Persecuted Church

Corporate Mission Partner - Open Doors

During 2023 SBC committed to adopt 'The Persecuted Church' as our corporate mission theme and after a review of potential partner organmisations we entered into a partnership with Open Doors for an initial period of three years.

The ministry of Open Doors has its origins in one man and one journey. In 1955, a young Dutchman went to Warsaw and discovered the existence of a persecuted church. He became known as Brother Andrew, and from 1955 to 1967 he travelled throughout Eastern Europe, delivering Scriptures, encouraging persecuted believers, and recruiting others to help him. In 1989 the Berlin Wall fell and Eastern Europe was open once more.

One of the big challenges in the post cold-war world was the rise of religious nationalism. Hindu extremists came from nowhere to form an elected government in India in 1996. Sri Lankan Buddhists began persecuting rural Christians, and guerrilla groups expanded their violence in places like Colombia. The rise of ISIS and other extremist Islamist organisations in recent times has seen some of the most extreme persecution, and elimination, of Christian communities. Religious nationalism continues to be a major factor in persecution.

Your help enables Open Doors to serves millions of persecuted Christians in over 60 countries, working with churches and local partners to provide Bibles, Christian materials, training, livelihood skills and advocacy.Today, more than ever, persecuted Christians need their brothers and sisters to make the same journey. Are you willing to walk alongside them? Are you willing to pray, support and speak up for the persecuted church?

SBC Christmas Appeal 2023: Burn Brighter

Our 2023 Christmas Appeal was in support of the Open Doors Christmas Appeal: 'Burn Brighter'. 

Ethiopian Christians in some communities face persecution from their predominantly Muslim neighbours. Persecution ranges from violence and threats of violence to social exclusion and deprivation.

Open Doors has a number of ‘Bridge’ projects around the world – bridging the gap between state provision (health, education, etc) and what is made available to persecuted Christians in that community

This year, SBC supported the  significant expansion of a ‘Bridge’ school in Ethiopia with our Christmas appeal which raised £XXXX. This will enable children in Christian families to safely access at least the equivalent best education available to other children in the community.  The school is also open to children from other faith backgrounds.

We will report on the development of the project as we receive further information