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