Open Doors Ministry

 Page updated 9th September 2010

“Murder, kidnap, imprisonment, harassment, discrimination, prevented from meeting for worship… persecution is alive and all too well in 2010. It affects millions of Christian believers. It’s growing, too. But then so is the church.

Open Doors is active in over 50 countries, supplying Bibles, leadership training, advocacy campaigns and practical support for Christians suffering for their faith. An important part of Open Doors’ ministry is to encourage the church in the UK to play its part: by responding to the needs of the persecuted church and learning from their experience of what it means to wholeheartedly follow Jesus.”

For more information about how you can pray, give, volunteer and campaign in support of the persecuted church visit our website at www.opendoorsuk.org.

Dear Friends of Persecuted Christians,

I welcome you on behalf of the Open Doors UK ministry to our own Web page which I hope will keep you up to date with many of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering badly because of their love and dedication to our Lord Jesus. 

If you need further information about many of the OU areas of work etc, then please click on the coloured link above which will take you directly to their very informative Web site. If, as a computer user you know of someone who would like to receive Open Doors monthly magazine and prayer diary and don't have a computer, then please let me know, either by contacting me using my email adddress, which is: christopher.murphy@virgin.net, or telephone 520450 - or come and see me in church on Sundays. 

God bless you all

Chris Murphy

9th September 2010

"Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." Luke 23:34

SOMALIA

Kidnapped children to be trained as Islamist soldiers

On 27 August we asked you to pray for the wife and children of murdered Christian Osman Abdullah Fataho, who were kidnapped by Somali militants on 21 July. Open Doors has since received confirmation that Al-Shabaab militants released Abdullah's wife on the condition that she surrender her children to be trained as soldiers.

The children are Ali (5), Fatuma (7), Sharif (10) and Nur (15). The source said, "We know they have taken the children to brain-wash them, to change their way of life from Christian to Muslim and to teach them the Quran."

The incident has spread fear among Christians in this lawless country, much of which lies in the grip of ruthless insurgents, intent on rooting out any person professing Christianity. "Leaders of the Christian underground movement have been forced to flee their homes to avoid being killed by the insurgents," said one leader who, along with seven others, has temporarily moved to an undisclosed area.

In 2009 Islamic militants in Somalia sought out and killed at least 15 Christians, including women and children. This year, Al-Shabaab insurgents have already murdered four Christians in separate incidents, targeting those who have converted from Islam or are active in their faith.

Fear expressed over American pastor's calls to burn the Quran
Meanwhile, in America, a preacher's calls to burn the Quran on the 9th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks have caused concern among Christians across the world. Open Doors wishes to unequivocally condemn this provocative action, which is entirely inflammatory and could have dire consequences. "Not only could it endanger people's lives, but it goes against the teachings of Jesus, who calls us to love our neighbour," said Open Doors UK CEO, Eddie Lyle. "The radical action that Pastor Jones calls for should be one of love for all Muslims, reaching out to them in prayer and practical support."

Source:Open Doors, Compass Direct

Please pray:

1. That Abduallah's children will be protected from harm and from false teaching, and that they would be returned to their home and their mother soon.
2. For courage and protection for the Christian leaders forced to flee their homes.
3. That Pastor Jones will desist from his proposed Quran burning ceremony and that Christians living in Muslim countries will be protected from any fall-out.

For ideas on how to make a difference through prayer please visit www.opendoorsuk.org/pray

With many thanks for your prayers.

Jane
Prayer Communications

3rd September 2010

 "Jesus replied, 'What is impossible with human beings is possible with God.'"
Luke 18:27 [TNIV]

India

Victim of Orissa violence rescued from trafficking ring

Two years after anti-Christian violence broke out in Kandhamal district, Orissa state, a team working against human trafficking rescued a 16-year-old Christian girl - one of at least 60 people sold into slavery after the 2008 attacks.

The recovery of the girl in Delhi on 9 August represented the cracking of a network that has trafficked Christian girls and women from Orissa to the national capital, sources said. The girl, whose name was withheld, is a tribal Christian who was sold into slavery along with her 19-year-old sister and two other girls, all victims of the 2008 violence; her sister and the other two girls remain missing.

The girl was used only for labour, although she was sexually harassed, sources said. Madhu Chandra, a spokesperson of the All India Christian Council [AICC] and part of the rescue team said, "She was physically abused, with teeth bite marks and bruises on her body – her neck, leg and right hand.”

"Human trafficking agents operating in the tribal belt of Orissa have targeted Christian girls displaced by the Kandhamal communal violence,” said lawyer Lansinglu Rongmei, another member of the rescue team. "Roughly 60 girls are estimated missing and have been trafficked to different states.”

Prasant Vihar Police Station House refused to register the girl's case. "The victim is from Kandhamal, let her go back to Kandhamal and register her complaint there," said officer Sudhir Kumar.

Source:Open Doors, Compass Direct

Please pray:

1. For spiritual and emotional healing for the rescued girl
2. For the other 60 missing girls sold into slavery following the 2008 violence in Orissa
3. Justice remains elusive for many of the victims of the violence in Orissa. Pray for decisive action to bring those responsible for the violence against Christians to justice.

Please join us in praying for India at the Open Doors prayer summit on 8-10 October, where our guest speaker will be Vijayesh Lal, an acknowledged expert on persecution in the Indian Church. For more details and to book go to: www.opendoorsuk.org/prayersummit

With many thanks for your prayers.

Jane
Prayer Communications

 Help Christians devastated by the Pakistan floods

Dear friend,

According to the UN an overwhelming 15-20 million people in Pakistan are in need of food, water and shelter.

Many thousands of Christians are also caught up in the disaster. For some, the only place of refuge is their local mosque, where extremist strongholds are strongest and Christians could become very vulnerable.

Open Doors partners in Pakistan have identified 1500 Christian families as being most vulnerable. Many of these believers have lost everything. And now they are looking to us for help in their moment of dire need.

The situation is critical and urgent. Your prayerful generosity now will ensure assistance, supplies and support reach Christians.

The DEC member organisations will provide support to everyone. Through Open Doors partners your gift will reach the marginalised Christian minority.

Please give now.   

To read more about the situation facing Christians in flood-hit regions click here »

  Every blessing to you,  

 Eddie Lyle
CEO Open Doors UK & Ireland