War. Persecution. Pandemic. Nothing Stops the Church

MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2020

NOTHING STOPS THE CHURCH

STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS WHERE FAITH COSTS THE MOST www.opendoorsca.org GARY’S TAKE

Dear Friend, 4 INSIDE THIS ISSUE I have heard it said that humans can live 40 days without food, three days without water, eight minutes without air, but only one second without PAGE 4 | Threats Change, Hope hope. That’s true, because what we believe about the future informs how Remains we live today. If we lose hope, we lose the will to go on and consequently the power to live out our mission. Have you ever lost hope? PAGE 8 | Centres of Hope What if a group of hate-filled terrorists overtook your city, forced you and your family out of your home, burned down your church—and killed any PAGE 10 | Saved by a Business Card Christians they could find? Would you be tempted to lose hope in that situation? PAGE 12 | Your Voice is Needed to Make a Difference That’s exactly what happened to our Christian family in Iraq and Syria when ISIS invaded in 2014. And today, many of them are returning to their cities and towns to start over again. They are walking back through the 10 PAGE 14 | 60 Second Stories front doors ISIS broke down, they’re painting the walls, hanging pictures and rebuilding their lives. Hope is alive in their hearts and they are now on mission to impact their communities with the gospel.

Open Doors Canada It’s because of people like you that these family members can move 8-19 Brownridge Rd. forward like this. Thank you for standing with them through some of their Halton Hills, ON L7G 0C6 darkest days and keeping hope alive in their hearts. My prayer for you is that as you read some of their stories in this magazine, you will be filled (905) 636-0944 with hope and be inspired to fulfill the mission God has for you. www.opendoorsca.org [email protected] Grace & Peace,

/OpenDoorsCanada Pastor Gary Stagg Executive Director Cover image: COVID-19 is a new crisis for believers in Iraq and Syria who are already suffering the consequences of years of war and persecution. Read more about churches turned into Centres of Hope and how they are sustaining life at this crucial time.

OPEN DOORS MAGAZINE is published 6 times a year to provide concerned Christians with information about events affecting persecuted Christians worldwide. ODC is a member of Canadian Council of Christian Charities and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The material contained in this publication cannot be reproduced in any form, including on the internet, without written permission. © 2020 Open Doors Canada. www.opendoorsca.org 3 War. Persecution from when they need it most. That’s Islamic State. Economic 20% of the churches in Syria – collapse. Now COVID-19. with an ambition to reach many Threats more with an effective model of Beleaguered Syria faces community transformation. threat after threat, but no evil can stop the church CENTRE OF HOPE change, from being a centre of hope. Pastor George’s Alliance Church in Qamishli, Syria is now a Centre hope “I heard the explosion; when I of Hope. Since the crisis began, looked back, I saw a big cloud of George has followed God’s call to smoke near our home,” says Falit*, stay in Syria to keep the church remembering that unforgettable alive. In that time, he’s witnessed remains day in October 2019. He’d just around 1 million believers flee headed out to the shops to buy his country, reducing the number something for his pregnant wife. of Christians from 1.8 million to “I ran back and some Kurdish 800,000. soldiers ran with me. The doors of the house were broken, there The extremist ideology of Islamic was glass all over the place. When State is still a strong presence I arrived at home, my wife was in the region, meaning many shaking and afraid, crying a lot, Christians don’t feel safe at home. because she thought I was in the Syria is still number 11 on the Open middle of the bombing.” Doors World Watch List of the most dangerous places to be a Thankfully, God had protected Christian. Just as Open Doors was Falit’s wife and unborn child. “My planning to scale back emergency wife was in the only room that food distribution and help people wasn’t damaged. The rest of my move towards self-sufficiency, the house was destroyed,” says Falit. COVID-19 pandemic began. “Our daughter was born two days Thanks to your support, later.” FAITHFUL PARTNERSHIP hope lives. Pastor George Moushi, pictured Syrian Christians like Falit have The COVID-19 lockdown here, helps his church to lived in the constant presence of devastated livelihoods, and be a Centre of Hope for danger for years. Yet they’ve not brought great fear of further the community through suffered alone. Your long-term spread in Syria. The war almost war, persecution, and support has enabled Open Doors completely destroyed the health now pandemic. to turn 110 ordinary churches into system. Thanks to years of Centres of Hope, reaching out to faithful partnership from people help people like Falit and his family like you, churches like Pastor 4 Open Doors Magazine - September | October 2020 www.opendoorsca.org 5 church online during lockdown. PLEASE GIVE “We try to stay in touch,” George explains. “I created a WhatsApp Every $50 could provide a group. Everyone prays and shares monthly food relief pack for a their thoughts and feelings. persecuted family. Many were encouraged that the church cares for them.” Every $75 could contribute to medical care for a believer. Mourad* manages Open Doors’ work through local church partners Every $91 could provide a kit in Syria, and is excited about the of winter clothes and blankets potential to expand the number to help a family survive the of churches becoming Centres upcoming winter. of Hope. It is a critical way for the church to fulfil its role as light in the darkness. PLEASE PRAY

“The Church in Syria, like this church Pastor George asks us to pray: in Qamishli, could not see their “Pray that the people stand firm congregations suffer and do nothing in Jesus. Pray that the economy about it,” says Mourad. “People are will recover. That war isn’t over hungry,” said another worker. yet – pray that Christians will George’s were in a position to provide for the needy families. The stay in the country. Pray that take immediate action to help need is not just material. Many “Some called me, crying because their basic needs will be met. the people worst affected. people are weary and afraid, so I they have no food for their kids I often see people searching prayed with them. I visited some and families. We opened the Good the garbage bins for food in the “When we saw the increased need, sick people and comforted them.” Shepherd Centre only for two hours, streets. Pray that there will be we restarted the distribution. We to distribute food coupons, and job opportunities for the people.” gave people food and washing Keeping in touch is critical for around 80 families came.” detergent coupons. Our church many of George’s congregation, saw that now was a time to because around 30% are believers Pastor George has a message for stand by the people, support from a Muslim background who everyone who has supported Syria them and show Jesus’ love in have been cut off from their family for years, as well as those who have difficult times,” says the pastor. or usual support network because given recently during the COVID-19 of their decision to follow Christ. crisis. He says, “Thank you for your The lockdown restricted So George has found ways to help to make that possible. This is movement, meaning many become ‘family’ for those who’ve really a hard situation. Of course, Christians who work as daily lost theirs. we cannot help them with all their labourers lost their income needs, but we can offer them the overnight. CHURCH ONLINE basics. Please continue to help us in this.” “Because I’m a pastor I can move As for so many of us around the more freely in the city, so I can world, this has meant going to *Name changed for security reasons 6 Open Doors Magazine - September | October 2020 www.opendoorsca.org 7 In Iraq, 65% of all churches (about 125 congregations) have been WHAT IS A transformed into Centres of Hope. Many Christians have left the CENTRE OF HOPE? country, but the empty seats are filled with new believers, mostly from a Muslim background. Thanks to your support, Centres of Hope can meet the needs of these new believers. Your support is empowering churches to become Centres of Hope across Syria and Iraq.

A Centre of Hope is an active local church trained and resourced to run projects in their community. No two are quite the same, yet one vision unites Thanks to your support, Dalia’s church has them all: to reach out with Christ’s love. become a Centre of Hope for her community. H She has overcome years of persecution and The idea is at the heart of Open Doors’ longterm says, “There is no better place to find hope than campaign, Hope for the Middle East. Our goal: in the Bible”. During the COVID-19 restrictions, to enable the church to survive, remain a faithful church buildings had to close their doors. Dalia witness and contribute positively to society. set up online church services together with her women’s group, turning living rooms into small Projects help people rebuild their livelihoods and churches. earn an income for their family, after the trauma “There is no better place to find and destruction of war. A centre might focus on hope than in the Bible.” a ministry to women, youth or couples. Larger O programs, such as leadership or the year-long Mathi and his family were driven out when ISIS trauma course, are shared between churches. overtook their town, and now they have been Christ’s love reaching helped to return back home. Mathi thanks you from the bottom of his heart saying: “You the community helped us to show our children that we are not alone.” With help from supporters like you, the Centres of Hope have restored almost Each Centre of Hope builds on the strengths of the 2000 houses of Iraqi Christian families. congregation to meet the needs of the community. “Thank you for showing my The centres provide what Christians in the Middle children that we are not alone.” P East need most right now: a prophetic voice for justice and new perspective.

Becoming a Centre of Hope helps a church to achieve their own vision of being a beacon of light Nine years of war have turned the lives around in their community. Without this support, made for many Syrians. In desperate need, Nisreen possible by your faithful prayers and generosity, turned to the church for help. She tells us more Christians would lose hope and leave she went looking for food for her children, their country. Christianity in Iraq and Syria would and instead found Jesus. She says she is not dwindle, if not disappear. afraid of life anymore. Thanks to your support, E Centres of Hope can meet the needs of new 8 Open Doors Magazine - September | October 2020 ‘I am not afraid of life anymore’ www.opendoorsca.orgbelievers like Nisreen. 9 Saved by a FORCED TO FLEE Alya asked for an audio bible and learned to pray. She says, “When IS had demanded for Alya’s I started praying as a Christian, I daughter to report to them. So the experienced tremendous relief. I business family fled overnight to save her started to see that Jesus really is from their clutches. who He says he is.” card Alya’s sisters house in Qamishli NEW LIFE IN JESUS was too small for the family of six, but finding a place to rent was “I could no longer pretend to be a impossible. In desperation, she Muslim,” Alya continues. “I started remembered the business card talking to Jesus. I began to realize she was given at the airport. that we had not accidentally come to Qamishli. Jesus wanted me to She called Pastor George, who be there.” immediately found a way to help. Thanks to your support and The change in Alya did not go prayers, his church has become a unnoticed. Her family discovered Centre of Hope. Alya’s family, all that she wanted to serve Jesus. Muslims, moved into a home that As a consequence, Alya’s brother had been furnished by George’s ended his financial support for the Alliance Church in Qamishli. family.

FINDING PEACE But thanks to support from people like you, who are strengthening When Alya fled to Qamishli, she didn’t know whom “When we got to that house, I the church in Syria, Alya is able to to trust. But a chance encounter with a pastor was experienced peace,” says Alya. rely on Pastor George’s church to about to change her life forever. All thanks to the “I saw that the pastor was an support her. She says, “Jesus is my longterm support you give to your Christian family honest man. I went to church for life now.” in the Middle East. the first time. The preacher spoke of forgiveness. That touched me deeply and made me cry.” PLEASE PRAY Alya* couldn’t hide her panic. his business card: Pastor George She’d just landed at Qamishli Moushi. At home, Alya stuck to her Islamic “I was blind; now I see. I hope airport with her family, on the prayers. Still, she decided to go my family will be saved too.” run to protect her daughter from forced marriage to Islamic State Alya’s plan was to seek refuge at to the Bible studies on Tuesday. This is the one prayer Alya fighters. But their luggage had her sister’s house in Qamishli. Life She felt welcome and loved. “The holds on to. Please pray that not arrived with them. in her hometown of Raqqa had church felt like a close-knit family,” her husband and everyone in become untenable since Islamic she says. her extended family will find Seeing their distress, a man State (IS) made it their capital. She salvation in the name of Jesus. offered to help. Alya was decided to flee when her daughter Curious about this new faith and suspicious. She declined, but took became a target. the peace it seemed to bring, *Name changed for security reasons. 10 Open Doors Magazine - September | October 2020 www.opendoorsca.org 11 Your support has kept hope alive for Christians in Syria and Iraq International help is still needed through the years of war and by the Iraqi government to rebuild persecution. Thank you! infrastructure. Our government is YOUR helping in the rebuilding process, however, we are asking the 2016 Hope for the Middle East Canadian Government to consider campaign launched to help local faith actors as vital pillars the church in Syria and Iraq VOICE of the rebuilding process while survive the attempts of Islamic allocating financial aid. Through all extremists to destroy it is needed the struggles, local faith leaders have served as first responders, to make a providing humanitarian assistance 2017 and social services. They Over 800,000 supporters sign remain and engage long after the Hope for the Middle East difference media attention dwindles and petition, presented at the UN by international organizations leave. Noeh, a young boy from Iraq

YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED AT 2016-2018 THIS TIME Over 30,000 families in Syria THE HOPE FOR MIDDLE EAST CAMPAIGN and Iraq receive life-saving food We invite you to send a letter and aid to your Member of Parliament Over the years more than a and their region. Thousands of to advocate for faith-based 2018 million Christians have left Iraq. Canadians signed the global organizations to be considered for Over 1,000 Iraqi families helped Open Doors estimates that of Hope4ME petition a few years ago. allocation of humanitarian funds to return to their homes in the the 1.5 million Christians who The petition was presented before to qualified and trusted local faith Nineveh Plains lived in Iraq in 2003, only around Canada’s House of Commons as actors in Iraq and Syria. 220,000 remain; a decrease of well as at the United Nations. 2018-2019 87% within one generation. Various TAKE ACTION: Send a letter in 16 Centres of Hope are opened reports by Open Doors and other Recently, we spoke with Ramy, support of local faith actors. Please across Syria organizations have warned the the Hope for the Middle East find a template on our website, Christian community in Iraq might campaign manager, to find out and mail it in or email it to your become extinct if there is no how the campaign has influenced Member of Parliament. Details 2019 Open Doors provides intervention. Christians in the region. Ramy tells found at www.opendoorsca.org/ emergency aid for Christians us that the voice of the Iraqi and Hope4ME2020 displaced by Turkish incursion For this reason, Open Doors Syrian church has been heard by in northern Syria started the Hope for the Middle influential leaders around the world PLEASE PRAY: That these actions East Campaign in 2016, to and it has fallen on good ground. will help Christians restore and restore hope to the Church in the International policies were put rebuild their lives once again in 2020 Middle East so that Christians into place by various governments Iraq and Syria. You can help Syrian Christians can be a source of hope to their which positively influenced the survive the COVID-19 crisis communities, their countries, existence of Christianity in Iraq. 12 Open Doors Magazine - September | October 2020 www.opendoorsca.org 13 SIXTY-SECOND STORIES MEETING JESUS IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT Growing up in southeast Asia, Sebastian thought YOU HAVE BECOME NIKHIL’S FAMILY he was a lost cause. He began to deal drugs, ending up on death row for his crimes. While in solitary confinement, a man appeared in Nikhil (18) came to faith after hearing about Jesus Sebastian’s cell. He was in shining white robes from a pastor. “Everything about Jesus touched me with a face so bright it couldn’t be seen. and it seemed He was all I needed in my life. I then A short time later, Sebastian’s charge was started going to the church regularly. Though I did “It’s not easy to dismissed in court and he was released. He it secretly, people informed my family and they planned on returning to his former life, but the hated me for it.” serve the Lord here,” Sebastian said. “But our man appeared to him once again, this time saying, During the COVID-19 lockdown, the hatred from his “Trust in me; I am the only God.” Sebastian saw Nikhil says, “My own Lord suffered; He was family grew. He was beaten up by his brothers and the wounds on his hands and knew it was Jesus. family disowned me, beaten and died for us. If kicked out of his home. but now you are my the boss suffered, won’t Sebastian’s life changed forever. He quit smoking, family. You stood by His pastor helped him and gave him some food, the workers suffer too?” left his job, sold his belongings and was baptized. me in my desperate but the pastor himself didn’t have much because of painful situation. I am the lockdown. Thanks to your prayers and support, so grateful.” Open Doors local partners were able to provide both Nikhil and his pastor with vital food aid.

YOUR PRAYERS CAN STRENGTHEN SOFIA

Sofia knew that choosing Jesus could cost her everything. “I met with other Christians secretly for a year before my father found out. He was very upset and to this day my father will not speak to me.” “I was trusting God to strengthen me,” said Sophia. She had to make a hard choice between living in comfort with her family and be subjected to a life without God; or move out and live under difficult Sofia remains committed circumstances, but with the freedom to worship and is helping other and read from God’s Word at any time. new believers to be strengthened in faith. Despite the consequences, Sofia chose to Please remember her in courageously follow Christ. This decision led to your prayers. isolation, ostracism from her family and a life of secrecy. VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR FREE RESOURCES! 14 Open Doors Magazine - September | October 2020 www.opendoorsca.org 15 www.opendoorsca.org/idop PASTOR GEORGE STOOD WITH HIS COMMUNITY DURING WAR, PERSECUTION AND PANDEMIC. WILL YOU STAND WITH HIM TODAY?

Who is by your side in a crisis? Who Every $50 could provide a monthly food keeps you going when you face dark relief pack for a persecuted family. days? Every $75 could contribute to medical Christians in Syria have endured care for a believer. persecution, war – and now the COVID-19 pandemic. Muslim- Every $91 could provide a kit of winter background believers who risk clothes and blankets to help a family everything to follow Jesus have survive the upcoming winter. nowhere to turn. Displaced families lack their usual support networks. Please use the enclosed response device, call us at (905) 636-0944 or visit That’s why Open Doors is helping www.opendoorsca.org. churches become Centres of Hope across the Middle East. The church is the greatest support network. There in the heart of the local community, rebuilding lives and livelihoods, providing trauma care, discipleship – and most of all hope. Respond today using the response form, call (905) 636-0944 They cannot do it without the longterm or visit www.opendoorsca.org support and faithful prayers of their global family. Will you stand by their side today?

Open Doors Canada 8-19 Brownridge Rd., Halton Hills, ON L7G 0C6 (905) 636-0944 | www.opendoorsca.org | [email protected]

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