I’m travelling through towns and cities in South Queensland at the moment, holding Open Doors meetings. This time I’m featuring a powerful documentary film, Believers in Muslim Africa among the churches. My purpose is to explain to Australian Christians that followers of Jesus are persecuted in many other parts of the world, but also that God is opening doors so that we can we can be a great help to them.
The ministry of Open Doors started over 50 years ago, when a young Dutchman who became known as Brother Andrew saw the desperate need of the persecuted church behind the Iron Curtain, and responded by smuggling Bibles to them. He was inspired by Jesus’ great promise in Revelations 3:8 ‘Behold, I have set before you an open door that no one can shut’.
For these believers, an open declaration of faith in Jesus – or even just the possession of a Bible – can mean they lose their job, lose their home, lose their family, get thrown into prison, undergo terrible torture and, in some cases, even lose their lives.
For them, our help is often a life-line – not just to receive Bibles and the other help we bring – but to become connected to the body of Christ worldwide brings them great encouragement and is an inspirational witness to their persecutors.
As Paul says, ‘Now you are the body of Christ … the members should have the same care for one another … and if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it.’ [1 Corinthians 12:25-27].
And as Jesus says, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ [Matthew 25:40].
If you want to help, or to know more about the ministry of Open Doors, please contact me on petert@od.org, or visit our website at www.opendoors.org.au
Every blessing,
Peter Trott
