian Pastor Huang Lei was a few the Bible, sharing, witnessing, staying at home alone like CORONAVIRUS steps ahead of the rest of the praising and worshipping. Of they’re abandoned. Now they RESPONSE Christians impacted by coronavirus world when it came to virtual those 50, we have more than cherish the connection between church. He had to be. His 30 groups which are spending believers more than ever. I think church is in Wuhan, China, at two hours every day to pray, it’s bringing us closer than ever. The coronavirus crisis is having the epicentre of the coronavirus worship, share and testify We pray, share information, and a terrible impact in Asia – and outbreak that is having such a together. That’s far more make decisions together. The Christians are often the last to significant impact on the way all frequent than our normal virus can’t stop us.” receive the essential help being of us meet as communities of meetings!” Praise God that Pastor distributed. These believers, believers. Pastor Huang’s church isn’t Huang’s church is seeing God’s particularly if they are from Once it was no longer just coping – it’s thriving. “We grace in this difficult time, a Muslim background, are possible for his church to meet have heard that our elderly and learning more about Him and often considered the lowest in person, Pastor Huang started disabled have been thankful how to be the body of Christ. in their societies or even organising groups that could to the Lord and are greatly Please pray for him as he seeks infidels. “Some of our most meet together online. “First, encouraged by this opportunity to connect with ministers across remote communities have we have more than 50 groups,” for online meetings,” he says. China, and that they would be been neglected when they he says. “Praying, studying “Before this, they felt alienated, able to be light in the darkness. were identified as Christians,” says Hana*, a local Open Doors partner. Thanks to your gifts and tips on hygiene and safety and month.” CHAD prayers, Hana and other Open show God’s love. Open Doors partners are Doors partners are able to In India, despite the reaching persecuted Christians distribute parcels to those in lockdown, Open Doors partners with vital aid across Asia at “God has answered our prayers”: Damaris’ oxen need. “Parcels are going to are able to distribute food to this difficult time, from the pastors and partners who are those who’ve been sidelined southern Philippines to China. Damaris lives in south-eastern being sideline and ignored,” she from aid because they are Please keep praying that your Chad – part of West Africa says. “Each parcel is a point Christians. Arun* and his wife worldwide family will get the that has seen a rise in Islamic of hope and mercy for their recently had a baby, and he resources they need - and go to extremism in recent years, communities. They contain supports an extended family of www.opendoorsuk.org to read including attacks by Boko enough food and soap to get 12. “Because of the lockdown, I the latest news and find out how Haram. She is vulnerable families through at least two can’t earn any money. We were you can support persecuted because of her faith and, months.” It’s also an opportunity facing starvation. But suddenly believers impacted by the crisis. because she’s a woman, has to encourage those facing you brought us food! Now we struggled to raise money for her increasing discrimination, give can survive for at least one *Names changed for security reasons family. She and friends from church have been able to IRAN attend economic empowerment training, run thanks to Open Mary is released on bail Doors supporters. It helped Damaris understand a biblical Mary (formerly Fatemeh) was ‘disrupting public order ten Christians who remain in view of work and economics – Mohammadi has been released by participating in an illegal prison, however, despite calls and, afterwards, she set up a business investing in crops. “I benefits: I find joy, peace and on bail from Qarchak Prison gathering’. from the UN Special Rapporteur self-help financial group with made good profit and I bought a love in communion with my in Tehran after being arrested Mary is one of many on Human Rights in Iran calling a few others. “We encourage set of oxen, so we don’t need to sisters.” while taking part in a protest thousands of prisoners who for the release all prisoners of each other,” Damaris says.
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