Gc Relief

Christian Community Development:For more than 60 years, Open Doors has worked in the world's most oppressive and restrictive countries, strengthening Christians to stand strong in the face of persecution and equipping them to shine Christ's light in these places. In 2020, more than $4.7 million was contributed towards the worldwide Christian Community Development programs of Open Doors International. Open Doors International served 979,459 people through community development projects, such as sponsoring literacy courses, vocational/job training, prison ministry, medical/healthcare, church restoration, school support, community building aid, safe houses, food supplies, helping widows, emergency assistance, and support to persecuted families in 2020.

Leadership Training:Throughout the world, as persecution is on the rise, thousands of Christian leaders are finding encouragement at training seminars and workshops offered through Open Doors. In 2020, more than $4.6 million was contributed towards worldwide leadership and training programs of Open Doors International. Open Doors trained more than 3.3 million people through discipleship, mentoring, persecution preparedness training, trauma counseling, and more. Open Doors included Bible training for Christian leaders and believers, Sunday School teachers, and children. Seminars were also held in many countries, including Standing Strong Through the Storm which helps pastors and leaders learn how to stand strong in the face of suffering and persecution.

Bible and Literature Distribution:In 2020, over $2.6 million was contributed towards Bible and Literature Distribution programs of Open Doors International. Open Doors International delivered more than 1 million pieces of literature including Bibles, children's Bibles, study Bibles, New Testaments, religious literature, training materials, Sunday school materials, and other resources to Christians in countries around the world.

Advocacy (2020)In 2020, Open Doors USA focused its advocacy efforts on raising awareness of the many challenges to religious freedom faced by Christian communities around the world with key decision-makers in Washington D.C. Throughout the year, we met with U.S. State Department, USAID, USCIRF, and Congressional staff and principals to provide insight into addressing challenges to international religious freedom. Our advocacy efforts also included regular articles in Presence magazine, e-mail updates, and blog articles, as well as Op-Ed's published by National Review and the Christian Post.