A Tourist On A Secret Mission…

Written by: Open Doors SA
Article source: JOY! Magazine 

You have the unique opportunity to be a tourist on a life-changing adventure by joining Open Doors on a trip to visit persecuted believers in 2023. Through the Open Doors Travel Ministry, you can be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in countries where Christians are persecuted.

You can literally cross borders to hold a persecuted Christian’s hand and encourage them by praying with them. You can also take resources to a church who has been praying and trusting God to provide them with the means to learn more about Him. You can walk in the coldest, darkest “closed country” and experience the power of prayer and the love of God burning in your heart for that country.

Anyone who has a passion for Jesus Christ and a love for our persecuted family across the world can become a tourist on a secret mission through a trip to the persecuted Church.

There are different trips you can choose to go on:

• Encouragement: Meet persecuted believers, pray with them,
  and possibly attend a church service.
• Prayer: Intercede for our family in Christ in their home country.
• Delivery: Take much-needed resources into countries where there is a great need for them.
• Youth: Meet and encourage young people in the
  persecuted Church.
• Special: Help persecuted Christians in a practical way.
• Virtual: Experience the everyday life of our persecuted brothers and sisters virtually through an online tour of their country.

A historical church in a persecuted country

A change of heart
This is what Sandra*, one of Open Doors’ travellers, had to say about her experience of meeting and interacting with our persecuted family on her recent trip to visit them and how it has impacted her life:

“The opportunity to meet our persecuted brothers and sisters changed my heart and strengthened my relationship with God. Although we went as tourists, we had another mission behind the scenes – to meet with our family in faith. I met groups of persecuted believers in different parts of the country, and their love for the Lord is really encouraging. They couldn’t thank us enough for visiting them and emphasised how they appreciate our prayers – but I realised that it is working both ways, as meeting them also inspired me in my own journey with the Lord.”

A life-changing experience
She continues: “I met women who are persecuted in their own families and communities for their faith, children who are discriminated against at school for their Christianity, and people who travel hundreds of kilometres to spread the Gospel in rural areas. I also met a pastor who works in a very poor Christian community on the outskirts of a large city – despite their difficult circumstances and extreme poverty, you can see the love and peace of Jesus in their eyes.

“I encourage everybody to go on a trip to visit the persecuted Church. It was a life-changing experience that I’ll never forget. Those people suffer the most terrible persecution, but despite their hardships, they stand strong in their faith and love God intensely.”

Travel calendar for 2023
Are you challenged by Sandra’s story? Then take a look at the Open Doors travel calendar for 2023 to see how you can be an encouragement for our persecuted family this year.

• Tanzania: July
  Encouragement
• Mexico: 17-27 September
  Presence / prayer / encouragement
• East Africa: 17-24 September
  Presence / encouragement
• Colombia: November
  Encouragement
• Bangladesh: November
  Prayer/encouragement

Contact us today:
For more information on the Open Doors Travel Ministry, visit opendoors.org.za/travel or send an email to Sam at travel@opendoors.org.za

*Name changed for security reasons.

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Date published: 04/01/2023
Feature image: A traditional bridge in a country where Christians are persecuted

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