'I have decided'—watch persecuted Christians testify in song

------=_Part_11651534_1350466906.1716474734808 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_Part_11651537_1545934578.1716474734808" ------=_Part_11651537_1545934578.1716474734808 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= 4YzU5M2MtNWU4Zjg0ZDM2NWZkNDFmYWFlZWVkMWNmN2UwMTNkNDIiLCJycSI6InAxLWIyNDE0NC= 1kZmQ1NzVkMTI1YjI0MzYyOTNlZjM3MTVjMjQ2YmRhOSIsInBoIjpudWxsLCJtIjpmYWxzZX0/S= xB2tRRS3mHz6PpIy8sa0g] =C2=A0 ------=_Part_11651537_1545934578.1716474734808 Content-Type: text/html;charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 The surprising story behind this familiar anthem = = [3D"A](3D") Dear {NAME}, =C2=A0 A man stands outside the house, keeping watch for attac= kers. Music drifts from the open windows. People inside the home sit on pla= stic chairs, standing to sing and sway. They=E2=80=99ve endured so much; th= eir church was burned down, and they know another attack is a constant thre= at. The words of the song are in a langu= age common in this part of India=E2=80=94but the tune is familiar.= strong> =E2=80=9CThough none go with me, still I= will follow =E2=80=A6 =E2=80=9C The group sings quietly, finally ending:= an> =E2=80=9CNo turning back, no turning bac= k.=E2=80=9D The hymn was remarkably appropriate. =E2=80= =9CI Have Decided to Follow Jesus=E2=80=9D has a surprising history =E2=80= =A6 and there=E2=80=99s a reason it=E2=80=99s sung by persecuted Christians= across the globe: =C2=A0 [Go behind the hymn= span>](3D".=) =C2=A0 The song has deep roots in India=E2=80=99s Christian co= mmunity=E2=80=94and has become something of a theme for persecuted Christia= ns all over the world. Consider Kham*, an Open Doors partner in Lao= s. Despite the risks he faces for his faith, he reaches out to believers wi= th spiritual and practical aid. =E2=80=9CI have decided to follow Jesus= because He gives me hope,=E2=80=9D he says. =E2=80=9CI found hope= only in Him, so I decided to give my life to Him.=E2=80=9D Persecuted Christians around the world show = us that faith in Jesus is more than a one-time decision or event. It=E2=80= =99s a life of faith that clings to the hope offered by our Savior =E2=80= =A6 no matter what. =C2=A0 When they sing a song so familiar to many of us= , they remind us of the cost of discipleship=E2=80=94and the promises and f= aithfulness of God. Thank you for standing with our family=C2=A0= in India, Laos and everywhere else. Please keep praying for your sisters an= d brothers as they continue to sing: =E2=80=9Cno turning back.=E2=80=9D= =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =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"=) = > =C2=A0 =C2=A0 For more= information about Open Doors US, visit [www.opendo= orsus.org](=3D") 3D" 3D" 3D" =C2= =A0 =E2=80=9COpen Doors US is part= of the global ministry of Open Doors, mobilizing prayer, support and advoc= acy in 22 countries and supporting Christians in the 70 countries where the= y face the greatest cost for their faith. If you have any questions about y= our donation please contact [info@opendoorsus.org](3D"mailto:info@opendoorsus.org"), or call 1-800-896= -5285=E2=80=9D. =C2=A0 =C2=A0[FAQs =C2=A0](3D")| [Privacy Policy](3D") |=C2=A0[Unsubscribe](=3D")= span> =C2=A0 ------=_Part_11651537_1545934578.1716474734808-- ------=_Part_11651534_1350466906.1716474734808--