In the face of intense persecution, believers stand their ground

More than 680 people have died in Boko Haram attacks,
 according to AP. (Image courtesy Compass Direct)

Nigeria (MNN) ― Four believers perished in a suicide bombing thought to be associated with Boko Haram.

Nearly 50 were injured in the attack on St. John's Catholic Cathedral Church, located in the state capital of Bauchi. 

Several were quite severe, and the death toll is expected to rise. According to the Associated Press, drive-by attacks and church bombings initiated by the Boko Haram have killed over 680 people this year.

Yet, believers are standing firm, says Emily Fuentes with Open Doors USA.

"Their faith is just unshakeable," she said.

The Boko Haram is bound and determined to wipe Christians off the face of the Nigerian map. Their regular and persistent attacks can certainly make evangelism a daunting task.

"When you're dealing with people who are this extreme," Fuentes explained, "it seems almost impossible to witness or share the Good News."

The fact that these believers remain is a living testimony. They're not backing down, and that sends a message louder than any words could say.

"Despite the hardships, these Christians are remaining strong," said Fuentes. "I think that really is one of their strongest witnesses."

In a recent trip to Nigeria, Fuentes got an inside look at the perseverance of these believers. They shared their stories and experiences with Open Doors--not to gain pity or donations, but prayer.

Fuentes recounted one tale that created an others-centered passion within a 24-year-old Nigerian believer. In January, members of Boko Haram infiltrated this young man's village disguised as policemen. One stopped the believer and asked for his name, then shot him in the arm because the young man was named after an apostle.

"God kept me alive for a reason, and I have to live to share His message," he told Fuentes after sharing his story with her. "I have to use this story to encourage other Christians and bring more to Christ."

His testimony had a profound impact on the Open Doors worker.

"It was amazing to hear his perspective," Fuentes shared.

Many Nigerian believers share the drive to make their stories known. Many were encouraged to hear fellow Christians knew about their situation and were praying for them. It gave them further reason to share their accounts with Open Doors. Teams shared 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 with Nigerian believers and encouraged them with a reminder that they all belonged to the Body of Christ.

"When one member suffers, we all suffer," Fuentes pointed out. Open Doors asked how Christians in free nations could stand with the persecuted church in Nigeria. Their response was simple: share our story.

"They knew once others heard their stories, they would be compelled to pray," said Fuentes.

Pray for strength and encouragement for Nigerian believers. Start a prayer movement by visiting Facebook.com/MissionNetworkNewsand sharing the link to this story.

"And of course, [pray] for their safety and their livelihood," Fuentes added.

9/11 a reminder to reach out to suffering believers

International (MNN) ― A flood of emotions, frustrations, and realizations swept over the United States on September 11, 2001. And when the tide subsided, much of the nation's happy naivety was washed away.

"We were in large measure--prior to September 11, 2001--blissfully ignorant of the hatred that was brewing in the extremist minds of terrorists around the world," notes Carl Moeller, president and CEO of Open Doors, USA.

Now it was more than just American war veterans who understood how ugly the world could be. All of America was suddenly aware of what it felt like to experience a direct attack, to experience something so much of the world was already privy to.

And yet, Moeller says despite that trauma, many believing Americans have tried to ignore the notion that others suffer daily, too.

"Since [9/11], we no longer have the luxury of that ignorance," reflects Moeller. "The reality is: one of the things we've stubbornly remained ignorant of is the fact that there are Christians in many of the countries that we hear about on our news every day who are facing a storm of persecution."

Just as the States were defiled by an attack ten years ago, over 100 million believers are attacked daily for their faith. Christians are jailed, beaten, even killed for their faith.

As American Christians, in particular, reflect on what they've learned since September 11, 2001, they can no longer remain silent about others who are experiencing attacks. Moeller says just as first responder firefighters and policemen stood in the gap for Americans 10 years ago, the church in America and throughout the world needs to stand in the gap for the persecuted church.

"The idea of standing in the gap is to make a difference in a place where there is no one," says Moeller. Open Doors is encouraging people to stand in the gap through their "One With Them" campaign.

Believers are invited to join in solidarity with the persecuted church by wearing a silicon, barbwire-shaped bracelet reminding Christians to encourage, advocate and pray for believers suffering across the globe. The campaign will culminate with the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on Sunday, November 13.

In volatile nations, Christians are the ones who can stand in the gap, returning the hatred of extremists with the love of Christ. We need to then stand with these believers who are boldly proclaiming the Truth. Since 9/11, American Christians in particular have been without excuse. To learn more about how you can stand with our persecuted brothers and sisters, visit www.OneWithThem.com.

Hostility toward religion a reality; ministry launches solidarity campaign

International (MNN) ― A new study titled "Rising Restrictions on Religion" shows increased hostility toward religion between 2006 and 2009.

Released by Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion and Public Life, the study revealed that hostile action by community or government toward religious groups rose substantially for more than 2.2 billion people during the study period.

The report also noted that this data was not surprising due to the fact that many of the countries with the increase had already experience high levels of hostility or restrictions.
 
Violence considered in the report included damage or destruction of property to physical assault, false charges, detention and displacement. Also predictable was the percentage of Christians involved in the harassment. According to the report, they were the victims of mob violence in 52 separate incidents by the middle of 2009.

Christians also faced harassment in130 countries, the highest numbers among the religious groups studied. According the report, the top ten countries with the highest hostilities regarding religion included Iraq, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Indonesia, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Israel and Egypt.

A slightly different distinction with another top ten list involved countries with government restrictions in place: Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, China, Maldives, Malaysia, Burma, Eritrea and Indonesia.

Open Doors World Watch List (WWL) is a list of the top 50 countries where persecution of Christians is the worst. A comparison of both Pew lists finds the countries in the top 50. However, the 2011 WWL names the following as the world's worst persecutors of Christians: North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Maldives, Yemen, Iraq, Uzbekistan, and Laos.

Carl Moeller with Open Doors explains that "over 70% of the world's population lives in places where  religious liberty is restricted. Well over 100 million Christians right now, as we speak, in over 60 countries, are being actively persecuted for their faith."

Given the scenario facing believers, Open Doors launched the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church in 1996. From a core group of approximately 7,000 churches, the IDOP has grown to be the largest prayer day event of its kind in the world.

IDOP is a means of encouraging solidarity, offering a rallying point for Christians and others to stand behind the persecuted Church. Moeller says, "When I hear that the vast majority of the world lives in places where they are not free to believe, in the way that we are here, my heart goes out to them and I want to do something."

Traditionally the second Sunday in November, IDOP this year has a preparatory campaign launch called "One With Them." Moeller says, "By being part of 'One With Them' and going to onewiththem.com, I can actually show the world that I care and make a difference."

The sole functions of IDOP are prayer and awareness. One With Them serves both purposes with the help of a rubber bracelet shaped like barbed wire. "This campaign is really focused on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church in November coming forward, where we will mobilize literally millions of Christians around the world to pray for persecuted believers."

Since most of the persecuted church feels forgotten by the rest of the world, Moeller says, "The most important thing we do will be to mobilize prayer for these Christians. That's the number one request they have. Our commitment is to provide whatever resources they need, and in order to do that, we need the support of people in the United States."

Because Open Doors is so committed to getting people to join in the solidarity movement, they're giving the bracelets away to encourage people to participate. Go to Onewiththem.com where you can request a bracelet for yourself and one for a friend. Beyond that, you can purchase extras. The prayer reminder comes packaged with a commitment to pray for the persecuted church. Also, written inside the card is the pledge: "I wear this wristband in solidarity with my brothers and sisters in Christ, who share my faith but not my freedom."

Moeller says, "It's really vital that people mobilize those that they know who have opportunity to step in the gap and provide the material resources, the Bibles, the rebuilt churches, the food, clothing and shelter for the victims of the violence in these places."