13 Christians killed for their faith each day: New research

------=_Part_47007854_1872569584.1706806235209 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_Part_47007855_877346777.1706806235209" ------=_Part_47007855_877346777.1706806235209 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= 4YzU5M2MtM2I2YjE0NTY0NzIwNDNhODk5YjhjYjYwZjI3NjcyOGYiLCJycSI6InAxLWIyNDAzMi= 1mYzhjODcwMDE5Yjk0ZGQ3YjU1MzIyOGRhOWQzYmI0ZSIsInBoIjpudWxsLCJtIjpmYWxzZX0/h= 0BqwxqjV1CyuRBOfMPlGw] =C2=A0 ------=_Part_47007855_877346777.1706806235209 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 Today, more than 13 Christians will die for their faith= , on average. =C2=A0 That=E2=80=99s nearly 2 people per hour.=C2=A0= p> =C2=A0 It=E2=80=99s almost 5,000 people per year.=C2=A0= =C2=A0 And it=E2=80=99s just the start of the shocking= new violence numbers released as part of the 2024 World Watch List.= [Read more= an>](3D".=) Another al= arming statistic from this year=E2=80=99s World Watch List research is the = number of Christian properties that were attacked or closed. More than 14,0= 00 churches, Christian schools, hospitals and other buildings were targeted= last year=E2=80=94and that=E2=80=99s a 700% increase over the previous yea= r. =C2=A0 Following Jesus in so many places is dangerous and viol= ent. Simply living out your faith can be enough to get you killed.= p> =C2=A0 And yet, the numbers don=E2=80=99t tell the who= le story. Each person is someone=E2=80=99s son, daughter, husband, wife, mo= ther, father, sister, brother =E2=80=A6 the pain is immense.= > =C2=A0 The human toll of this violence is impossible to overst= ate. You=E2=80=99d be forgiven for assuming that the thousands of Christian= s who have lost loved ones have been left to despair. =C2=A0 But that would be a mistake. = > =C2=A0 Over and over again, we hear how God=E2=80=99s faithful= ness is at work in the midst of the pain. Our persecuted brothers and siste= rs show us how the peace of love and Jesus is able to =E2=80=9Ccast out fea= r=E2=80=9D (1 John 4:18). Their pain is real, but so is their faith=E2=80= =94and it should inspire us and drive us to our knees. =C2=A0 As you look through the 2024 World Watch List, don=E2= =80=99t look away from the painful numbers. Let it break your heart. But le= t it change your faith and drive you to your knees.=C2=A0 =C2=A0 In Christ, =C2=A0 Ryan Brow= n CEO, Open Doors US =C2=A0 P.S.=C2=A0You can pray through the entire 202= 4 World Watch List when you download it for FREE.=C2=A0It=E2=80=99= s a great way to lift up your persecuted family all year long. [Click HERE to download!](3D")= > =C2=A0 *Top photo is representative 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_47007855_877346777.1706806235209-- ------=_Part_47007854_1872569584.1706806235209--