delivered the Bibles -- children's Bibles, study Bibles, and other resources, to Christians in 60 countries in 2003. Also, more than 22,000 pastors and church leaders received intensive training in how to lead their congregations and stand strong in their faith in the midst of religious persecution and discrimination.Jerry Dykstra is a spokesman for Open Doors. He says pastors and other Christians in persecuted nations are willing to risk their freedom for God's word, and the chance to share it with fellow believers. In fact, he says, "Most of the pastors we talked to in Vietnam had been in jail at one time or another, and yet they risk that, and they risk their families -- and all for Christ."
Next year Open Doors has a goal of delivering one million pieces of Christian literature to China. Dykstra says in countries like China, where the governments or ruling factions are hostile to the free expression of Christian faith, it is difficult for Christians to obtain the Bible or other scriptural resources.
"In China we delivered 500,000 pieces of children's literature in 2003," Dykstra says, "and some of the responses we got were just so emotional. We've heard co-workers there in China say they were so blessed by these children's Bibles."In fact, the Open Doors spokesman says one of the Christians with whom the ministry networks told him, "You know, we got 2,000 sets of Sunday School curriculum, and really, we thank you so much for that, but next year we need 3,000. We need to get more people involved because people are so excited about the Lord."
Studies show that most Christian homes in the U.S. have five Bibles. Open Doors is working to provide Bibles and other Christian literature to places where they are needed and prized by persecuted Christians hungry for God's word throughout the world.
