Among the Ashes

What do you do when it all falls apart?
What do you do when everything gets taken away; when all that you have worked so hard to build gets shut down?
Or, worse, becomes nothing more than a load of ruins and a handful of ash?

Among the Ashes is a new film and prayer resource for churches from Open Doors.

Filmed in an abandoned church in South Wales, this beautiful, evocative and inspiring film combines biblical reflection with stories from the persecuted church, to explore how the biblical principle of lament can bring us hope and comfort, even in the darkest situations. The film is presented by teacher and writer Ron Boyd-Macmillan who has worked with Open Doors for over 35 years.

Among the Ashes - Prayer Resource

We have also created a downloadable outline for a prayer event using the film. The resource has been designed to help people reflect, either individually or with others, on some of the issues raised in the film. It also provides a simple framework to help us pray for Christians who are among the ashes: whether in the persecuted church, or closer to home among our friends, family and fellow Christians.

Log in to your account to view the complete film. You can also download the film and prayer resource for free. Or create a new account using the buttons below.

You can, of course adapt this resource to your own needs. It is designed for use online, or as a physical event, and it is suitable for many different church contexts:

• during your church service (online or in-person)
• your prayer meetings
• your small group
• a special event

However you use the film, we pray it will connect your church with the persecuted church – and that you will be encouraged by the film’s message of hope and love. Suffering and loss is something that all of us will share at some point in our lives. Particularly, as we have recently lived through such a time of loss and anxiety. We might be grieving for loved ones or enduring ill-health. We have lost jobs or seen cherished hopes dashed. Whatever the specific situation, we will all, at some point, be among the ashes. 

But the message of this film is that we are not there alone.

No-one wants to live among the ashes. Yet that is where we can truly encounter God in a new and powerful way.

To download this resource, log in to your account, or register for a free church account which also allows you access to other Open Doors church resources and videos.

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