Courage and faith in Afghanistan

------=_Part_98680585_14621605.1720712851197 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_Part_98680588_515152524.1720712851197" ------=_Part_98680588_515152524.1720712851197 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable [ hurch/] Dear {NAME}, =C2=A0 Seven-year-old Roshan* remembers the day his family was told to leave their= home. After they decided to follow Jesus, Roshan=E2=80=99s family was shun= ned by their wider Hindu family, followed by their whole village.=C2=A0 =C2=A0 Following Jesus meant that his mother lost her financial security and her l= ivelihood, leaving Roshan and his brother without food, the shelter of a sa= fe home and the opportunity to attend school.=C2=A0 =C2=A0 When we think about the 360+ million Christians in the world who face high = levels of persecution and discrimination for their decision to follow Jesus= , we may tend to think about the men and women who risk so much.=C2=A0 =C2=A0 But persecution is no respecter of age.=C2=A0 =C2=A0 Throughout the world, children like Roshan also pay a high cost, especially= if they or their parents left the community or tribal religion to convert = to Christianity.=C2=A0 =C2=A0 This Christmas, will you pray with us for the youngest voices of persecutio= n?=C2=A0 25 prayers for children of the persecuted church [= rg/en-US/stories/25-prayers-children-persecuted-church/] We=E2=80=99re sharing 25 prayers you can pray for kids like Roshan whose ma= in Christmas wish is for safety and peace in their homes and communities.= =C2=A0 =C2=A0 I=E2=80=99m reminded of how vital our prayers are for these children when I= read the words of Ermias, a father in Ethiopia with twin boys (pictured ab= ove) who know persecution firsthand. =C2=A0 =E2=80=9CChildren are the next generation for the gospel,=E2=80=9D Ermias s= ays. =E2=80=9C=E2=80=A6 They are the hope for the Church.=E2=80=9D =C2=A0 Next week, I=E2=80=99ll be taking you on a daily trip around the world to i= ntroduce you to more of these children and share their Christmas prayers. S= o make sure to check your email each day. =C2=A0 Thank you for praying for the hope and future of the Church. =C2=A0 =C2=A0 In Christ, =C2=A0 Ryan Brown CEO, Open Doors US =C2=A0 P.S.=C2=A0Check out our monthly prayer calendar.=C2=A0It=E2=80=99s a great = way to lift up your persecuted family each day. Click HERE to download! [ht= tps://www.opendoorsus.org/getinvolved/pray/prayer-calendar-nov-dec-2023] =C2=A0 =C2=A0 For more information about Open Doors US, visit www.opendoorsus.org [https:= //www.opendoorsus.org/en-US/] [ [ [ =C2=A0 =E2=80=9COpen Doors US is part of the global ministry of Open Doors, mobili= zing prayer, support and advocacy in 22 countries and supporting Christians= in the 70 countries where they face the greatest cost for their faith. If = you have any questions about your donation please contact info@opendoorsus.= org [mailto:info@opendoorsus.org], or call 1-800-896-5285=E2=80=9D. =C2=A0 =C2=A0FAQs =C2=A0 [ e=3DFCM5w39iAc3NVlzj4wpig_D7LZquKGNs1eQ3NLeDrmB6G7TQ5hzH3rEqW8FITOVu&recipi= entid=3Dcontact-cb73e8b21491ed11aad06045bd8a3c0f-2d5c40eaf52245ffb5465e0676= 396eca&utm_source=3DClickDimensions&utm_medium=3Demail&utm_campaign=3DOD%20= US%20Announce&esid=3D51c0f86c-a108-4d17-a0d3-6c590ccd1bc7]| Privacy Policy = [ |=C2=A0Unsubscribe [htt= p://elink.opendoorsus.org/uu/3/eyJhaSI6NDU0NjEwNTQsImUiOiJ0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3= aW44NkBnbWFpbC5jb20iLCJyaSI6ImNvbnRhY3QtZTI5NmE3M2VlOWJjZWQxMTgzZmU2MDQ1YmQ= 4YzU5M2MtZmEzZmMyMDliNDA0NGQyOWE4NDEzYmRlNDdiYzI3N2QiLCJycSI6InAxLWIyNDE5My= 05NWFiY2JiNGI4MDg0ZmI0Yjg3MDFkOTdlOWUwNjA0ZCIsInBoIjpudWxsLCJtIjpmYWxzZX0/f= YugUGEmmW3Q_26bkSvXjA] =C2=A0 ------=_Part_98680588_515152524.1720712851197 Content-Type: text/html;charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 [3D"a](3D") Dear {NAME}, =C2=A0 Khada* is one of only a few thousand Christians living = in Afghanistan. And her life=C2=A0has been transformed by knowing Jesus.=C2= =A0 =C2=A0 But her life has also been transformed because= of the cost of following Jesus in Afghanistan.=C2=A0 =C2=A0 You won=E2=80=99t want to miss this powerful gl= impse at what it's like to be a secret believer in Afghanistan.= ong> [Read Khada's story now= g>](3D".=) One of the= most remarkable things about Khada=E2=80=99s story is how she was reminded= of the hope of Christ through=C2=A0the care of her Christian family. It=E2= =80=99s an example of the simple truth of Galatians 6:2: =E2=80=9CCarry eac= h other=E2=80=99s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Chri= st.=E2=80=9D=C2=A0 =C2=A0 Walking through trying times with friends and family ca= n be hard for any of us. But =E2=80=9Ccarrying each other=E2=80=99s burdens= =E2=80=9D in Afghanistan is both difficult and dangerous. And it was life-g= iving for Khada, even after her husband was murdered=E2=80=94likely because= of his faith. =E2=80=9CDespite the challenges, I found happiness in my= new life without my husband, supported by my faithful brothers and sisters= ,=E2=80=9D she says.=C2=A0 =C2=A0 When you pray for and support your persecuted s= isters and brothers=E2=80=94people like Khada=E2=80=94you=E2=80=99re helpin= g carry their burdens. And you=E2=80=99re strengthening the faith = of others in their community to help shoulder the load in a literal sense. =C2=A0 God is still at work, even in the places like Afghanist= an where it=E2=80=99s difficult and dangerous to follow Him. Praise Him for= preserving Khada and ask Him to make His presence known to her ... and to = all Afghan Christians who risk their lives to worship Jesus. =C2=A0 In Christ, =C2=A0 Ryan Brow= n CEO, Open Doors US =C2=A0 P.S.=C2=A0Check out our monthly prayer calend= ar.=C2=A0It=E2=80=99s a great way to lift up your persecuted famil= y each day. [Click HERE to download!](3D"=) = span> =C2=A0 *Name and image are representative to keep people sa= fe. =C2=A0 For more= information about Open Doors US, visit [www.opendo= orsus.org](=3D") 3D" 3D" 3D" =C2= =A0 Open Doors US is part of the g= lobal ministry of Open Doors, mobilizing prayer, support and advocacy in 22= countries and supporting Christians in the 70 countries where they face th= e greatest cost for their faith. If you have any questions about your donat= ion please contact [info@opendoorsus.org](3D"mailto:info@opendoorsus.org"), or call 1-800-896-5285. = an> =C2=A0 =C2=A0[FAQs =C2=A0](3D")| [Privacy Policy](3D") |=C2=A0[Unsubscribe](=3D")= span> =C2=A0 ------=_Part_98680588_515152524.1720712851197-- ------=_Part_98680585_14621605.1720712851197--