FRONTLINE FAITH Sharing The Inside Story Of The Persecuted Church - Children Of The Persecuted Church 3 - Open Doors Australia
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F R O N T L I N E FA I T H
Sharing The Inside Story Of The Persecuted Church
Children Of The Persecuted Church
3 8 10 12
Trafficked in We’ve Got Your The Smuggler’s How Handmade
North Korea Christmas Gifts Son Toys Bring Joy
A Letter
Issue 06 / Children Of The Persecuted Church
Issue 06 / Children Of The Persecuted Church
From Mike
I recently met with a pastor from Syria who has a large And… the victory was won.
children’s ministry. Around 30% of the children he
ministers to have lost their parents and 70% of the Just like Moses had his hands held up, the pastor
children who attend his ministry are Muslims. He asked that the western church would do the same for
said one of the most beautiful things is ‘hearing the believers in Syria. He urged me to ensure the western
children sing worship songs to Jesus’. church doesn’t forget about our brothers and sisters,
particularly the children.
During my time with this pastor, who for his security
will remain unnamed, he shared the story of a boy This pastor firmly believed the transformation of the
whose entire family was killed in the war. When the little boy wasn’t in vain, because there is still hope for
pastor asked him what he wanted to do when he the next generation of believers in Syria.
grew up, the boy said, “I will buy a weapon and go
and kill those who killed my parents.” We’ve dedicated this edition of Frontline Faith to the
children of the persecuted church.
opendoors.org.au
opendoors.org.au
Children have been used as weapons of war. They
often continue to be used for years to come as the I hope their stories challenge you to be bolder in your
violence and injustice they’ve seen leads them to faith, to pray for the global body of Christ and to be
seek revenge. unashamed in your pursuit of Jesus.
Over the course of eight months, the pastor spent Thank you for playing your part in advancing the
time with the boy and involved him in as much of gospel in more than 70 countries– one of the most
the ministry as possible. He would follow the pastor exciting, hope-filled journeys you could ever be part
around and help with whatever was needed. Then the of. Your prayers, financial help and support does not
pastor asked him again what he wanted to do when go unnoticed. Thank you from all of us at Open Doors!
he grew up.
“When I grow up, I’ll work with you in this clinic and we
will serve together,” he said.
In the Bible, Exodus 17 talks about a battle between
Israel and the Amalekites. Moses climbed to the top of
a hill where he could see Joshua and his men fighting
and when Moses lifted his hands, the Israelites would
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opendoors.org.nz
take ground. But when he grew tired, they would lose. Mike Gore
Aaron and Hur stood on either side and supported his CEO Open Doors Australia and New Zealand
arms. michaelg@od.org / @_mikegore
Nari*
OPEN DOORS LIVE PODCAST Trafficked Nari* and her younger sister grew up in North
Korea during a severe famine. The girls sometimes
went without food for 10 days. When life became
Bring the persecuted church to life. Listen now on Apple, Soundcloud or Podcast Addict on Android. unbearable, a woman promised them safe passage
Nari’s Story of Escape From North Korea
into China and smuggled the girls across the border.
When they arrived in China, the woman sold Nari and
her sister to two Chinese men. The safety they had
been promised was a lie.
“We were sold just like that,” Nari said. “She had no
intention to help. She only wanted to make money off
Frontline Faith 2018
Frontline Faith 2018
of us… The men who bought us never let us out.”
opendoors.org.au/podcast | opendoors.org.nz/podcast
–2– –3–
Finding Faith Escape to South Korea
Issue 06 / Children Of The Persecuted Church
Issue 06 / Children Of The Persecuted Church
Nari lived in a rural area, 4km from her sister. The They also had to take a small boat across a river full of
toilets were outside, and the men would follow the crocodiles.
girls even when they had to relieve themselves. Nari’s parents, other sister, and younger brother also
escaped to China. Her mother was only 12kms from Without a Chinese ID card, Nari was always at risk “I said to God, there are many crocodiles in the river
Her sister’s husband treated her well, even though Nari’s home and they were able to get in contact. of being arrested. She told her husband since he and I pray that our boat won’t capsize or else we will
she had to work long hours on the farm. Nari’s couldn’t get her an ID card, she would escape to get eaten by the animals. God answered all those
husband was much more abusive. She worked 16 South Korea. A lady from their church offered to help. prayers, and we arrived safely in Thailand.”
hours a day, sometimes more. “My mother, who was finally discovering the faith of
my grandmother, took me to church. I listened to the The journey out of China was very dangerous. A few months later, Nari was transferred to South
“We were forced to sleep with them at night too, hymns and they gave me so much peace. And when I She was driven across slippery mountains with Korea. She was the first of her family to arrive. The
because we could not resist or escape. My younger listened to the sermon, I cried. I’ve got to live, deep ravines. others arrived later and now her son lives with her in
sister and I both became pregnant,” Nari said. I thought. The invisible God can help me. I don’t need South Korea.
to end my life when I can get His guidance.” “The invisible God can help me. I don’t
All Nari knew about Christianity was what she had “I’m convinced my grandmother’s prayers saved me,”
been taught at school. They told them bad stories Nari wanted to go to church every Sunday, but her need to end my life when I can get Nari said.
about missionaries and that Christianity was harmful. husband was against it. Nari snuck out to church as
But, growing up Nari’s grandmother was a secret believer. often as she could. His guidance.” She continues to worship God and believes He
always hears her prayers.
“Every night, my grandmother washed herself and put “It was very dangerous. Sometimes the police would “I kept praying all the time. If we fell down, we would
on her neat ‘hanbok’. Then she went to her room or come, surround the church and check everyone’s ID. have all died,” she said. *Names changed for security reasons.
the backyard, where nobody could see her. There she We, as North Koreans, don’t have any ID cards. But it
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opendoors.org.au
prayed,” Nari said. was the beginning of my faith.”
“At times, I felt so desperate. What I didn’t realise at the
time, was that my grandmother’s prayers still covered
me many years after her death.”
Behind Bars
One day, when Nari was pregnant, she was arrested.
If they decided to send her back to North Korea,
Nari would be forced to abort her child.
“That night in prison, I suddenly remembered my
grandmother prayers,” Nari said. “I was placed in a
different cell. Other North Koreans were repatriated,
but I was let go. It was a miracle.”
Even after her son was born, Nari continued to be
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opendoors.org.nz
exploited and abused.
“I did not starve as I was starving in North Korea, but
I didn’t live the life of a human,” she said. “I laboured
just like a cow or pig would. There was no [financial]
compensation and I was beaten up once every two or
three days.”
“My husband kept saying: ‘Because I bought you with
money, and because you’re from North Korea, even if
I kill you, nobody will arrest me.’”
Nari thought death was the only way to relieve the
pain. She emptied a bottle of pills into her hand, and
was ready to swallow them. At precisely that moment
her son walked in, crying out her name.
“Looking at my child, I realised that if I had died, he
would have lost his mum,” Nari said. “I wasn’t a
Frontline Faith 2018
Frontline Faith 2018
perfect mum, but still I could not leave him behind.”
North Korea bordering rural China.
–4– –5–
Issue 06 / Children Of The Persecuted Church
Issue 06 / Children Of The Persecuted Church
“My mother was shocked,” Elijah said. “For her, it “I went deep into the jungle to hang myself from a
must not happen, because they were known in the tree,” Elijah said. “I cried. I screamed, ‘Jesus, if you
community as strong Buddhists… She tried to abort are truly God, speak to me! Tell me what I should do.”
me, trying different tactics from taking herbs that
would induce a miscarriage to even throwing herself “My son, I have heard your prayer,” a voice said.
in front of a speeding car.”
Elijah felt only God would call him son and decided
None of her attempts to end Elijah’s life worked. She not to take his life.
carried him to full term and eventually gave birth.
However, Elijah was very sick and spent most of his Pray We Will Be Faithful
first year in hospital.
When Elijah told his friends and family about his new
Searching For God faith in Jesus, his father disowned him.
“I struggled. It was painful to be without a family,”
In his teenage years, Elijah started using drugs and
Elijah said. “But it would have been more painful
eventually moved to the Thai border to work as a
without Jesus. I decided to go to a Bible school so
kitchen helper. I could learn more about God and how to serve Him.”
“One night, my boss told me to take the garbage out Elijah married a woman named Esther and, now with
at the back of the restaurant,” he said. “I saw two thick their four children, they’ve planted churches in five
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opendoors.org.au
books in the trash bin. They looked so nice in their villages, run a children’s development centre, an
blue leather covers … I immediately got the books orphanage, and a Bible school.
and showed them to one of my colleagues at the
restaurant.” “We are training future missionaries,” Elijah said. “Pray
that we will be faithful. God has given me so much.
Elijah’s colleague was a Christian and told him the He saved me and redeemed me. He has been with
books were Bibles. The Bibles were written in English me and my wife. He has given me wisdom and power
and Thai, and Elijah couldn’t understand any of it. His to do His will.”
colleague took him to the pastor’s wife who could
teach him.
*Name changed for security reasons.
“I just knew deep within me that Buddhism could not
give me answers. It was not satisfying my deepest “He has even given me the gift to speak
needs. This made me more open to learn more about
the book.” different languages and now I can talk
to friends from other countries like you!
Elijah began to understand what he was reading and
realised a Jesus film he had once seen was from the All I ask is that you pray for us to remain
books of Matthew and Luke. He also remembered
faithful to Him.”
opendoors.org.nz
opendoors.org.nz
when he was 16, his grandfather, the sorcerer and
Buddhist, gave him the book of Mark. Elijah had no
idea where his grandfather got it from.
“I read about Jesus Christ; that He was God.
Something in me was stirred. Could this be what
I was looking for? Despite what I was learning from
the Bible, I was also experiencing frustrations...
Street scene in Asia Eventually, I slid into depression.”
Persecuted Elijah* grew up in a family of strong Buddhists in
Myanmar. His grandfather was the local sorcerer. 2019 T R AV E L W I T H U S
Before Birth “He could cast spells on people,” Elijah said. “He could
tell what was going to happen in the future. He saw
Frontline Partners are invited to travel
with us in 2019 to visit and encourage the
things that ordinary people could not see.” persecuted church.
Elijah Was Destined For Faith
Frontline Faith 2018
Frontline Faith 2018
When Elijah’s mother was pregnant with him, she had
a dream the baby would become a strong leader, but Find Out More:
he would not be a Buddhist and would grow up to opendoors.org.au/travel | opendoors.org.nz/travel
worship a different God.
–6– –7–
Issue 06 / Children Of The Persecuted Church
Issue 06 / Children Of The Persecuted Church
Gifts O f Hope
Christmas Catalogue
opendoors.org.au
opendoors.org.au
1 2 3 7 8 9
opendoors.org.nz
opendoors.org.nz
4 5 6 10 11 12
Gifts For You Give A Gift This Christmas Our Catalogue
We’ve hand picked our favourite projects for you. Have you thought about giving a Gift Of Hope as 1. Bible Delivery $20 7. Discipleship Training For Believers $15
a Christmas present? If you order using the order 2. Clean Water For Persecuted Christians $45 8. Healing For A Traumatised Church $40
Each of these gifts are linked directly with a project to form included with this magazine, you can receive a 3. Sharing The Gospel In The Muslim World $75 9. Support The Church In North Korea $50
Frontline Faith 2018
Frontline Faith 2018
support persecuted Christians. When you purchase a Christmas Greeting Card so you can share hope with 4. Rebuilding The Church In Iraq $100 10. Emergency Relief For Syria $80
gift, you are making a donation to that project. your friends and family this Christmas! 5. Support For Refugees And Orphans $400 11. Joy Through Handmade Toys* $120
6. Disciple Secret Believers $1,000 12. Help Secret Believers Living As Slaves $335
opendoors.org.au/goh | opendoors.org.nz/goh *Currently available in Australia only
–8– –9–
Knot Forgotten
Issue 06 / Children Of The Persecuted Church
Issue 06 / Children Of The Persecuted Church
The cost of following Christ is increasing around the world and children
of persecuted believers are most vulnerable. You can encourage and
strengthen children by delivering handmade toys through Knot Forgotten.
The Children Of The Persecuted Church
Children often experience persecution for their parent’s faith in Jesus.
Chinese children from the Zhejiang Province were asked to fill out a form
at school stating they have no religion. Those who declared they were
Christians were told to resubmit the form with a different answer. Children receiving Knot Forgotten toys in a rehabilitation centre Child in rehabilitation centre for woman and children
We’re sharing the love of Jesus In Bangladesh, believers who leave Islam to follow Jesus risk their own
with children of the persecuted lives and their children’s future.
church by creating and
opendoors.org.au
opendoors.org.au
delivering hand crocheted Knot Twelve-year-old Urmi belonged to a family of six. She lived in a
Forgotten toys. You can bring predominantly Muslim village and kept her faith hidden for as long as she
hope to a child and lets them could remember.
know they are not forgotten.
“I have many friends in school. But they don’t know
@knotforgottenod that my family and I are Christians.”
|
“My teacher lives in our village and she knows that we are Christians, but I
don’t think she’ll tell it to others.
“Pray for us,” Urmi said. “If people find out, they might kill us.”
What Is Knot Forgotten?
Open Doors aims to share the love of Jesus with children of the persecuted
church through crocheted Knot Forgotten toys. The toys are handmade
by supporters and delivered to bring joy to children who are persecuted
for following Jesus. They also help the local church share God’s love with
opendoors.org.nz
opendoors.org.nz
children who don’t know Him yet.
Since October 2017, over 2,500 toys have been made and delivered to
the Middle East, Central Asia and South East Asia.
Syrian refugee child in Lebanon playing with Knot Forgotten toy
The Impact Of A Toy
Each toy brings hope to a child and lets them know they are not forgotten.
During his visit to Australia, Sandeep our local partner from India, took a
Knot Forgotten toy home to give to a pastor whose 4-year-old daughter
was sexually assaulted at school because of her faith. Sandeep told us that
gestures like this help point persecuted children to Jesus in order to heal. B E A R I N A B AG
A Bear In A Bag Buy a bear in a bag and start making your first
Knot Forgotten toy.
You can remind a child in the midst of their suffering that they have not
been forgotten by God or His Church. Buy a Bear In A Bag to get started
making your first Knot Forgotten toy. We’ll send you everything you need Find out more:
to create your first toy and send it to a child of the persecuted church. opendoors.org.au/knotforgotten
Frontline Faith 2018
Frontline Faith 2018
You’ll also be supporting the work of Open Doors worldwide. opendoors.org.nz/knotforgotten
To buy a Bear In A Bag visit:
opendoors.org.au/knotforgotten | opendoors.org.nz/knotforgotten
– 10 – – 11 –
Controlled And Cut Off
Issue 06 / Children Of The Persecuted Church
Issue 06 / Children Of The Persecuted Church
Mateo takes part in multiple education programs, job
skills training, pastoral guidance and musical training.
Life within indigenous communities in Colombia is not
easy, especially if you are a Christian. Mateo is about to finish high school and wants to
go to university to study veterinary science and
Mateo’s family were often denied access to health agronomy, He wants to teach his home community
services and education. They were regularly harassed how to better care for animals and cultivate the land.
and under constant scrutiny.
“If we can find the ways and means to send Mateo
“In my home community, there was no way to study, to university, he will be the first indigenous Christian
since the only schools are those controlled by the from his tribe to have a degree,” said Javier* who
indigenous authorities,” Mateo said. manages the shelter.
“In those schools you cannot be a “He will be able to break the myth that indigenous
Christians can’t go to university, and will be a beautiful
Christian, or read the Bible.” example for others within his community.”
Mateo also had to work in the field from the age Some children have gone on to preach the gospel
of six or seven, to help provide for his family. in other parts of Colombia. The next generation of
There are scars on his skin from using a machete. Christian leaders are being formed.
opendoors.org.au
opendoors.org.au
La Casita Children’s Home “I feel very proud of Mateo,” said his mother “In him,
our community and our family have high hopes.”
When it became too dangerous for Mateo and his
family, Mateo went to live at ‘La Casita Children’s Colombia is ranked number 49 on the 2018 World Watch
Home’ – a shelter built by Open Doors for children of List. To find out what life is like for Christians living in
the persecuted church and indigenous communities the 50 hardest countries in the world to follow Jesus,
in Colombia. go to opendoors.org.au/wwl | opendoors.org.nz/wwl
There are currently 16 children aged between 10-18 *Names changed for security purposes
staying at La Casita. In the shelter, they are protected
from the violence of persecution, including the threat
of sexual assault from some tribal leaders.
opendoors.org.nz
opendoors.org.nz
Mateo outside his home in Colombia
A Smuggler’s Mateo’s mother often risked her life to smuggle
Bibles to indigenous communities in Colombia. Mateo*
Son
would often accompany her on her journey. He spent
many hours trekking across mountains and through
the jungle in the cover of night.
Frontline Faith 2018
Frontline Faith 2018
Mateo’s Story Of Persecution He was his mother’s protector, prepared to shield her
In Colombia from wild animals or attackers. Mateo remembers
those times as some of the most exciting of his life.
He was not afraid. He knew he wanted to serve God. Mateo’s home in Colombia
– 12 – – 13 –
Issue 06 / Children Of The Persecuted Church
Issue 06 / Children Of The Persecuted Church
Sixty Second Stories Letter Writing Campaign
Short Stories You Can Share Encourage Marta From Ethiopia
Ethiopia is a difficult place to be a Christian, especially if you have left
Islam to convert to Christianity.
Marta’s family practiced folk Islam in their village. When she was very
young, the local witchdoctor asked for her as payment in exchange for
spiritual protection. Marta became the witchdoctor’s servant and wife and
experienced years of abuse.
Her aunty was a Christian and visited Marta regularly to share the gospel
Marqos Street in Pakistan Saed Marta from Ethiopia with her. One day, Marta decided to give her life to Jesus.
Marta eventually escaped the witchdoctor and moved in with her aunty.
Do: She was able to share her faith with her siblings and mother, who all
“I was proud of my father, “Papa reminded me Jesus “I found shreds of the – Print clearly in English became Christians. Her father left them because of their new faith. Now
opendoors.org.au
opendoors.org.au
for standing by his faith was also hit and wounded, gospel in the dust... I learnt – Be brief and encouraging it’s hard for them to find work.
– Provide your name and country only
until the last moment.” and even killed.” about God’s love.” – Send greeting cards, artwork from Open Doors ran a youth program for Marta and other young believers to
children and postcards disciple and encourage them. Marta still cannot talk about her time with
the witchdoctor without crying.
Marqos and his family lived in a Six-year-old Meeral* lives in Saed grew up in a majority Muslim Do not:
small coastal city in Egypt. One Pakistan. Last semester, Meeral area in Palestine. Muslims were – Mention Open Doors Pray for her healing and write a letter of encouragement to Marta.
Sunday morning, when Marqos came home from school with burning Bibles distributed by – Send money
was 17, Islamic extremists dragged bruises and cuts. There had been missionaries. – Criticise a country
his father out of his pharmacy and a fight at school. Her brother found – Make proposals to help
forced him to kneel in the street. Meeral on the floor. A classmate “One day, I found those shreds of
was hurling insults at her because the gospel in the dust,” Saed said.
“They put two guns at my father’s of her faith in Jesus. “I took them home, glued them
head and told him to convert to together and started reading them.
Islam,” Marqos said. “But he shook
his head. Then they shot him.”
Fearing for her safety, her brother
told Meeral to keep quiet and come
with him. She was distraught she
That is how I learnt about God’s love
for us, through Christ His Son.” 2 019 Wo r l d Wa t c h L i s t
“I was proud of my father, for couldn’t share the gospel with the Today, there are only 67 Christians in The 50 Most Dangerous Countries To Follow Jesus.
standing by his faith until the last boy who attacked her. his area. Saed shares the gospel by
opendoors.org.nz
opendoors.org.nz
moment,” Marqos said. distributing Bibles.
“He did not let me tell that boy about
“Marqos used to be a difficult the power of Jesus,” Meeral sobbed. “Christians can make a difference;
teenager,” his mother said. “But they keep the community more
after the murder, all of a sudden, “A boy hit me because I am a Christian. tolerant, more diverse, and prevent
I found him reading his Bible and He does not like Christians, but Papa it from radicalising. So, we really are
praying.” reminded me Jesus was also hit and the light and the salt,” Saed said.
wounded, and even killed- so it’s okay.”
Marqos’ father used to wake up Saed also works hard to ensure his
every morning at 5am to study the Her brother admits Meeral has children hear about Jesus.
Bible and pray. a strong faith. “But we must be
cautious,” he said. “There are so “At school they hear a lot about the
“Apparently, that helped him become few Christians in Pakistan that I am Quran and about Mohammed; they
a strong believer,” Marqos said. sure some of us are needed outside don’t have a choice. That’s why I
the prisons.” work extra hard here at home to
Now if Marqos doesn’t understand teach them about Jesus...I want
a Bible verse he talks to his mother “That means the best churches must my children to know what it means
and they pray about it. be inside prison,” Meeral responded. to be Christian... I hope the new
generation will be eager to hear the
Frontline Faith 2018
Frontline Faith 2018
“This is what my husband and I have Praise God for her faith and pray for gospel.” New Country Rankings Released 16 January 2019.
always prayed for together,” she the next generation of believers in
said, “that the Lord would touch his Pakistan. opendoors.org.au | opendoors.org.nz
heart and pull him closer to Him.”
– 14 – – 15 –
GIFTS OF HOPE
Give A Gift Of Hope This Christmas
Find Out More
opendoors.org.au/goh | opendoors.org.nz/goh
SERVING PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS WORLDWIDE
Open Doors Australia | PO Box 734 Penrith 2751 | (02) 9451 2999 | (07) 3077 7460 | (03) 8609 1918 | odaustralia@od.org | opendoors.org.au
Open Doors New Zealand | PO Box 51236 Tawa 5249 | (04) 232 7055 | newzealand@od.org | opendoors.org.nz
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