FRONTLINE FAITH SHARING THE INSIDE STORY OF THE PERSECUTED CHURCH

Transcription

1 FRONTLINE FAITH SHARING THE INSIDE STORY OF THE PERSECUTED CHURCH BUILDING THE CHURCH THE BO O KLOCAL O F AC TS Image: Christians return to church to celebrate Palm Sunday in Qaraqosh, Iraq, after two years under Islamic State control REBUILDING IN IRAQ Walking With The Church Page 4 FAMINE IN AFRICA A Man-Made Crisis Page 6 VIETNAM We Don t Give Up Page 10 MARTYRED IN IRAN He Died In My Place Page 12

2 Partner With The Persecuted The Local Church Solution PARTNERING WITH LOCAL CHRISTIANS Recently I met a brother who is a secret believer in a Muslim country. I can t show his face or share his name. He collects garbage for a living and tries to sell what he can from what he collects. He also draws out sand from the local riverbed to sell. He told us that it doesn t cover my family costs but I rely on the Lord to deliver. He is married and has five children. In May 2008 he was baptised after being invited to church and within one month of his conversion he had led seven families to the Lord (not individual family members, but whole families!). He told us how each day he would rise early and work until 1pm. After resting for an hour, he goes and shares the gospel from 2pm until 9pm. He does this every single day. A LETTER FROM MIKE GORE Image: This secret believer is currently discipling an underground church of 20 new converts. The thing I love about the ministry of Open Doors is that we aim specifically at ensuring the survival of the worldwide local church in order to fulfil the Great Commission. We do this in some of the most conflicted countries on the planet. I firmly believe that if you want to see people wake up with a God given dream or vision to change their nation, the local church is the genesis of that. Ensuring it s survival is without question one of the most courageous and effective things we can do. As a ministry we re on the ground, but we choose to stay out of sight, ensuring the local church is what shines and enabling them to truly be the hands and feet of Christ. Our focus is not a military, political or government backed solution. Iraq. Syria. North Korea. Somalia. Nigeria. How do you even start finding solutions in countries like these? How do you heal a nation like Syria, rebuild in Iraq or solve the famine in Nigeria? We re Not Trying To Save The Persecuted Church Often our natural tendency is to jump in and fix problems. This is where Open Doors is different. Our primary mission is to strengthen the persecuted church and equip them to stay. We come alongside the local church, find out what they re doing in the local community and then we ask them how can we help? The persecuted church doesn t need another Saviour. Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world, and the Saviour of the persecuted church. We don t try to save them, we serve them. Local problems need local solutions. We support the local church as they share Jesus in their home countries. Once we let this deep truth sink in, our perspective is turned upside down. Those Who Need Saving The people who need saving are no longer the persecuted, but the persecutors. With this new perspective, extremists stop being our enemy and start being our mission field. We stop praying against dictators and start praying for them to discover Jesus. We stop running from terrorists and start taking the gospel to them. Perseverance And Pressure It s not an easy mission, and following Jesus always comes at a cost. We mourn and suffer with our brothers and sisters as they are persecuted for simply believing in Jesus. We sit with them in sorrow and work through their trauma. Sometimes simply holding onto faith seems impossible. So we must pray and stand with our family to encourage them to persevere. Why? Because Jesus is worth it. He told us how he is currently discipling 20 converts from Islam, and the next day would be secretly baptising four people in a hotel swimming pool. He also said he still goes to the Mosque. I asked him, why? And he replied, To evangelise of course! On Thursdays, during the reciting of the Quran, he stays quiet and during prayer time silently declares: THERE IS NO OTHER GOD THAN JESUS, TOUCH THEIR HEARTS AND DRAW THEM TO YOU. As we continued speaking and hearing about more bold and courageous things this brother does for the Lord, he looked at me and said something that I don t think I ll ever forget: Part of the proof that you believe in Christ is that you share Him. Our solution is Jesus and we believe He works through His bride, the Church. This is what it means to partner with the persecuted church in the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. It s why your help makes such a great difference. We are always looking for more people to join the battle. Please consider getting your church involved in Brother Andrew s dream of strengthening what remains (Revelation 3:2). We ve been doing it for more than 60 years and the next 60 are just as exciting. Thank you for partnering with the persecuted church. God Bless, Mike Gore CEO Open Doors NZ michaelg@od.org Image: Christians return to church to celebrate Palm Sunday in Qaraqosh, Iraq, after two years under Islamic State control. 2 Open Doors New Zealand Frontline Faith, 2017 Issue No.5 Building The Local Church Frontline Faith, 2017 Issue No.5 Building The Local Church Open Doors New Zealand 3

3 Rebuilding The Church In Iraq THE MOMENT WE VE WAITED FOR SINCE THE RISE OF THE ISLAMIC STATE ISIS Lose Their Point Of Origin Since June 2014, the black Islamic State flag has flown atop the Great Mosque of al-nuri in Mosul. This was where the self-proclaimed Islamic State declared the start of their caliphate (Islamic ruled state). This year on 29 June, Iraqi forces reclaimed this mosque, declaring the symbolic end of the Islamic State. The city of Mosul has also been liberated and the huge task of rebuilding has begun. For the past few years you have been supporting, praying for and feeding the church in Iraq to ensure their survival. This is the moment we ve waited for since the Islamic State first drove people out of their homes in This is the moment Christians are able to return to villages and homes. Now is the time to rebuild the church in Iraq to be light in the darkness. NOW IS THE TIME TO REBUILD THE CHURCH IN IRAQ TO BE LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS. Returning Home Father Thabet is a leader of a local church just outside of Mosul. He had to flee to another city when the Islamic State invaded his home town of Karamles. After the city was reclaimed from the Islamic State in 2016, he decided to return. Father Thabet went to see the house he grew up in. It had been occupied by the Islamic State, then hit by a rocket. Nothing but rubble remained, and Father Thabet still fears there are dead bodies amongst the debris. Most of the 797 homes in Karamles have been burnt-out, and 97 have been reduced to rubble. The situation for Christians in Iraq has always been unstable. All I can do is trust in God, said Father Thabet. Here To Stay Despite such devastation, he has chosen to stay and help rehabilitate families returning home. Without faith I do not have a reason to stay here. But I have faith, so I am here. Image: The liberated City of Bartella that is located 15 km east of the suburbs of Mosul A Return Centre has been set up next to the church to accommodate people returning to rebuild their homes. So far 250 families have said they would like to return and rebuild before the end of the year. Persecution has often paved the way for revival. We are prayerfully seeking God to heal and strengthen His church in Iraq to bring the life changing solution of the gospel. Image: Father Thabet visiting his childhood home in Karamles. Basic services, like electricity, are being established for people who want to start restoring their homes and rebuilding their lives. A Different Solution This is an important time for Iraq, but it is not the end of the Islamic State. The Islamic State may be losing their physical state, but their ideology still remains. The Islamic States ideology has spread far, with groups like Boko Haram in Nigeria pledging their allegiance, and recent attacks in the Philippines a testimony to the widespread impact of this group. But the Islamic State is not the source of Iraq s problems, it s a product of them. We believe the ultimate problem of the world is a broken relationship with God, and the ultimate solution is Jesus Christ. The danger is not over for Christians. They faced persecution before Islamic State, and have a tough path ahead of them. But they are wanting to stay. We want to help rebuild the church in Iraq. Through local church leaders and partners, we are helping displaced Christians with emergency relief, and investing in people with micro-loans and job creation. We are walking with local Christians as they return home and seek to rebuild their lives. This will take years to heal and rebuild, and we re committed to see the long term development of the church. We have been partnering with the local church in the Middle East for almost 30 years and, God willing, for many more to come. 4 Open Doors New Zealand Frontline Faith, 2017 Issue No.5 Building The Local Church Frontline Faith, 2017 Issue No.5 Building The Local Church Open Doors New Zealand 5

4 The Famine In Africa INSIDE NIGERIA ONE OF THE FOUR COUNTRIES AFFECTED BY A DEVASTATING FAMINE Image: Women waiting for food distribution in Nigeria. Famine And Fighting You ve probably heard about the famine sweeping across Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen. 20 million people are at risk of starvation and even the UN s attempts to raise enough money to support them have fallen short. The Islamic State Of Africa Since 2009 the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram have tried to take over the country. In 2015, they pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Two core parts of their mission are to destroy the church and establish an Islamic governed state. This has been reported as the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II. Christians in Nigeria are among those suffering the most. Thousands of churches have been destroyed, businesses shut down and many Christians have been abducted including the 276 Chibok girls. Thousands have been forced to flee their homes and now live in makeshift camps. Families haven t been able to farm for three years, and now their food reserves have run out. Now there is a man-made famine ravaging northern Nigeria. THIS FAMINE ISN T CAUSED BY A NATURAL DISASTER OR DROUGHT. IT S CAUSED BY WAR. Nigeria can almost be divided in two, with the south being majority Christian, and the north majority Muslim. It s here in the north of Nigeria where Christians see violence, oppression and persecution. A New Perspective Life has not been easy for us, said Rhoda, who lost her father in a Boko Haram attack. Some organisations did bring help to people, but the Muslims just shared it among themselves. SHORT TERM RESPONSE LONG TERM RESPONSE Your support is providing food for 15,000 families affected by the famine in Nigeria. That s 75,000 people who will be helped in northern Nigeria. This is done through the local church, because we believe we are not the answer Jesus is. Your help enables the church to be the light in their community. Supporters won t believe what this help means to us all We give thanks to God for you. These are the things that keep the light of God shining in the north. We are the messengers to them of the love of all of you praying for us and supporting us in this relief effort. - Local partner in Nigeria We are committed to the long term survival and growth of the church in northern Nigeria. Through local church partnerships, we are strengthening Christians in the north to stand firm for the gospel. There are 2 million displaced people in Nigeria. That s 2 million people forced to flee their homes. Open Doors are stepping in where Christians are trying to be pressured out of their community after being denied access to vital everyday essentials. See the project on page 8 for more details about long term projects. Rhoda lined up with thousands of others at the local church. When she received the food aid you helped provide, she couldn t help but cry and hug the nearest worker. When God says: Never will I leave you nor forsake you, he was talking to me. Who am I that you send help to me? I am speechless. You are indeed angels sent by God to wipe my tears away. Map: 12 states in northern Nigeria are governed by Sharia law It is true that even in the heat of the crisis, gunshots and persecution, Christians could still show love. I hated Muslims and swore never to help them even if they are at the point of death, because they always deny us any support. But this support I received through Open Doors is unconditional and it has helped me to alter my hatred for Muslims. I have found a new perspective. 6 Open Doors New Zealand Frontline Faith, 2017 Issue No.5 Building The Local Church Image: Local church and partners distributing food. Frontline Faith, 2017 Issue No.5 Building The Local Church Open Doors New Zealand 7

5 SUPPORT NIGERIA Help Provide Long Term Support In Nigeria Access To Clean Water Changes Everything Gloria had to walk long distances everyday carrying 20kg of water back to her home. Travelling by foot made her more vulnerable to attacks. Gloria s only other option was to get water from murky streams, risking typhoid or other waterborne diseases. Because of your help, Open Doors has built over 40 boreholes in northern Nigeria, including in Gloria s village. Gloria and 100 other families are now using these boreholes every day. Because of your partnership, many have been encouraged in their faith. Some who had walked away from God in their suffering have now recommitted their lives to the Lord. These boreholes have even created opportunities for the church to serve their Muslim neighbours. IT WAS A BIG CHALLENGE TO STAY IN THIS VILLAGE BECAUSE OF LACK OF WATER NOW OUR NEIGHBOURS, WHO ARE MUSLIMS, ALSO COME HERE TO FETCH WATER. FIND OUT MORE WALK TO WATER 16 September 2017 PROVIDE WATER AND BASIC SERVICES PROJECT GOAL: $94,000 Why We Help In northern Nigeria, Christians are often denied access to the local water supply. They often cannot get an education for their children or even the basic medical assistance they need to live. The Project This project is part of the fundraiser Walk To Water In nothern Nigeria these funds will: Drill 12 boreholes over three years in villages where Christians are denied access to clean water supplies. Build and equip health clinics, and teaching rural communities about health and disease prevention. Develop school infrastructure, equip school libraries, and provide training for 180 teachers. FIND OUT MORE 8 Open Doors New Zealand Frontline Faith, 2017 Issue No.5 Building The Local Church Frontline Faith, 2017 Issue No.5 Building The Local Church Open Doors New Zealand 9

6 treatment every night for a week. But even in front of an angry crowd, with villages yelling and hurling insults at him, he refused to renounce his faith in Jesus Christ. A Simple Response They d barely heard much of the Bible, and because they were illiterate they d never been able to read it for themselves. Three times they poured sand into the petrol tank of his scooter, which was his only way to get into town for income. When we asked them how and why they continued to hold on, their response left us lost for words. They then slashed the hamstrings of his cows, killed his two dogs, cut up his crops, burned his grass, confiscated his field, beat his family and destroyed his house. The villages took his only pig and sacrificed it to the spirits. They left him without any source of income and under constant pressure. Vietnam One night they threw large stones through the roof of his home. They landed just centimetres away from Tim, his wife and son. They escaped just in time. THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS Forced To Flee Right now Tim, his wife and his son live in temporary accommodation because they have nothing. Tim can no longer return to his home village because of the bounty on his head. The authorities have said, We must kill the leader so that the rest will lose their faith. I always pray for the people who came and beat me, my wife and my son. They don t know about God and God is a heart changing God, Tim said. Image: Vietnam, one of five countries in the world still ruled by a Communist government. Mike Burrows Open Doors Worker I met Tim* on the ground in Vietnam. He had travelled 1,000km just to be with us. He, his wife, and his 12 year old son can t return to their village because there is a bounty on Tim s head. An Underground Church There s only five communist countries left in the world, and Vietnam is one of them. Rural village tribes worship spirits but Christianity is nationally condemned. Tim was the very first Christian in his village. In July 2015, he was on his way to the markets to sell a pig when he met a pastor and was invited to church. It was the first time he had heard the gospel and Tim accepted the Lord as his Saviour. Another believer from the village had travelled with Tim to meet us. The villagers had beaten him with bamboo rods and only stopped when they thought they d killed him. It had been a month since the attack, and his teeth were still loose. When Open Doors offered to relocate him, he refused. Who will tell them the gospel? he asked. We don t give up because we know Jesus, and he is coming back soon, Tim said. Because the Lord is gentle. He is not like the other gods we used to worship, said Tim s friend. WE DON T GIVE UP BECAUSE WE KNOW JESUS, AND HE IS COMING BACK SOON. Violence in Vietnam is increasing. In 2016, three Christians were killed and 35 churches were attacked. Pastors and believers were abducted, while others had their land confiscated. Please pray for the church in Vietnam. You can find out more about Vietnam at /vietnam At that time Jesus declared, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:25-30 *Names changed for security reasons He was quick to tell others about Jesus, and six families gave their lives to Christ. But Tim s village were driven by a fear of spirits, and each day they would offer sacrifices to appease them. The villagers noticed Tim had changed when he stopped offering sacrifices and stopped getting drunk as was customary after a sacrifice. They begged Tim to deny Jesus in fear of what might happen. When he refused to join in, the persecution began. The church is an underground church. Talking to Tim, it quickly became clear why the church needed to be so hidden. The Cost Of Following Jesus Tim was quickly identified as the Christian leader in the village, because he was the first to convert to Christianity. When he began sharing his testimony, he started to cry. Tim had to stop to gather his emotions, his interpreters eyes were also filled with tears. He was dragged out of his house in front of the village and told to renounce his faith to an audience of 100 people. He refused, so he received the same 10 Open Doors New Zealand Frontline Faith, 2017 Issue No.5 Building The Local Church Image: Church meeting in Vietnam. Frontline Faith, 2017 Issue No.5 Building The Local Church Open Doors New Zealand 11

7 Martyred In Iran HAIK HOVSEPIAN AND THE FASTEST GROWING CHURCH IN THE WORLD Who Is Haik Hovsepian? Hovsepian vanished on January 19, He was the leader of all Protestant churches in Iran. Haik gave his life to God as a young man. His parents divorced when he was nine. To help his mother survive, he became a shoe-shine boy on the street. When he heard the gospel from a Christian Bible study group, Haik decided to follow Jesus. His commitment was wholehearted and Haik wanted to reach Muslims in his homeland. He shared the gospel and planted his first church. A Voice For The Persecuted In 1991, a fellow pastor was killed for converting to Christianity. Pastor Haik took care of his four children and blind widow left behind. He spoke out strongly against the pastor s murder and became a voice for the persecuted church in Iran. Two years later another Christian man, Dibaj, was sentenced to death for leaving Islam to follow Jesus. He had already served ten years in prison for his crime. News of Dibaj s sentence reached Pastor Haik and he launched an international campaign raising prayer and demanding the sentence be overturned. Dibaj was released, and even the secular magazine TIME reported the story as an Answer to Prayer. But all this noise had caused trouble in Iran, and there was a price to pay. He Died In My Place Three days after Dibaj was released, Haik disappeared. He was later discovered with 26 stab wounds to the chest around his heart. His attackers buried him in an Islamic cemetery. Haik knew the attack was coming after being told the authorities had decided to kill him. I m ready, was all he said. Haik wanted his life to bear much fruit. Jesus said, fruit will only be produced if the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies Haik did lay down his life! And dare we again echo the words of Jesus, They did not take it from me, I laid it down of myself. Brother Andrew, Open Doors founder. When Jesus was crucified on Friday, there was one person who knew who Christ died for. It was Barabbas. If there s one person in the church of Iran who knows that Haik died in his place, it s me. Dibaj. Six months later Dibaj was also abducted and killed. Image: Haik Hovsepian Hope For Iran The martyrdom of Pastor Haik Hovsepian made global news headlines and in the year following his death, his church doubled in attendance. Pastor Haik was survived by his wife and their four children, Rebecca, Joseph, Gilbert and Andre. They moved to California after ongoing pressure and persecution from their community. In 2000,they started a new life in the US and founded Hovsepian Ministries. His three sons are now pastors and felt lead by the Lord to use their profession and gifts for the Kingdom of God. They produce films and TV series to encourage and disciple young Iranians. World s Fastest Growing Church More people have given their lives to Christ in Iran in the last 20 years than they ever did in the past 13 centuries, according to The Gospel Coalition. Iran has been named the fastest growing evangelical church in the world. Persecution is a big driver of this. But for Christians living in Iran today, persecution looks different. There has been a change in the approach of the government, said a local Iranian Christian. Twenty years ago, the approach was much more brutal: people were killed for becoming Christians, and this would happen inside and outside the country. Image: Rebecca Hovsepian and her children, Joseph, Gilbert, Andre and Rebecca. When the Hovsepian family left their country, the Muslim community celebrated the exodus of these Christians. Now their TV ministry reaches thousands not only in Iran, but thousands more in surrounding countries. Their ministry has been multiplied a hundred times. Of course, after the martyrdom, at the very beginning, there was some confusion regarding God being in control of the whole situation; however, since God s goodness never fails, as time passed by, and especially after seeing so many people s faith and zeal for Christ strengthened, we were assured of God s sovereignty. Nothing happened outside of His will. Rebecca Hovsepian. Now the approach is to put people under pressure by giving them long prison sentences or heavy fines, and spreading fear. They don t kill them anymore, or at least not often, but what they do is plant fear into people s lives. Mansour Borji, advocacy officer for human rights initiative Article 18, told Christian news agency, World Watch Monitor, In a nutshell, there is a systematic attempt to deprive churches of membership, literature, leadership training and development, communion with other Christians around the world, and the right to freedom of religion guaranteed by the international covenants of which Iran is a signatory. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10 12 Open Doors New Zealand Frontline Faith, 2017 Issue No.5 Building The Local Church Frontline Faith, 2017 Issue No.5 Building The Local Church Open Doors New Zealand 13

8 Sixt y Second Stories IS YOUR CHURCH LOOKING FOR A MISSION PARTNER? Get in touch with us and find out more about Church Partnerships! Vietnam WHILE MINH WAS UNCONSCIOUS HE SAID, GOD TOUCH MY HEART, THEN HE WOKE UP. Minh* was a young man who got involved with drugs when he moved to the city. One day he was in a serious knife fight that nearly took his life. Because he couldn t afford his hospital bill, Minh s friend left him alone on the bed to die. While Minh was unconscious, his mind went back to a time when a woman came to his village. She told him about Jesus. While Minh was unconscious he said God touch my heart then he woke up. None of his friends were beside his bed, but Pastor Sun* (an Open Doors partner) was there. You must repent Pastor Sun said, and Minh gave his life to God. He now attends Pastor Sun s church the same church of the woman who shared Jesus with Minh in his village all those years ago. North Cameroon I DECIDED TO ALSO GIVE MY LIFE TO THE SAME JESUS WHO HAD TOUCHED MY DAUGHTER. Kadidja* is a 12 year old Christian girl from a Muslim background in northern Cameroon. She was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis after her father passed away. The local church in Cameroon supported her and Kadidja gave her life to Christ. The Muslim community pressured her mother to stop her daughter spending time with infidels. I cannot deny my daughter to be with the Christians who have been so good to her, said Kadidja s mum. All of these things have really touched me, and I decided to also give my life to the same Jesus who had touched my daughter. During our last visit at the hospital, doctors testified that her situation is improving. I am so grateful for this change. 14 Open Doors New Zealand Frontline Faith, 2017 Issue No.5 Building The Local Church Malaysia GOD CALLED AHN* AS A MISSIONARY TO MALAYSIA, BUT HE COULDN T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE. God called Ahn* as a missionary to Malaysia, but he couldn t speak the language. He was scared and knew that saying yes to Jesus would mean he couldn t provide for his family. But he obeyed God and went to Malaysia. Sharing the gospel was incredibly hard because of the communication barrier and a after while he became depressed. Ahn called his wife and said, If I can t get a breakthrough with the language in one week I will come home because it is just too hard. Ahn prayed and fasted and on the fourth day he felt a pop in his ear. All of a sudden Ahn could understand the local language and was able to communicate the message of the gospel. CONTACT US newzealand@od.org Letter Writing Campaign WRITING GUIDELINES Print clearly in English Be brief and encouraging Provide your name and country, (not your full address) Best To Send: Greeting cards, artwork from children and postcards (send postcards in an envelope, do not write Open Doors' address on the postcard) Make Sure You: Don't mention Open Doors Don't send money Do not criticise a country Do not make proposals to help *Names changed for security reasons Send To: PO Box Tawa, Wellington 5249 by 31 October 2017 In the mountains of northern Colombia, indigenous communities see Christianity as a threat to their culture. The penalty for following Christ is imprisonment, torture, exile and sometimes death. Ernestina* is working to get the gospel into remote areas of the mountains. At night she travels 10 hours on foot with her husband and son. They have managed to reach over 200 indigenous Christians. I know they are being taken care of and are being formed in the love of Christ, said Ernestina. You can write to the home where there are five girls and 10 teenage boys living. This house is caring and discipling for the children of persecuted Christians. *Name changed for security reasons Children of persecuted Christians are forced into practicing satanic rituals as part of their cultural traditional education. Open Doors has been able to provide a home for them to safely grow in their faith, including Ernestina s son. Church in Colombia Frontline Faith, 2017 Issue No.5 Building The Local Church Open Doors New Zealand 15

9 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER 5 November 2017 FIND OUT MORE /idop Image: Christians who were part of a three day prayer rally in Nigeria in Unite With Churches In Prayer For The Persecuted Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. 1 Chronicles 16:11 SERVING PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS WORLDWIDE Open Doors New Zealand PO Box Tawa, Wellington 5249 (04) newzealand@od.org