Report from Dr. David Curry with the Christian Organization Open Doors
Late last year, I traveled to Turkey where we saw the caves of Cappadocia—the places of refuge where the early Christians secretly fled to and lived when they faced persecution and even death. These ancient caverns are visible reminders to me that today in the 21st century, millions of believers in places like Iran, Central Asia, North Korea, Afghanistan and North Africa are still living in secrecy. All over the world, the decision to follow Jesus—or simply to own a Bible—puts believers at risk of exorbitant fines, arrest, attack and even imprisonment and death
I think of Ruslan, an underground house church leader in Central Asia. For the last 20 years, Ruslan and his small team have risked their lives to secretly travel from one house to another to disciple and train secret believers. Ruslan’s mission is so dangerous I can’t show you his face or even tell you the country where he lives. He and his family bear both emotional and physical scars for their faith. Their home is frequently vandalized. And he still remembers the day his daughter’s classmates attacked her.
“We know that we are not alone but part of a large Christian family,” Ruslan says. “Thanks to your prayers and support, we are able to survive in this hostile environment. When we contacted Open Doors and shared what we needed, everything was provided.”
Together, we can help our underground church family survive and grow.
However, even Turkey is a better place than Iran. Dr. David met Iranian refugees Zahra and her husband Ali on a recent trip to Turkey. After they were imprisoned in Iran for being part of a house church, this couple and their two sons were oppressed so intensely they were forced to leave. As we talked with the family, it was clear that when Zahra and Ali chose to follow Jesus, they also willingly followed Him through the ‘fire’. “In prison, I thought to myself: there are people who love me and cry for my pain and suffering,” Zahra says
Just like the early Christians Ruslan, Zahra, and Ali are risking their lives today to follow and share Jesus. These secret believers … our family … risk everything to stand firm in their faith and grow the Church where they are. They carry the gospel to people who might otherwise never hear it—and through our prayers and gifts, you and I are invited to join them on their mission! Right now, we have the opportunity to come alongside Christians like Ruslan, Zahra and Ali, who follow Jesus no matter what. We must encourage and strengthen more believers like them and help them build the church where they live?
Dr. David Curry, President/CEO Open Doors USA