Open Doors Youth Arm Campaigns for Eritrea's Persecuted Christians
by Allie Martin
August 17, 2005
(AgapePress) - Young people throughout the nation have an opportunity to support imprisoned and persecuted Christians in the East African nation of Eritrea. Underground, the youth ministry of Open Doors USA, has developed programs that allow young Christians to help believers imprisoned for their faith as well as their families. Jeff Shreve, president of Underground, says in the last 18 months more than 900 Christians have been imprisoned, and among those 900 are many young, teenage Christians. "And we're trying to get a nationwide effort raised up among the teenage Christians of America," he explains, "to come to [the Eritrean believers'] aid in prayer, in finances, in awareness, and every which way you can think of to help those Christians."
As part of the campaign to aid these persecuted Christians, Underground is offering a "Pray for Eritrea" bracelet and an Underground Citizen Kit. Shreve says the goal of the effort is to raise $55,000 to help support believers in that country, where there are currently 16 full-time pastors and nearly 900 Eritrean believers who are behind bars because of religious persecution.
Underground's spokesman says when young Christians in America learn what is happening to their Eritrean peers -- brothers and sisters in Christ, many of whom are their same age -- young believers in the U.S. should find the facts relevant and compelling. Many of the details are harrowing, he notes. For instance, there are the 62 teenage Christians "who were put in prison over 12 months ago, and of those 62, five signed the papers to convert so they could get out of the horrible conditions they were being forced to live in," the youth ministry president points out.
"And all that remains now," Shreve adds, "are 57 teenagers in the Eritrean prisons. I just don't know you could feel that doesn't relate to you. Scripture says if one part of the body suffers, the whole body suffers." He says that is why Underground is spearheading the "Pray for Eritrea" initiative and raising awareness about what is going on there -- so young believers and other concerned Christians can be equipped to reach out to their persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ in that East African nation.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
