Open Doors 'One With Them' Campaign to Spread Awareness of Persecuted Christians
Christians are one of the most persecuted groups in the world, a recent Pew Research study said, and Open Doors USA is looking to help them through prayer and advocacy with a campaign called One With Them.
“One With Them is a call to action to unite with persecuted believers,” Open Doors USA said in a statement. “Through prayer and advocacy, Christians in the United States are urged to join millions who share our faith but not our freedom.”
The event will culminate with the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on November 13.
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As part of its strategy to raise awareness of worldwide persecution against Christians, Open Doors USA is giving away free bracelets shaped like barbwire for people to wear. The provocative design is meant to be a conversation-starter, says Dr. Carl Moeller, Open Doors USA President/CEO.
Moeller said that a serviceman returning from Afghanistan noticed the bracelet, which led to a conversation about Christian persecution in Afghanistan.
“I’ve seen it again and again: These wristbands really do open doors to great conversations,” Moeller said. “He told me he planned to share our encounter from the pulpit in his home town where he was going to be welcomed home. I believe God received some mighty prayers that night. I encourage all believers in the West to order and wear the wristbands and see how God uses you to share the situation of our persecuted brothers and sisters.”
The bracelets can be ordered through www.OneWithThem.com, where people can also access free videos, prayer points, testimonies from persecuted Christians, Bible passages on persecution and lessons learned from suffering believers.
The first two bracelets are free and people are urged to give one to a friend or stranger to help spread awareness. Additional wristbands for churches and groups can be ordered for a fee with 100 percent of the proceeds going to support persecuted Christians through a general fund.
“Millions are living every day under severe persecution because they choose to be followers of Christ,” Moeller says in a video on the campaign’s website. “This is happening, and it’s on our watch. Imagine the impact of millions of people, all praying on one day, for the same thing: Strength and courage for those who share our faith, but not our freedom.”
Although the campaign’s immediate goal is to spread awareness and have millions of people around the world pray for persecuted Christians during the IDOP on November 13, One With Them hopes the prayers do not stop there.
“It’s really important that we pray for them not only on November 13, but every day,” Jerry Dykstra, Open Doors USA Media Relations Director, told The Christian Post. “We need to help support suffering Christians worldwide.”
