STANDING WITH THE PERSECUTED CHURCH
Each year, more than 340 million Christians face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith in Jesus. Persecution in various forms is happening in every nation, from religious intolerance, false accusations, contempt, illegal arrests, even to death itself. For many followers of Christ, the name of Jesus cannot be uttered in public or Christian worship is forbidden or restricted.
persecution in numbers (2023)
Amazingly, persecuted believers around the world don’t look to us to end their struggle. Instead, these courageous men and women ask for just two things: Scripture resources and prayers. Open Doors empowers persecuted Christians by supplying Bibles and Christian literature, training Christian leaders, facilitating social/economic projects and uniting believers in the West in prayer for Christians, who are the most persecuted religious group in the world and are oppressed in at least 70 countries.
For more than 60 years, Open Doors has worked in the world's most oppressive and restrictive countries, strengthening Christians to stand strong in the face of persecution and equipping them to shine Christ's light in these places. When Christians are strengthened in the Lord, they begin to demonstrate God's forgiveness and reach out in love, even to their oppressors.
Each year Open Doors releases a "world watch list" which notes the top 50 countries where Christians face high to extreme persecution. See the list below.
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How can you help to support and strengthen our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ? By learning where the church is being persecuted, what they are facing and how you can help. By praying for them. By partnering with The Lakeside Church in missions giving to Open Doors.
