As the year ends, Open Doors, an international Christian ministry to the persecuted church, reflects on what they were able to accomplish, and what they are still able to do.
"With less than a week left in 2005, many exciting doors remain open to strengthen the persecuted church," Dr. Carl Moeller, President of Open Doors USA said in a letter. However, he added that Open Doors is short 1.5 million dollars to "seize every opportunity."
"That is why I write with a real sense of urgency as we near the end of our 50th anniversary year."
2005 brought a lot of opportunities for Open Doors to serve the persecuted church by training pastors and church leaders, amid the growth of persecution of Christians in North Korea, Indonesia and Eritrea, to name a few.
In addition, Open Doors took part in providing relief for worldwide recognized disasters, such as the Indian Ocean tsunami, which celebrated its one year anniversary a few days ago, and the most recent disaster -- the South Asia Pakistan earthquake -- in October.
Open Doors will continue with such initiatives as delivering Bibles to places such as China, where there is a shortage of Bibles for underground Christians, to equipping pastors in India and one middle eastern nation to stand firm in their faith against Muslim extremists who target Christians that have converted from Islam.
For the past fifty years, Open Doors has supported and strengthened the persecuted church, asking people to reflect on the current situation of those who "are being tortured, imprisoned and even killed for their faith in Jesus Christ."
As they follow the rise of persecution, they prepare themselves with prayers to support the "brothers and sisters" who suffer for their faith.
"God is the One Who opens doors." Moeller said. "But it is our decision if we walk through them or not!"
