Persecuted Women Series: The Heart of the Matter

What started as a simple art project has grown into a burning desire to earnestly pray for and reach out to women around the world, women I’ve never met, women who are suffering intense persecution. Real persecution. Not just having people curse them, slander them, or mock them. These women endure trials that we in the United States cannot imagine. They are beaten, disfigured, mutilated, raped, kidnapped, imprisoned, and killed—often because they are Christians, but sometimes it is simply because they are women. The more I read about the suffering that goes on in other parts of the world, the more my heart grieves. It grieves for them because of what they endure each day, and it grieves for my own selfishness and pride. My troubles pale in comparison to those of others. I am so blessed, so rich, and so loved! And so often I take it all for granted. But this article is not about me, it’s about these precious women.

A few days ago I was working at my desk while the radio played across the room. It was background noise, really, but then the hour came for Crosstalk, a program which airs Monday through Friday on my favorite station. At first, the business before me continued to hold my attention, but then I realized that the guest was discussing persecution of Christians around the world, and I perked up and listened. He was there to represent Open Doors ministries and help spread the word, not only of Christians around the world who are suffering persecution for their faith, but also of how we can reach out to these brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage them. In case you haven't heard of them, I'll quote from their website: “Open Doors USA is a nonprofit organization focused on serving persecuted Christians through Bible & Gospel Development, Women & Children Advancement and Christian Community Restoration.” This ministry has been in existence for about 60 years, and for the past 20 years, they have been publishing the World Watch List, a list of the top 50 countries in the world where it is hardest to be a Christian. Not all of the twelve countries I have chosen to focus on are on that list, but many are. And just because they are not on the list does not mean persecution does not exist there, only that it’s far worse in other places.

So how can we touch the lives of our fellow believers? I’m glad you asked. Open Doors suggests four ways in which you may help: pray, volunteer, advocate, and donate.

1. Pray. Obviously, this is the most important thing we can do. I would encourage you to become more familiar with the particular needs of these people so that the Lord will burden you to pray fervently on their behalf. You can do that by following my blog and also by signing up to receive the prayer updates from Open Doors.

2. Volunteer. If you happen to live close to Orange County, California, you can volunteer to work in the office there. But for those of us who live elsewhere, you can be a BridgeBuilder by speaking out in your own church community to help raise awareness of the needs of our suffering fellow Christians. That’s what I’m doing.

3. Advocate. Open Doors has an advocacy group in Washington, DC, whose mission is to make our public officials aware of the conditions around the world. Some ways we can get involved are to sign up for monthly emails or follow their Twitter account to stay informed on the news, sign petitions, and write letters to believers in need of encouragement. More about that below.

4. Donate. Open Doors has set up their giving page in a well organized fashion so that you can specify exactly how you want your donation to be used, whether to put Bibles into the hands of the people, to provide safe houses for women and children, or to support those who are risking their lives to help Christians and evangelize the lost in North Korea, to name a few.

Be a Letter Writer As mentioned above, we can also write letters to believers around the world. Open Doors has people who translate our letters into the language of the people, and then volunteers who live and minister in these countries take the letters to the people and hand deliver them. This would be a great project for a homeschool family or a Sunday school class. Hand-drawn pictures are always welcome too. If you are interested in this ministry, I encourage you to read about specific people to whom you may reach out with a letter, and then please take a look at the letter-writing guide. The letter-writing guide includes the address to which you should send your letter. I wrote my first letter just this morning, and I hope many of you will join me. This is such a simple way that we can encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ, and yet it means so much to those who will receive our letters.

Finally, please share the word with your friends and families. Share this blog on Facebook, Twitter, wherever you connect with people, and let's take the blinders off and open our eyes to see the needs of others. When we help others, our own burdens become lighter too.

Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. ---Hebrews 13:3

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