MAGAZINEJULY | AUGUST 2019

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THE HIGH PRICE OF FOLLOWING CHRIST IN INDIA

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

PAGE 3 | Gary’s Take

PAGE 4 | The High Price of Following Christ in India

PAGE 8 | Impact Report

PAGE 13 | Get Involved

PAGE 14 | 60 Second Stories

Dear Partner,

India’s unique combination of rich cultural heritage and fast-growing economy makes it a significant country to watch on an international scale. But, for Christians in India, life is hard – especially for believers living in rural areas and belonging to the lower Dalit caste. These people are doubly persecuted for believing in Christ and belonging to this social stratum.

Extreme religious nationalism places India at number 10 on the Open Doors 2019 World Watch List, with more than 200 violent incidents against Christians reported in the first quarter of 2019. Over 800 incidents were reported in 2018, directly affecting more than 50,000 people.

It is hard to imagine the brutality our brothers and sisters face. I hope this edition of Open Doors Magazine will encourage you to pray even more diligently for our family members in India who are feeling the increasing pressure of a new wave of religious nationalism.

Your prayers and support for the persecuted church are making an enormous impact – they bring hope to those who need it the most. But don’t just take my word for it. You can see a snapshot of the impact of your support showcased on pages 8-11. You are making a huge difference in the lives of our persecuted family around the world.

Thank you!

Grace & Peace,

Gary StaggExecutive Director

GARY’S TAKE

Open Doors Canada8-19 Brownridge Rd.

Halton Hills, ON L7G 0C6

(905) 636-0944www.opendoorsca.org

opendoorsca@odcan.org

/OpenDoorsCanada

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. © 2019 Open Doors Canada.

Cover image: An Open Doors partner comforts and provides hope to our persecuted family in India. Persecution in India has grown at an alarming rate and facial recognition technology puts persecuted believers at greater risk. Turn to our lead story on page 4 to read more.

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SOMETHING

BIGLAST YEAR, YOU DID

08

Open Doors Magazine - July | August 20194

India’s 21st century looks promising in many ways as it is set to become a global leader on the international stage. But there’s another side to India’s growing popularity. Christians and other religious minorities in India are experiencing increasing persecution as Hindu extremism gains ground.

The Hindu nationalists who govern India believe that being Hindu is part of Indian identity. These last few years especially, they have been emboldened in their attack. Our field partners are ministering to believers who are facing strong resistance for their faith in Christ. One of these dear believers is Beena*, who is from

an area of India where freedom of religion cannot be taken for granted.

With one hand, Beena clings to her Bible. In the other, she holds a handkerchief with which she wipes tears as she tells our partners her story.

When Beena and her family decided to follow Jesus, they began facing resistance and receiving threats from their Hindu neighbours. Fearing for her children’s safety, Beena and her husband sent two of their three children to live with relatives.

A while later, Beena’s village called for a meeting where she and her husband were accused of breaking the village rules by

abandoning traditional beliefs and not paying the annual offering to appease the Hindu gods. They began to verbally and physically assault them.

Beena’s 11-year-old son shouted, “Mom, Dad…Run away! They’ll kill you!”

ESCAPED JUST IN TIME

“Some of the men began to rip my clothes off. I was horrified. I knew they wanted to rape me,” Beena reported. “I begged them to let me go, but they wouldn’t listen. My husband came at that moment to protect me. Their anger grew...[and] completely shifted to him.”

Beena was in a difficult situation and knew she had to make a hard decision. She knew she couldn’t help her husband - so she quickly put her clothes back on and grabbed her son’s hand.

She ran for her life. Out of the corner of her eye, Beena saw that her husband’s hands had been tied behind his back and the extremists were preparing to throw him into the nearby pond. She knew that the pond was really deep. She

heard them shout, ‘It is impossible that this Christian is getting away today. He will die! He will die with his faith by drowning!”

HIDDEN FROM THE EYES OF THE ATTACKERS

Thousands of questions ran through her mind as Beena and her son continued to run. She knew they were being followed and she searched for a place to hide.

Finally, they came to a couple of huts and knocked on a door. “I know it was God who made help possible for us at that time.” Upon opening the door, Beena

explained to those inside that they were being chased and needed a safe place to hide.

With God’s mercy, those granting them refuge told her pursuers that Beena and her son had gone the other way. The men continued to search for them. Beena said that at that time she felt

God’s intervention so clearly. “All these things happened around four in the afternoon - it was broad daylight. But suddenly it became very dark and a big thunderstorm

THE HIGH PRICE OF FOLLOWING

CHRIST IN INDIA

“My son held my hand. He cried

quietly. ‘My father, my father,’ he

murmured.” Beena prayed every step of the way, “Oh Lord,

please save my husband’s life.”

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Bangladesh

Myanmar

China

BhutanNepal

Pakistan

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Telangana

Goa

Maharashtra

GujaratMadhya Pradesh

Odisha

Chhattisgarh

JharkhandWest

Bengal

Meghalaya

Assam

Manipur

MizoramTripura

ArunachalPradeshSikkim

Nagaland

Bihar

Uttar Pradesh

Uttarakhand

Delhi

Rajasthan

Haryana

Punjab

HimachalPradesh

Jammu & Kashmir

Chandigarh

KeralaLakhshadweep

Andaman & Nicobar

PuducherryTamil Nadu

KarnatakaAndhra Pradesh

Dadra & Nagar Haveli

Daman & Diu

0-2 violent acts of persecution

3-14 violent acts of persecution

15-49 violent acts of persecution

50+ violent acts of persecution

VIOLENCE AGAINST CHRISTIANS IN INDIA PER REGION(Estimated number of attacks between November 1, 2017 - October 31, 2018)brought the attackers to a halt.”

“OH LORD, PLEASE SAVE MY HUSBAND!”

Beena and her son were not safe yet. That night they made their way back to their pastor’s home. Her bare feet bled and hurt. “My son held my hand. He cried quietly. ‘My father, my father,’ he murmured.” Beena prayed every step of the way, “Oh Lord, please save my husband’s life. Lord Jesus, please help! Please protect my family!” she prayed.

A WONDERFUL SURPRISE

Beena heard people singing and worshiping as they approached her pastor’s house.

Her heart jumped for joy when she heard her husband’s voice. Confused, yet overjoyed, she saw her husband surrounded by a group of people when she entered the house. She continued her story, “They were overjoyed to see my son and I arrive safe. I hurried to my husband and the three of us cried tears of joy. It was only a miracle that my husband had succeeded in loosening his bonds and was able to flee to safety.”

“GOD HAS SAVED US”

Beena and her family have since found refuge with other Christians.

The other two children still live with their relatives. Beena clings to

Jesus in spite of all difficulties: “We have walked through the valley of the shadow of death, and God has preserved us.”

DELIVERING HOPE

There are countless stories of courageous believers who stand strong for the Gospel in India. Many are coming to faith in Christ because our brave brothers and sisters, like Beena, are committed to spreading the Good News in the most remote Indian communities.

As persecution in India becomes more extreme, Open Doors partners plan to double their impact. Your prayers, gifts and long-term support make it possible to reach Christians in the most remote corners of India with practical, legal and spiritual support.

*names changed for security reasons

INDIA #10 ON THE 2019 WORLD WATCH LIST

India is ranked the tenth most difficult country to be a Christian. Hindu extremists have publicly stated they intend to wipe out the Christian church by 2021. Converts from a Hindu background bear the brunt of the persecution and face constant pressure to return to Hinduism.

PRAY FOR BELIEVERS IN INDIA

• That our brothers and sisters in India feel God’s special grace and provision

• For wisdom for Open Doors partners committed to strengthening Christians to withstand persecution through training, relief aid and advocacy support.

Open Doors works through local church partners to support Christians in India by providing Bibles, training, community development projects and urgent relief aid. We could not carry out this work without your prayers and support.

Please consider giving today.

www.opendoorsca.org/the-high-price-of-following-christ

Open Doors Magazine - July | August 2019 www.opendoorsca.org8 9

You worked alongside Open Doors to help 375,919 persecuted Christians by providing emergency relief, community

development, education and medical care.Over 60,000 secret believers in North Korea received food through Open Doors partners in 2018. One secret believer told us, “Your continuous and massive support helps our North Korean believers to be strengthened to fight at the frontlines of Christian battles.”Among the most vulnerable Christians are converts from Islam. In many countries these secret believers are completely isolated and need support

to strengthen them in their faith. Open Doors is on the ground helping Christians in southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa, and many other places where the church is under threat.

You made it possible for 570,702 persecuted Christians to participate in leadership courses, trauma care

training, and persecution survival seminars.Many believers who have been attacked for their faith and received emergency relief, take part in persecution preparedness training. At these events, they are taught what Christ said about persecution and also how other Christians persevered. These trainings are a great encouragement to many, as they arrive discouraged, but leave feeling renewed! Many also report experiencing both physical and spiritual healing during the seminars.“This discipleship course is life-changing – other programs and studies were only theological knowledge. This training is very helpful to understand who God is, to know Jesus, and to get tools to continue as a Christian,” said Abid, who attended an Open Doors training course for new believers in a secret location.

570,702 persecuted Christians were trained through leadership and discipleship courses, trauma care training and persecution survival seminars.

YOUR SUPPORT ENABLED OUR PERSECUTED FAMILY TO GROW GOD’S KINGDOM IN SOME OF THE TOUGHEST PLACES ON EARTH.

LAST YEAR, YOU DID

SOMETHING BIG

375,919 persecuted Christians were helped with emergency relief, community development, education and medical care.

“IF ONE PART SUFFERS, EVERY PART SUFFERS WITH IT; IF ONE PART IS HONOURED, EVERY

PART REJOICES WITH IT.” – 1 CORINTHIANS 12:26

OPEN DOORS IMPACT REPORT

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Open Doors provided advocacy and legal assistance for 51,890 people.These advocacy services include providing

legal support and training for persecuted believers in some of the most difficult countries to live in as a Christian. Advocacy training helps believers to stand strong where God has placed them and provides them with knowledge of their constitutional rights. More than 35,400 brothers and sisters worldwide have benefitted from this training.Often, the voices of our brothers and sisters were ignored, but your support has helped raise awareness of their situation to people of influence in Canada and beyond. By speaking up on behalf of missing pastor, Raymond Koh, the government of Malaysia has agreed to set up a special task force to look into his disappearance. His wife and family, as well as the larger body of Christ in Malaysia, are deeply encouraged by your speaking into this situation.

As a worldwide ministry, Open Doors is comprised of more than 20 development bases who combine their efforts to fund field work in more than 60 countries. In 2018, your gifts contributed to the global effort of this ministry to provide positive impact in the lives of hundreds of thousands of persecuted believers worldwide.

Advocacy and legal assistance was provided for

51,890

people.

YOUR SUPPORT IS KEEPING YOUR PERSECUTED FAMILY ALIVE AND STRONG.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU ARE DOING!

Thanks to your incredible support, Open Doors distributed 2,023,093 Bibles and Christian books to your brothers and sisters living in some of the most dangerous countries around the

world. Brothers and sisters who may have been waiting for years for a Bible of their own.Believers from Muslim and Buddhist backgrounds in China take the greatest risk for their faith in Jesus. Unfortunately, while Mandarin Bibles can be accessed online or in government-registered churches, many believers in this country survive by living under the radar of authorities and don’t speak Mandarin. Bibles in minority languages are hard to find. When one believer received a Bible from us in his own language, his eyes brightened as if he had spotted a treasure. He held it close to his chest and said, “Thank you so much, brother! I’ve been dreaming about having a Bible for so long!” The work of Bible delivery is often difficult and dangerous, but it is worth it.

2,023,093Bibles and Christian books distributed.

www.opendoorsca.org 13WWW.PERSECUTEDCHURCH.CA

Sisters, Meena* and Sunita* were badly beaten with bamboo sticks by some of their Hindu neighbours who were angry they had decided to follow Jesus. Your support enabled Open Doors’ local church partners to provide them with food and medical care immediately after the attack.

Letters of encouragement from their church family around the world have helped strengthen their faith, and they know that they are not alone.

Your letters of encouragement are so valuable. We invite you to send us a card or letter of encouragement to send to a brother or sister in India.

*names changed for security reasons

For more information on letter writing to believers, visit:www.opendoorsca.org/write

Praise God, as some of our relatives and brothers who opposed us initially have now come to faith. Thank you so much for everything. God has been so loyal. He takes care of us. We are thankful most of all for the worldwide family we have gained which looks after us. I request that you pray continually for us, so that we can lead many people to Christ.

Meena”“

ENCOURAGE YOUR FAMILY IN INDIA

You’re invited to come hear stories from the field and connect with our persecuted family.

September 26 | 7pm Parkdale Grace Fellowship

Calgary, AB

September 28 | 7pm Maple Ridge Community Church

Maple Ridge, BC

A NIGHT WITH THE

PERSECUTED CHURCH

More locations coming soon! Sign up for email updates to hear when this event will be near you!

To sign up for email updates, and for more information, visit:

Open Doors Magazine - July | August 2019 www.opendoorsca.org14 15

When Precious came to faith in 1996, her family began threatening to kill her. Despite their threats, she presses on and preaches the Gospel to Muslims in southern Philippines. She continues to receive death threats, but her passion for God remains. She says, “I love Jesus more than my life… I love Him so much that I will take risks.”

Precious finds the persecution she faces worth enduring when she sees others from her region coming to faith in Jesus. She says, “Persecution is normal. When there is persecution, it means the harvest is plentiful! We need to share the gospel, no matter what.”

Kakon is a Muslim background believer from Bangladesh. Family and friends rejected her and her husband when they discovered the couple’s newfound faith. Even their 15-year-old son rejected them and refused to talk to them.

Philippians 4:19 reminded her that God has promised He would provide for her needs according to His riches in glory. Something she has needed as her family has been forced to leave their home to escape the anger of neighbours.

Kakon has seen God’s hand of provision, and her son has since accepted the Lord and is now a fellow believer.

SIXTY-SECOND STORIESSarosa had given up hope and decided to take her own life and the lives of her children. Just when all would’ve been lost, God intervened and saved Sarosa and her children.

By God’s grace, Sarosa met Precious who introduced her to Christ. Sarosa gave her life to Christ and found new hope and joy to live.

Her husband, who had been abusive toward her, saw the difference in Sarosa’s life and changed how he treats her.

PRECIOUS FAITH

PAYING A HIGH COST

NO GOD, NO HOPE?

It’s easy to question if you can really make a difference in the life of a persecuted believer or how your life can impact theirs.

In his book, Only A Broken Heart Can Heal a Broken World, Jan Vermeer guides us on a journey through India and shares how God can use you to make a difference and to impact Christians half a world away.Visit our website to download your free e-book! www.opendoorsca.org/the-high-price-of-following-christ

free copyGET YOUR

“This book is a journey to India, to the heart of persecution and to the heart of Jesus.”

– Jan Vermeer

Open Doors helps believers like Precious in southern Philippines to stay encouraged in the midst of persecution.

Sarosa attended a persecution preparedness seminar by Open Doors and received urgent aid during the siege of Marawi, where ISIS militants fought the Philippine government for 5 months.

Kakon recently graduated from an Open Doors Bible school, and now teaches other new believers to stay rooted in God’s Word.

8-19 Brownridge Rd.Halton Hills, ON L7G 0C6

(905) 636-0944

www.opendoorsca.org

/OpenDoorsCanada

A NIGHT WITH THE PERSECUTED CHURCH

Thursday, September 26 Parkdale Grace Fellowship, Calgary, AB

Saturday, September 28Maple Ridge Community Church, Maple Ridge, BC

Visit www.persecutedchurch.ca for more information

UPCOMING EVENTS

VIOLENT PERSECUTION IS ON THE RISE IN INDIA.

Please recycle. Printed on partially recycled paper.

Last year in India, there were 24,000 violent attacks on Christians. As persecution there intensifies, our partners on the ground have a plan to double their impact. Your prayers and support help them reach Christians in every corner of India with practical, legal and spiritual support.

We are committed to supporting our persecuted family in India and around the world for as long as they need us. Please continue to pray regularly using the monthly prayer calendar. Monthly donations increase long-term impact of ministry to those persecuted for their faith.

Consider committing to a monthly gift today.

Contact us to learn how.