Friday, 15th July marks the 50th Anniversary of Open Doors, the oldest international ministry to support persecuted Christians. From a press release, the founder Brother Andrew reflects on past, present and future of the ministry.
The history of Open Doors dates back to the age of the Iron Curtain in Europe. On 15th July 1955, the young Dutch missionary Brother Andrew made his first trip behind the Iron Curtain, as he travelled by train into Poland with his suitcase bulging with Christian booklets. Through this, he discovered Christians behind the Iron Curtain desperately needed the Word of God. This is the humble start of his ministry.
He shared in the press release about his feelings back then, "It was an eye opener in every aspect. I found churches and a Bible society that we knew nothing about. I also found there was a great lack of Bibles but lots of enthusiasm."
A story he had heard has inspired him deeply and gave him determination to start the ministry. Brother Andrew recalled, "I heard from the Bible Society Director, Mr. Enholc, who told me stories about professional smugglers who would come to his shop, buy 10 Russian Bibles, smuggle them across the border into Russia and make a fortune... I thought, if people do that for the love of money, unbelievers taking such a risk, how much more we should go over there and take the Bibles to the Russians."
Since then, Brother Andrew has devoted himself in taking the Bible or Christian literature to countries where Christians are being persecuted. The work of Open Doors broadened from Europe to China, Vietnam and later Africa and the Muslim World, including many places that Western Christians have never explored. Today, Open Doors is working in approximately 60 countries.
In addition, Open Doors conducts Bible-based literacy classes, discipleship training and vocational training as well as providing practical aid for suffering Christians.
Official figures from 2003 reveals that Open Doors delivered almost 4 million Bibles, children’s Bibles, study Bibles and other scriptural books to persecuted Christians. It has trained 22,000 pastors and church leaders across the world in the same year.
