A FOUR-PART SERIES ON PERSECUTION IN THE BIBLE AND THE WORLD.

A FOUR-PART SERIES ON PERSECUTION IN THE BIBLE AND THE WORLD.

Open Doors Youth shares stories from the Persecuted Church to inspire and shape the passion and faith of youth and young adults. Their stories of persecution, tragedy and triumph break the chains of complacency so we can truly realise the value of faith in our God. We respond to the cry of the persecuted church by standing up for our faith and standing with our brothers and sisters. Open Doors started with one man Brother Andrew, smuggling Bibles in his VW beetle. Over 60 years later we are an international organisation supporting thousands of believers worldwide. Booking & Partnership Information If you would like to know more about our events, book a speaker, or contact us about prayer and bible study resources, you can visit our website www.opendoors.org.au or send us an email at youthau@od.org 1.

RISK TAKING CHRISTIANITY Fatima in Saudi Arabia RADICAL FAITH Hea Woo in North Korea STUDY ONE WHAT IS PERSECUTION? STUDY TWO WHY DO CHRISTIANS ENDURE PERSECUTION? STUDY THREE WHERE IS GOD IN PERSECUTION? STUDY FOUR WHAT IS OUR RESPONSE TO PERSECUTION? THANKFULNESS Helen Berhane in Eritrea VIDEOS PRAYER THAT BRINGS REVIVAL The story of China You can find all the videos for this Bible study series on the Open Doors Australia Youtube Channel Playlist: Christian Persecution Stories https://www.youtube.com/odaustralia/playlists Would you go to church if you knew it could be attacked mid-service? Would you own a Bible if being caught with it could send you to prison? Would you be ready to give your life up for your faith? Millions of believers around the world face these decisions every day. They worship the same God as us, follow the same Saviour, and His Name is the cause of their suffering. Why is it so dangerous in some countries to be a Christian? How do we support people who face death daily to stand up for their faith? Does God leave his people to suffer? Is this what Christianity really looks like? This series will help you stand up for your faith, and stand with our persecuted family. We want to look at the causes and effects of persecution. How sometimes the most heartbreaking times bring the biggest growth. How we can stand in love despite being hated. How we have a Saviour who is greater than death, bigger than any barriers, greater than kings and absolutely passionate to see His people saved. 2. 3.

WHAT EXAMPLES OF PERSECUTION CAN YOU THINK OF FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT? STUDY ONE. READ ACTS 6:8-14, 7:51-60. WHY WAS STEPHEN KILLED? WHY WERE THE JEWS AGAINST JESUS? WHAT IS PERSECUTION? DISCUSSION - HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE PERSECUTION? Video - Fatima in Saudi Arabia Risk Taking Christianity PERSECUTION IN THE BIBLE READ JOHN 15:18-27 WHAT DOES JESUS SAY ABOUT PERSECUTION? WHAT SHOULD OUR ATTITUDE BE TOWARDS PERSECUTION? WHAT WAS STEPHEN S RESPONSE TO PERSECUTION? PERSECUTION IN THE WORLD IN WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED PERSECUTION? HOW HAS YOUR RESPONSE BEEN DIFFERENT TO STEPHEN S? - WORLD WATCH LIST MAP (ON NEXT PAGE) DO SOME OF THE COUNTRIES ON THIS LIST SURPRISE YOU? DO YOU KNOW MUCH ABOUT PERSECUTION IN ANY OF THESE COUNTRIES? PRAY Fatima was from Saudi Arabia, number 14 on the World Watch List. It s a full-on place to be a Christian in. Here are some facts about it. SAUDI ARABIA / WWL #14 - Converting to Christianity is punishable by death - There are 1.4 million Christians in a population of 32.7 million - Christians converted from Islam face the worst persecution, especially from their families - It is illegal to evangelise to Muslims - No church buildings are allowed Pray for Saudi Arabia. 4. 5.

16 43 SCORE (OUT OF 100) 1 81-100 35 37 29 23 38 7 47 41 11 8 32 14 22 34 50 48 24 49 15 26 2 25 17 40 45 18 33 28 9 10 5 12 30 4 44 27 21 53-60 39 3 20 36 61-80 19 6 31 13 42 46 22 017 017 WORLD WATCH LIST 1. North Korea 2. Somalia 3. Afghanistan 4. Pakistan 5. Sudan 6. Syria 7. Iraq 8. Iran 9. Yemen 10. Eritrea WORLD WATCH LIST The 50 Most Dangerous Countries To Follow Jesus. The 50 Most Dangerous Countries To Follow Jesus. 1. North Korea 11. Libya 2. Somalia12. Nigeria 3. Afghanistan 13. Maldives 4. Pakistan14. Saudi Arabia 5. Sudan 15. India 6. Syria 16. Uzbekistan 7. Iraq 17. Vietnam 8. Iran 18. Kenya 9. Yemen 19. Turkmenistan 10. Eritrea20. Qatar 11. Libya 12. Nigeria 13. Maldives 14. Saudi Arabia 15. India 16. Uzbekistan 17. Vietnam 18. Kenya 19. Turkmenistan 20. Qatar 21. Egypt 21. Egypt 22. Ethiopia 22. Ethiopia 23. Palestinian Territories 23. Palestinian Territories 24. Laos24. Laos 25. Brunei 25. Brunei 26. Bangladesh 26. Bangladesh 27. Jordan 27. Jordan 28. Myanmar 28. Myanmar 29. Tunisia 29. Tunisia 30. Bhutan 30. Bhutan 31. Malaysia 31. Malaysia 32. Mali 32. Mali 33. Tanzania 33. Tanzania 34. Central Republic 34. Central AfricanAfrican Republic 35. Tajikistan 35. Tajikistan 36. Algeria 36. Algeria 37. Turkey 37. Turkey 38. Kuwait 38. Kuwait 39. China 39. China 40. Djibouti 40. Djibouti SERVING PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS WORLDWIDE WWW.OPENDOORS.ORG.AU SOCIAL MEDIA 41. Mexico 41. Mexico 42. Comoros 42. Comoros 43. Kazakhstan 43. Kazakhstan 44. United Arab Emirates 44. United Arab Emirates Sri Lanka 45. Sri45. Lanka 46. Indonesia 46. Indonesia 47. Mauritania 47. Mauritania 48. Bahrain 48. Bahrain 49. Oman 49. Oman 50. Colombia 50. Colombia PO BOX 6237 FRENCHS FOREST NSW 2086

THE EFFECTS OF PERSECUTION STUDY TWO. READ ACTS 8:1-8. WHAT EFFECT DID PERSECUTION HAVE ON THE CHURCH? IN WHAT WAYS CAN WE SEE GOD WORKING THROUGH PERSECUTION IN THE EARLY CHURCH? GROWTH BRINGS PERSECUTION, AND PERSECUTION BRINGS GROWTH. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS STATEMENT? WHY DO CHRISTIANS ENDURE PERSECUTION? READ PSALM 27 READ V3-5 AGAIN. EVEN THOUGH DAVID FACES DEATH, HE IS NOT AFRAID. WHY IS THAT? Video - Hea Woo in North Korea Radical Faith SHOULD WE AVOID IT? DISCUSSION - WHY DO CHRISTIANS REMAIN IN DANGEROUS COUNTRIES? - READ MATTHEW 28:16-20. WHAT DOES JESUS COMMAND THE DISCIPLES TO DO? WHY WOULD JESUS SAY THIS, KNOWING THAT FOLLOWING HIM MEANS PERSECUTION? DO YOU THINK IT S FAIR FOR JESUS TO ASK THIS OF HIS DISCIPLES IN THE FACE OF PERSECUTION? PRAY Hea Woo was from North Korea, but has since escaped again and living safely in another country. She continues to spread the gospel faithfully. NORTH KOREA / WWL #1 - North Korea is at the top of the World Watch List for the sixteenth year in a row - There are 300,000 Christians in a population 25.4 million - 50,000-70,000 Christians are imprisoned in labour camps with no escape - Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, is worshipped like a God - There are extreme consequences for believers who share their faith with their family members. Children have even had their parents imprisoned by reporting their parents faith. Pray for North Korea. 8. 9.

GOD IS WORTH IT ALL JOHN, PETER AND PAUL WERE THREE CHRISTIANS IMPRISONED FOR THEIR FAITH IN ERITREA A FEW YEARS AGO. Peter was arrested when authorities stormed their secret Christian meeting. For almost six years he was held without charges and frequently moved to different prisons. He met John and Paul at the last prison. We were asked many times to recant (their Christian faith). But we refused. And when we refused, we were punished. Sometimes we were not given food or water and made to work in the hot sun hungry. Sometimes we got tied up in the helicopter position and left in the sun for many hours. That was very painful. The police threatened to arrest our other family members also if we refused to recant and sign the document. But all times, we refused because we do not want to leave Jesus. Once, Peter was transferred to a prison where he was locked in a cell so narrow that he could only lie down. For five months I stayed there. I could not move because the space was too small. I could not see because it was dark there was very little light. They kept me like that, lying down all the time until I was almost paralysed! Then they took me out. I could not stand or see very well. They moved me to an underground cell where it was completely dark! For six more months I was in darkness. When they took me out of there, I could barely walk and was almost blind! But I thank God because my eyes slowly cleared. Again the police asked him to sign the document recanting his faith. The document read in part, from now onwards, I will not preach, I will not meet other Christians. I will not talk about Jesus. Peter refused to sign, telling them that he would not deny his faith because if he did, it would mean he had wasted those seven years and suffered in prison for nothing! They locked him up again. The prisons are very dirty. There is no washing, no cleaning. And the food is very little - just bread many times, sometimes even no food. This makes many prisoners sick. They did not allow us to see a doctor. Many people died. It is very sad. I think some also died because they lost hope. Their hearts just gave up! I saw some die like this. It is very sad, Peter says. They encouraged each other not to give up, especially at the last prison, which is one of the worst in the country. It was here that the three had been held for another two years before they resolved to escape. They made the decision after much secret prayer. Finally, one evening they broke out of the line and jumped over the fence surrounding the prison. The fence was made up of plants with big thorns. We jumped over them and ran. When the prison guards started shooting, we went in different directions. We heard bullets flying over our heads but none hit us. Peter told us how he ran until he could not hear the guards or gunshots. But even then, he could not dare to rest in case they recaptured him. That first night he alternated between running and walking. He did not know if the others survived or had been gunned down. They were split up, but all headed for a safe refugee camp. My feet were swollen badly and my soles were covered in blisters. It was very painful. I walked but was very weak. I prayed very hard, because I did not want to go back to prison. If they had found me they would have hurt me very much. So I pray very hard! By his calculations, he had covered over 200km to reach the refugee camp, walking day and night. The three were miraculously reunited at the refugee camp. However, they could not stay at that refugee camp as they were informed that they could still be arrested. And through the help that God provided using Christian brethren, they moved on to a safer place where they are awaiting God s opening of doors to resettle at a more secure place. PETER SAYS WHEN I REACHED HERE, I LOOKED BACK, AND SAW THAT I HAD LOST MY FREEDOM. BUT I ALSO SEE NOW THAT I HAD LOST TIME. I COULD NOT CONTINUE WITH SCHOOL, I COULD NOT GET SKILLS TRAINING. I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DO OFFICE WORK. I CAN T EVEN SEE MYSELF MARRYING AND HAVING MY OWN FAMILY. I AM ALMOST 40 YEARS NOW AND I HAVE TO START FROM NOTHING. THEN HE SMILED AND CONCLUDED, BUT I STILL HAVE JESUS. AND HE IS WORTH IT ALL. 10. 11.

2. YOUR ETERNITY IS SECURE STUDY THREE. READ JOHN 10:27-30. WHAT DOES JESUS PROMISE TO THOSE HE SAVES? READ ROMANS 8:31-39. WHAT IS PAUL CONVINCED OF? HOW IS THIS A COMFORT? 3. GOD IS WITH CHRISTIANS THROUGH PERSECUTION READ PSALM 56. WHAT S DAVID S PROBLEM? WHERE IS GOD IN PERSECUTION? Video - Helen in Eritrea Thankfulness DISCUSSION - WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HELEN S RESPONSE TO PERSECUTION? HOW CAN A LOVING GOD ALLOW HIS PEOPLE TO BE PERSECUTED? WHERE DOES DAVID FIND COMFORT? READ V13. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PAST TENSE? YOU DON T REALLY KNOW JESUS IS ALL YOU NEED UNTIL JESUS IS ALL YOU HAVE. TIMOTHY KELLER WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS QUOTE? There are three main comforts the Bible gives in the face of persecution and suffering. 1. GOD CAN USE PERSECUTION FOR GOOD READ ROMANS 5:1-5. WHY DOES PAUL REJOICE IN SUFFERING? CAN YOU THINK OF A TIME IN YOUR LIFE WHEN SUFFERING HAS DRAWN YOU CLOSER TO GOD AND MADE YOU MORE LIKE HIM? PRAY After 2.5 years in a shipping container, Helen escaped the country and is now living safely in another country while boldy telling people about her story and her country. Many other are still imprisoned in Eritrea. ERITREA / WWL #10 - There are 2.7 million Christians in a population of 5.4 million - The government has increased its crackdown on Christians - Lots of young Christians are leaving Eritrea, leading to the expansion of Islam Pray for Eritrea. 12. 13.

ONE BODY STUDY FOUR. READ 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-26 WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR CHRISTIANS TO BE ALL PART OF THE SAME BODY? READ VERSE 26. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US AND THE PERSECUTED CHURCH? IF THEIR GOAL IS NOT ALWAYS TO ESCAPE THEIR COUNTRY, WHAT IS THEIR GOAL? READ HEBREWS 13:1-3 WHAT IS OUR RESPONSE TO PERSECUTION? WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP REMEMBER THEM? GET PRACTICAL! HOW ARE YOU GOING TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE SO THAT YOU ARE SERVING THE REST OF THE BODY? Video China Prayer that brings revival DISCUSSION - SHOULD WE RESCUE CHRISTIANS FROM PERSECUTED COUNTRIES? PRAY WHAT IF WE PRAYED FOR REVIVAL IN OUR COUNTRY? WHAT IF WE PRAYED FOR REVIVAL IN OTHER COUNTRIES? China had one of the biggest revivals in history, but before that it was one of the most persecuted countries for decades. Christianity started in the Middle East, which is now one of the most heavily persecuted regions for Christians. What if we prayed for God s love and truth to work miracles in this area? We can pray for big things because we have a big God. Use the prayer cards on the next page to spend some time praying like the believers in China for the persecuted church in the Middle East. 14. 15.

SYRIA IRAQ SYRIA / WWL #6 - Pray for peace in Syria. - Pray for God to protect the Christians who have chosen to stay and reach out to their friends and neighbours. - Pray for more people to discover Jesus as the church works as His hands and feet. IRAQ / WWL #7 - Large areas of Iraq are controlled by Islamic extremists and many more Christians may be forced to flee. Pray for peace and stability. - Pray for protection for those who remain in Iraq, especially the pastors who feel called to stay and share the gospel. Pray that children s hearts and minds will be protected as they live in this warzone. - Pray for believers to be bold in sharing the love of Christ with those who persecute them. IRAN YEMEN IRAN / WWL #8 - Pray that Christian media will be equipped to spread the Gospel across Iran. - Pray that those imprisoned for their faith will be protected and experience close fellowship with God. - Pray that church services will be able to operate freely and for sermons and religious material to be translated into Farsi. YEMEN / WWL #9 - Pray the small number of Christians who remain would find their comfort in God amidst the chaos. - Pray that Christians would be able to show the love of Christ as an alternative to the fighting. - Pray for God to frustrate extremists and bring many to Him as a result of the war.

IF WE WOULD UNDERSTAND THE POTENTIAL POWER OF OUR PRAYERS, WE WOULD BE ON OUR KNEES A HUNDRED TIMES A DAY AND ASK HIM THINGS THAT WOULD TURN THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN. -Brother Andrew, founder of Open Doors. SHOCKWAVE PRAY FOR THE PERSECUTED 3-4 NOVEMBER 2017 Shockwave is a global youth prayer event for the persecuted church. We will stand united with the persecuted church and send a Shockwave of prayer to those who share our faith but not our freedom! To learn more email youthau@od.org

23-25 JUNE 2017 BL ACKOUT JOIN THE SILENT ARMY No Facebook? No phone? No Instagram? No speaking? Could you stay silent for 48hrs to raise awareness and funds for those who suffer persecution for simply believing in Jesus? Sign up now: www.opendoors.org.au