It’s Giving Season: How to Use Your Voice to Support the Persecuted Church
Join over 900k others (goal is 1m!) in signing Open Doors Canada’s Arise Africa petition for the United Nations by November 2nd
Hi friends,
I hope the title of this blog/newsletter grabbed your attention but you might be thinking:
“Giving season… and the persecuted church?”
So GivingTuesday is the Tuesday after American Thanksgiving and one of the main fundraising days in the charity world (my day job is in fundraising and community engagement). I’m also a fashion lover and it’s soon to be gift guide season as well. But today we’re talking about giving in a different way.
If you’d like to watch the reel!
I’d like to introduce you to Open Doors Canada’s Arise Africa campaign and invite you to read through the below, about the plight of persecuted Christians in Sub-Saharan Africa, and sign their petition before it is submitted to the United Nations this November. Over 900,000 people have already signed and they are hoping for 1 million. Note: you don’t need to be in Canada to sign the petition — you can be anywhere in the world!
Now you may be thinking…
Supporting persecuted Christians sounds complicated… how could I possibly help?
God has been teaching me over the past few years about his will for every Christian to support neighbours in need, and this can be in our local neighbourhood and also internationally. Sometimes finding the best way to offer support can feel overwhelming but I leave this verse for us to chew on:
Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. (Proverbs 31:8-9)
How is God leading you to speak out this season? One way might be to learn more about the Arise Africa campaign and support Open Doors Canada in petitioning the UN to get this heart-breaking issue onto the international agenda.
Can you tell me more about Open Doors Canada?
Open Doors Canada is a non-profit focused on strengthening persecuted Christians worldwide. It’s based in the Netherlands with 25 national offices, including in Canada. Since 1955, it has focused on strengthening and standing with believers who choose to follow Jesus no matter the cost. Today, Christians in more than 70 countries are supported by their work, which includes delivering Bibles, training leaders, and raising awareness about global persecution.
What’s the purpose of the Arise Africa campaign?
It might sound crazy that in our hyperconnected world there are hugely important issues that don’t get press coverage, but we all know this can be true. While we might be new to hearing about the persecution of Christians in Sub-Saharan Africa, Open Doors’ research indicates 9 out of 10 Christians murdered for their faith are from this region, and targeted extremist activity means that murder, torture, and kidnapping are an everyday threat!
When I shared about this campaign last year, some of my church friends from Nigeria let me know they are grateful Open Doors Canada is getting the word out – they know it’s true and yet are not always sure of how to talk about it.
We can help change this.
Meet Asabe: On April 14, 2025, around midnight, armed militants stormed Asabe’s community in northern Nigeria and killed 52 people, including her husband and her three sons. She and her daughter Joanna were left to burn but survived. Through relief aid, trauma care, widow support, and socio-economic development, Open Doors works to help Christians like Asabe heal from the trauma that comes with persecution and live lives that glorify God. The Arise Africa campaign helps raise awareness of this work.
Sign the Arise Africa petition
Will you join us and help Asabe and millions of other persecuted brothers and sisters receive the support they desperately need?
Feel free to share this with your pastors, small group, and family and friends as well.
In Christ,
Jenni
Ps. Download the free Arise Africa Week of Prayer guide and commit to praying for your persecuted family.
