The ministry of Open Doors has its origins in one man and one journey. In 1955, a young Dutchman went to Warsaw and discovered the existence of a persecuted church. He became known as Brother Andrew, and from 1955 to 1967 he travelled throughout Eastern Europe, delivering Scriptures, encouraging persecuted believers, and recruiting others to help him.
The publication of God’s Smuggler in 1967 catapulted Andrew to worldwide renown. An entire generation caught the vision of supporting the persecuted church.
The vision soon spread beyond the Soviet Union to countries such as China, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, and several African states. Meanwhile, Open Doors had long been aware of growing persecution in the Muslim world and religious nationalism in countries such as India.
Supporting the church means more than delivering Bibles. In 1978, the first training manual for leaders on how to resist persecution was produced for Christians in Asia and in the 1990s a training institute was established for pastors in sub-Saharan Africa. Open Doors also developed a global training programme for persecuted church pastors.
At the same time, Open Doors socio-economic development programmes helped persecuted Christians in other ways. Literacy projects were launched to help Christians read and study the Bible. In 1998 Open Doors launched its first major relief project to fly in food and supplies to remote areas of war-torn southern Sudan. Today Open Doors provides relief aid, livelihood support and community development projects for hundreds of thousands of Christians around the world.
Brother Andrew passed away just over 2 years ago aged 94.
In the seven decades since his first journey, Open Doors has continued to seek out and strengthen the persecuted church. Much of this work must be done in secret to protect those risking their lives. Our help enables Open Doors to serve millions of persecuted Christians in over 70 countries, working with churches and local partners to provide Bibles, Christian materials, training, livelihood skills and advocacy.
On Saturday 4th October we will be holding a concert here in the church to raise money for Open Doors. We will be delighted to host the King’s Chorale singers along with our own Gillian McCutcheon and other guest performers to a night of choral music and clarinet playing. We will issue tickets of invitation, and the collection will go to Open Doors. I know it is a long way off but please put this date in your diary to come along and enjoy a night of musical entertainment and support a very worthy cause.
Thank you.
(Dr Michael Steele, Chair of GPC Mission Committee)
