Doug

Open Doors worker Doug recently visited India.  Here he describes his experience as part of the teaching team, delivering a 'Standing Strong Through the Storm' (SSTS) seminar.

Doug's message:

"I walked into one of these seminars and it was electric. Three hundred pastors had gathered, from across all different denominations, and were singing, praying and dancing! There was so much enthusiasm and zeal. You wouldn't think these people were facing persecution.

"On the first day I was asked to keep a low profile as several state intelligence officers had entered the hall to enquire as to the nature of the meeting. A foreigner attending a stark Christian conference of this nature could have had some repercussions.

"It was wonderful for the SSTS participants to be able to fellowship and pray with others who are facing similar difficulties. And obviously when you put several hundred church leaders together there is powerful, uplifting and faith-building fellowship."

In addition to moral support, participants receive biblical training on different aspects of the Christian life. In particular, Doug explains that:

"After the seminar, feedback is often taken to assess its effectiveness and to measure the impact for future events. Most confess that they have never gone to seminars where they are taught not just biblical responses to persecution but also practical and legal issues as well. Several of the talks are given by Christian lawyers on state and national religious freedom, and also how to avoid difficult and dangerous situations."

Open Doors pays for the travel, food and accommodation of the participants whose sole contribution is the registration fee of Rs. 200 (approx. £2.50).

"The SSTS programmes provide encouragement and support with enough evidence that the Gospel that arrived here almost 2,000 years ago will continue to be preached with courage and perseverance amongst those who are persecuted, to multitudes of people who are eager to hear and restless to feed on the blessings that Christ brings," he added.

Doug also met and fellowshipped with several pastors on his travels.

He said, "All their accounts were very touching and faith-lifting. It was such a privilege to visit this incredible nation and to witness the miracles being performed by the Spirit of God in very harrowing situations.

"There was one particular pastor's wife whose trust and faith in God was an incredible challenge to me.

"She shared how her husband was taken by a Hindu fanatical mob and beaten severely. The police also took him, put him in prison and continued to beat him. She was not allowed to visit him! She was worried for him and also for her two small children. At first her faith was challenged. She started asking, 'Why God? We served you for so many years!' Then in her prayers she received an answer and she realised that there were many other pastors' wives facing similar situations. She decided to start a support group to get these pastors' wives together for fellowship, prayer and even to meet some of their physical needs.

"You see, here was this quite difficult, faith-testing mountainous situation that this sister in Christ had turned into a faith-building exercise. And my own faith was touched and I realised that she was looking at Jesus in her problems, rather than worry, rather than get negative. What an upward call to all of us!"

Doug also described how Open Doors' partners have been able to support persecuted Christians in India.

"We have provided direction to the local pastors and church leaders. We have also organised peaceful rallies and protests, to highlight the situation, where thousands have participated. And then we have offered food, shelter and protection for many who have lost everything due to persecution during the last few months.

"Many pastors that I met personally asked me to pray for their families rather than for themselves. They also asked me to pray for their congregations so that God would strengthen them at this - what they called - 'hour of testing'."

In closing, Doug issued a call to all Christians in the UK and Ireland to pray for the government authorities and, as Jesus said, our 'enemies' - that God would move their hearts to hear the message of the Gospel and turn this faith-testing situation into a miraculous faith building-time in India's history.