Written by: Open Doors SA
Article source: JOY! Magazine
You can be a tourist on a secret mission by joining Open Doors Southern Africa on a trip to the persecuted Church. Anyone who has a passion for Jesus Christ and a love for our persecuted family across the world can join this life-changing experience.
Meeting persecuted believers
Through the Travel Ministry of Open Doors, you can take a step to literally cross borders to hold a persecuted Christian’s hand to encourage them and pray with them. Travellers can also take resources to a church that has been praying and trusting God to provide them with the means to learn more about Him.
A ministry changing lives across the world
Brother Andrew, founder of Open Doors International, took the first step to visit the persecuted Church more than 60 years ago – and this was a step that had effects he never even imagined at the time. Today his ministry has expanded into numerous countries across the world.
You can meet persecuted believers, hold their hands, and pray with them.
A change of heart
Peter*, an Open Doors supporter who recently went on a trip to Southeast Asia, says: “I felt distanced from God before my trip. However, the trip changed my whole life and really strengthened my relationship with God. I will never be the same again, as my heart was changed forever.
“I met Andrew*, a seven-year-old boy who was injured in a church bombing. He was badly burnt over 40% of his body and had 39 surgeries since the bombing. Despite his hardships, he testified that Jesus is all that he needs. I saw the love of Jesus in his eyes.”
Peter went on his first trip to the persecuted Church in Asia in 2014, where he met Adam* and Natalie* during an outreach. They reach out to drug addicts and prostitutes, bring them into their community, lead them to Jesus, and then disciple them.
“When I left Adam and Natalie that day, I couldn’t help thinking that what they do is real church. I decided that I also want to make a difference. I will do whatever I can to remain in Him. I wish to bear much fruit and to be His disciple, to the glory of the Father. If that too is your wish, I encourage you to go and find out where God is working and join Him. You don’t need to pray about whether you should do it, He wants you to follow Him,” he says.
Different options for travellers
Travellers can go on encouragement trips, where they will have the opportunity to meet persecuted believers, pray with them, and possibly attend a church service. Otherwise they can choose between prayer trips to intercede for our family in Christ in their own country, delivery trips to take much-needed resources into countries where there is a great need for them, youth trips to meet and encourage young people in the persecuted Church, and special trips to help persecuted Christians in a practical way.
Base trips from South Africa in 2021:
• Central Asia in July (two separate trips)
• Egypt in October
• Vietnam in November
International trips:
• China in March, June, and September (three separate trips)
• North-Asia in May and July
• Colombia in April, June, and November (three separate trips)
• Southeast Asia in September
• Bangladesh in November
Change your own life forever
Any trip you choose will be sure to encourage persecuted Christians and change your life forever. For more information on the Open Doors Travel Ministry, visit www.opendoors.org.za or send an email to Samantha at travel@opendoors.org.za
Open Doors | Nedbank | Branch code: 198765
Acc: 113 750 4552 (Business) | Reference: JE2101
Open Doors | Absa | Branch code: 632005
Acc: 160 340 568 (Current) | Reference: JE2101
*Names changed for security reasons. | Photos: © 2021 Open Doors International
Click here to KEEP UPDATED on the latest news by subscribing to our FREE weekly newsletter.
Date published: 10/02/2021
Feature image: Open Doors International
DISCLAIMER
JOY! News is a Christian news portal that shares pre-published articles by writers around the world. Each article is sourced and linked to the origin, and each article is credited with the author’s name. Although we do publish many articles that have been written in-house by JOY! journalists, we do not exclusively create our own content. Any views or opinions presented on this website are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company.
