AUGUST 2019

FRONTLINE FAITH

‘I’m overwhelmed with the love you showed us’, p. 2 | Q&A: How can you strengthen your sisters as persecution rises? p. 3 | World Watch Update: Egypt, p. 4 | You’re empowering Muslim-born women to grow in Christ! p. 5 | Why Christian women face double persecution, p. 6-7

See how you're helping traumatised women find healing

and peace >>

Aisha, a young wife and mother, was filled with hatred towards her attackers. But today, Aisha can smile again thanks to generous friends like you.

One fateful night, Muslim Fulani herdsmen attacked Aisha’s village in northern Nigeria. They stormed into her home and dragged her husband away, as they thought he was a pastor.

“About 10 of them remained with me and the children,” says Aisha. “They demanded sex, and I pleaded that I didn’t want to sleep with them. They beat me up. One of them raped me… then a second person raped me. After that, they left, taking with them everything valuable.”

A few hours later, her husband returned unharmed. He saw her distress and insisted that she tell him what happened. “In between sobs I told him what they had done to me….”

“Wipe your tears. There’s no problem [between us],” he told her. But Aisha had no peace in her heart. She hated the men who had violated her.

Thanks to your partnership, Open Doors was able to invite Aisha, and other women who’ve endured the same ordeal, to a trauma care programme. Through this, she started experiencing peace of mind, and the hatred she felt disappeared. “God taught me to forgive. Right now, when I remember the incident… the hatred [is] gone.

“If I hadn’t attended this programme, I don’t know how my life would’ve been. I would still have been in pain because there is nobody around me to strengthen and encourage me. But now that I’ve received this trauma healing, I’m so happy. I’m so overwhelmed with the love and compassion you showed us. … You showed us true and genuine love.

“I’ve really seen the love of God. … Even when I go back home, I want to show this love to the people around us.”

Thank you for making this trauma care programme possible for Aisha and many others through your support!

‘I’m overwhelmed with the love you showed us’You’re helping traumatised women like Aisha find healing and peace

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Q&AHow can you strengthen your sisters as persecution rises?

Nicci, why do you think the persecution of women is rising immensely?

Women don’t recognise the significant responsibility and power we have as women… Persecution in closed countries is rising [because] that power [of wives, mothers and daughters] is being recognised and stunted. So, the girl child is marginalised; she is educated up to a point, [she] doesn’t enjoy the same privileges the boy child would enjoy.

How are women and children targeted differently compared to men?

The women I’ve met in Bangladesh, for example, are threatened with being kicked out of their family. The children are orphaned and taken away from their family. There are more brutal ways… girls will get raped; boys will be beaten by extremists when no one’s watching. And men who want to lord their power over

those who are weaker [will] threaten them with death or will rape them in order to intimidate and paralyse them.

What more can we do to help our persecuted sisters?

You can invite Open Doors to do a presen-tation at your church and help wave the flag high on their behalf. Every opportunity we get… let’s direct that towards asking: Have you heard about the work of Open Doors? Have you heard about the [Christian] persecution that’s happening in closed countries? Because at the end of the day, we’re not just impacting South Africa. We’re not just impacting a closed country. We’re expanding the Kingdom of God.

To invite Nicci or other members of the Open Doors Southern Africa team to speak at your church, ladies meeting, or other gatherings, visit www.opendoors.org.za/contact.

In honour of Women’s Month, we asked Nicci J, the women’s coordinator for Open Doors, about the persecution of Christian women and how you can support your

persecuted sisters in Christ to stand strong as the spiritual battle heats up…

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Region North Africa

2019 World Watch List Position #16 (out of the top 50)

Population 99 376 000 (only 10% are Christians)

Main Religion Islam

Government Presidential Republic

Sources of Persecution Islamic oppression, ethnic antagonism and dictatorial paranoia

EGYPTRANKING #16 | WWL SCORE 76

WORLD WATCH UPDATE

ViolencePressure

70% 79% 64% 79% 65.8% 95.2%

PRIVATE FAMILY COMMUNITY NATIONAL CHURCH VIOLENCE

Christian women in Egypt are often subjected to harassment, forced marriage, or marriage by abduction and sexual assault. Many of the Christian girls who are lured into marrying Muslims are underage and come from vulnerable families. Females can never leave the house by themselves and need the constant company of male relatives to protect them.

Female converts from Islam will likely be divorced by their Muslim husbands, leaving them without any financial support. The custody of their children may be taken from them, as well as inheritance rights.

In the workplace, Christian women can face double discrimination because they’re both Christian and female. They can miss out on promotions and career benefits because they follow Jesus.

Pray for vulnerable Christian women and girls – that they will be protected.

Praise God for the work you’re making possible through Open Doors’ partners, by providing Christian women with literacy training and discipleship.

Pray for Believers from a Muslim Background who’ve been rejected by their families, that they’ll know they’re loved and accepted by God and by you.

PRAY

www.opendoors.org.za/wwl

Pray for vulnerable Christian women and girls in Egypt – that they will be protected.

You’re empowering Muslim-born women to grow in Christ!

Meet Mansuri. She was born into a Muslim family in Bangladesh, but your support helps converts like her grow in their newfound Christian faith and disciple others!

Mansuri’s story: “My parents allowed me to marry a Christian but forbade me to follow Jesus. Still, I became a believer after I began visiting a prayer cell group. Our family and community put us under a lot of pressure… Because my husband was disowned, we were forced to live with my family – a blessing in disguise. My husband could show the Gospel to them, and they all became believers!”

“Jesus died for me. And He taught us to love our neighbours as ourselves. He is my inspiration. He worked for the people. I want to do the same too.” – Mansuri

How you help: Thanks to your prayers and support, Mansuri joined Open Doors’ Bible classes. She now has her own Bible study group for 10 women, and she disciples them with all the passion that you helped grow in her heart!

Meet Sarosa. She grew up as a Muslim in the Philippines, but meeting Jesus saved her life. See how your support helps her thrive, despite the dangers…

Sarosa’s story: “My husband is a difficult man, abusive and a womaniser… I decided to take my life and that of my children. I poisoned our food and then went to the market. There I met Precious who shared the Gospel with me. I realised the mistake I’d made, and together we ran home. Fortunately, the children hadn’t eaten the rice yet. Later, after my husband discovered I was a Christian, he gave me a hard time; but I persisted. In 2017, ISIS attacked our city [of Marawi]. I barely escaped with my family. Thank God, we all survived.”

“I’ve learned that God helps even in the most difficult times. The ultimate proof that He exists and helps is that Open Doors came looking for us and supported us.” – Sarosa

How you help: Thanks to the support of friends like you, Sarosa received urgent aid from Open Doors during the violent siege of Marawi. She’s also been encouraged through the biblical Standing Strong Through the Storm seminars you help make possible. Together with you, Open Doors recently repaired her temporary shelter where she’s living until she can return to her home in war-torn Marawi.

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Why Christian women face DOUBLE PERSECUTIONDOUBLE PERSECUTION

Research shows why your support is so crucial to women on the front lines

According to the latest research by Open Doors’ World Watch Research Team, the ways in which Christian women experience persecution appear to be very different from the ways men are affected. Researchers found 16 “pressure points” affecting women that got no mention in the reports regarding men.

Here’s just a snapshot of Open Doors’ research findings, showing how women are uniquely persecuted in many places around the world:*

The percentage of reporting countries where rape or forced marriage is a pressure point:

AGAINST WOMEN AGAINST MEN

51.5%

60%

The average number of women each day who are raped, sexually harassed or forced into marriage due to their Christian faith:

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*All stats and figures are based on 33 countries that reported on gendered violence, taken from the Top 50 countries on the 2018 World Watch List.

The number of mentions of the various forms of violence against

WOMEN MEN

46 18

27% of reporting countries (9 out of 33)say house arrest is a pressure point for women. Although government imprisonment of men is more common, the house arrest reported in the research is not government imposed but family enforced. And, as such, it is another mainly invisible constraint on the female portion of a Christian community.

Persecution exploits all the available cultural vulnerabilities that women have, including:

Lack of access to education, health care or infrastructure

Forced divorce

Travel bans

Trafficking

Widowhood

Incarceration in a psychiatric unit

Forced abortions or contraception

Being denied access to work or the choice of a Christian spouse

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Dear partner of the persecuted Church,

This month, we’re honouring women in South Africa and all they’ve done for us and our society. We also remember and stand in solidarity with all those women who are marginalised, abused and ostracised.

Together with you, we want to especially remember our Christian sisters who are doubly vulnerable to persecution because of their faith and gender.

Let’s make sure this Women’s Month serves as a reminder that they may be persecuted but they are never alone.

That’s why we’ve changed the look of this newsletter to help launch the Never Alone Campaign. This campaign is your opportunity to draw closer to your persecuted brothers and sisters. And it’s a catalyst for us all – as the body of Christ – to draw closer to one another.

As much as you and I care, sometimes we may feel disconnected from our persecuted family because we can’t relate to all the extreme circumstances they face for the name of Christ.

But when we consider all things, what truly matters is that we serve the same

Jan GouwsExecutive DirectorOpen Doors Southern Africa

FROM JAN’S PERSPECTIVE

God, the God for whom many of them are being rejected and isolated.

And maybe you can relate to feeling isolated or alone.

As a Christian, whether you live in a free country or a closed country, whether you are the most persecuted or the least persecuted, you have this wonderful truth to encourage you…

When you’re a part of the body of Christ, you’re never alone.

So join us as we reflect on, celebrate and spread the truth that believers may be persecuted but we are NEVER ALONE!

And let’s do all we can together through our prayers and support to reassure our persecuted family that they’re not alone, because God cares and we’re standing with them.

Together in His service,

Open Doors South Africa

P.O. Box 1771, Cresta, 2118T +27 11 888 9341F +27 11 888 9362E southafrica@od.org I www.opendoors.org.za

Bank Accounts: South Africa, Geopende Deure - Open Doors, ABSA - Northcliff (632005), Acc. nr. 160340568

Geopende Deure - Open Doors, Nedbank Business Account (198765), Acc. nr. 113 750 4552

Bank Account: Namibia, Open Doors Namibia, Nedbank - Windhoek (461609), Acc. nr. 1-2000-23847-1(Please fax proof of payment to: +27 11 888 9362)

All information compiled by Open Doors Southern Africa and correct at time of printing. No reproduction without permission.

Contact Milandré at milandreh@od.orgREG # 2004/023397/08 | Printing done by Resolution Litho

SEPTEMBER 2019

PRAYER CALENDAR

“Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.”

Psalm 17:7-8 (NIV)

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1 | SRI LANKA Pastors ministering in a heavily Buddhist populated district of Sri Lanka face verbal harassments, death threats and intimidation by non-believers. Pray for courage and endurance for believers to face the persecution.

2 | SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES In the city of Mindanao, churches used to be full but because of the fear of bombings, gunfire exchange, and kidnappings, some members fled to other places. Pray for the Church in this city – to be bold witnesses of Christ despite the fear.

3 | VIETNAM Tran* (18), his wife Chau* (16), and their baby were cast out by their family and village because of their Christian faith. They now live in a makeshift tent in the middle of a forest. Pray that the Lord will provide in their every need.

4 | MYANMAR Pray that upcoming children’s camps will be fun, exciting places where children will come to know Jesus as their Saviour. Pray also that the church leaders will keep children’s ministry as an important part of church activities.

5 | CHINA A few months ago Ammar*, a Believer from a Muslim Background and leader, was arrested without explanation. During a brief visit, his wife discovered that he is forced to study atheism every day and must pass exams in hopes of being released. Pray for strength for Ammar and for his release.

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6 | CHINA When Kamilah’s* husband was arrested, she was forced by the police to leave her hometown. They said it was for her safety, but this is a known and ongoing, systematic strategy to divide families and weaken ethnic culture. Pray for Kamilah and her family – may God provide in their needs and release her husband soon.

7 | NORTH KOREA Pray for the families of secret Christians – may they, somehow, be drawn to Christ, even when their relatives can’t openly share about Christ with them. Pray for divine encounters with God amid the secrecy.

8 | INDIA Aarti* shares about Jesus with all her friends. Now a girl, who use to attend prayer and worship at her house, has falsely accused Aarti of luring her into conversion. Pray for comfort for Aarti and that she will be cleared of all allegations during her court case.

9 | MALAYSIA The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia has released its findings that Christian Pastor Raymond Koh and Shia Muslim, Amri Che Mat are both victims of enforced disappearance by the State. Pray that truth and justice will prevail in this matter.

10 | INDONESIA Our training staff sometimes need to travel long distances under difficult conditions. Pray for them for strength, health and passion to endure the tough travels in order to encourage believers.

11 | BRUNEI The Sultan of Brunei is the protector of Malay and Islamic cultural values. He also holds absolute power, in that he is King, Prime Minister, Defence and Finance Minister. Pray that God will work mightily in his and his family’s life to draw them to Himself.

12 | MALDIVES It’s sad to hear that children continue to be victims of moles-tation by their own relatives. “I can’t trust my husband with our daughter,” one mother has told us. Pray that God will protect the children of the Maldives, and that He will raise up leaders who will stand up against these abuses.

13 | MALDIVES Those who come to faith outside the country usually go back to their old ways when they return home. One of the main reasons is that there is no church in the country and no opportunity for them to meet with other believers for fellowship and encouragement. Pray for opportunities for these believers to be cared for properly.

14 | BANGLADESH We were encouraged and inspired by the stories and testimonies from our partners in Bangladesh during a meeting with them a few months ago. And we’ve been able to make some good plans for the rest of this year. Pray for God to bless these plans and that it will impact many persecuted Christians.

15 | CENTRAL ASIA Many of you prayed and shared encouraging messages with Tammar* and Nadine* as they faced

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constant persecution. Nadine said, “Thank you for your kind words, support [and] prayer. I believe that we survived the hard times because of your prayers and support.” Please continue to pray with them as they try to register their church.

16 | KYRGYZSTAN Some time ago, Amira* had to flee after her family beat her, tried to reconvert her to Islam and placed her under house arrest. They also planned to marry her off to a Muslim man. Pray for her safety and that God will protect her from being forced into marriage.

17 | KAZAKHSTAN A few months ago, a group of Christians were arrested for trying to smuggle Christian books into Kazakhstan. Thankfully they’ve since been released. Pastor Amar*, who was going to meet them after they arrived in the country, was also summoned by the police. Pray that these believers will face no further consequences.

18 | ARABIAN PENINSULA Abdul*, a community leader, perseveres amid tribulations and much opposition. Pray for discernment and wisdom for him as he helps families to find sustainable solutions for their many needs. Pray also that God will meet him in all his needs and trials.

19 | LEBANON Some people can’t afford rent, school fees, taxes and hospitalisation. Pray for the church leadership to be able to motivate believers to keep hope and still care for those who seek refuge in the country. Pray that one day refugees will be able to safely return to their countries to release pressure on the Lebanese society.

20 | IRAQ Christians in Baghdad need your prayers to stay strong in their faith. Although not very often in the news, militias in the streets of Baghdad cause

fear and panic among civilians. Pray for the peace and protection of Christians and all the people in Baghdad.

21 | SYRIA There is hope for Syria, but the situation is still dire as much needs to be done before cities and villages can be habitable again. And it requires people of faith to want to return. Pray that God will restore this country that has been destroyed by the ongoing civil war.

CENTRAL ASIA continues IRAQ continues

22 | PERSIAN SPEAKING WORLD Please join us in praying that Open Doors will be sensitive to the Lord’s leading as we begin to make plans for 2020 for this region. It’s often difficult to predict in advance what the situation facing believers will be, so we need wisdom and insight as we seek to prepare how best to meet their needs.

23 | YEMEN Yemenis are survivors and are known to make do with what they have. Praise God for their tenacity and flexibility. Pray that God will undertake for this country where many are starving due to the ongoing war. Pray that food and grain waiting to be unloaded in the ports will get to all who need it.

24 | CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Pierre* was destined to follow in his father’s footsteps, a high priest of the god Dakwa. But God had other plans for him and today he carries out his dangerous mission of sharing the Gospel with his fellow countrymen. Pray for the Lord’s protection over Pierre and that his ministry will bear much fruit.

25 | CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Pastor Franco* does what he can to share the Gospel with anti-Balaka members (followers of a traditional religion that uses devilish rituals to defend their interests). Pray for the Lord’s protection over His many servants like Pastor Franco and for healing over all who’ve been affected by anti-Balaka’s dark ways.

26 | ETHIOPIA Before Berhania* became a Christians, she used to be plagued by nightmares and headaches. Today, she has planted nine churches, but she needs more workers to join her as it’s too much for one person. Pray that God will provide in all her needs for her ministry work.

27 | NIGERIA Pray for the many thousands of nameless people who remain in Boko Haram’s captivity. Pray for the Lord to bring freedom to them all. Until He does, pray that He may sustain them and be at work in their lives.

28 | GUINEA Pastor Elie* and other Christians are unable to come together to worship God as villagers stand guard in front of his house making sure that no Christian activities can happen. Pray for protection and wisdom for these believers as they interact with one another.

29 | CHAD Alfred* was 18 when he was banished from his family for refusing to coach young men preparing to be initiated, and for telling Christian young men to abstain from initiation rituals. Pray for strength and perseverance for him and other young men who’ve been banished from their communities for refusing to take part in initiation rituals.

30 | LIBYA Libya has been caught in a civil war for years and believers are caught between the fighting factions. Pray for peace in this civil war-torn country. Pray also for physical protection and spiritual perseverance for believers in this country.

*Names changed and representative images used for security purposes.

www.opendoors.org.zaP.O. Box 1771, Cresta, 2118 T +27 11 888 9341E southafrica@od.orgOpen Doors South Africa