This month we will be featuring the Secret Children of the Persecuted Church.  These are the stories that the enemy does not want you to hear

They never get three wishes, never get any happy ever afters. No fairy tale endings.

They are the Secret Children

It is estimated that there are over 30 million stories just like Sophia’s. Some of these children are killed.  Some are left as orphans, their parents being killed.  Some are separated because their parents have been put in prisons and labor camps.  They are rejected by society, denied education, employment, healthcare. Some are uprooted from their homes, they are forced to leave because of violence.  Many others… just disappear.

It is really hard for me to imagine that kind of a life.  My heart breaks for these kids.  Picturing your children growing up in situations and circumstances such as some of these that are listed gives me a new appreciation for my family and the freedoms that we have been given.  We are truly blessed.  Even on the worst of days, in the worst of situations here, I honestly don’t think we have any clue just how blessed we are.

Secret Children are described as:

Disposable, Displaced, Vulnerable, Deprived, Isolated, Rejected, Disadvantaged.

Can you imagine describing your children with such words?  Their parents face terrible choices: between staying faithful to Jesus or protecting their children; between raising their children as Christians or keeping them physically safe.  I struggle with the terrible reality that they face, and I struggle because I cannot imagine having to make those choices, yet they can not imagine not having to.

The price of commitment to Christ is paid by both parents and children. Every day Christian mothers and fathers face an excruciating choice: between staying faithful to Jesus or protecting their children.

For those of us living in the United States it is very difficult to imagine what these children endure.  Reading their stories, I have found myself asking some questions about how my children would respond.

What would they think, if I was arrested, beaten, or even killed simply because I made a choice to follow Jesus?  Would that drive them further from Christ, or would it draw them closer to Him?

“Many stories and testimonies from others tend to be dominated by those who experienced wonderful deliverance – deliverance of healing, from cancer or other life threatening diseases, or deliverance from debt, or romance-less marriages.  “Remember, for every deliverance story you hear, there are a hundred endurance stories.” He was right. The story of the persecuted is primarily one of endurance. ”

Enduring – persevering through an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way.

Open Doors has a goal is to transform the lives of 10,000 children who are suffering persecution.

Click here to see how you can help make a difference

Interview with Open Doors

What are Secret Children?

These are children who face persecution due to either their faith or their parent’s faith.

How did Open Doors get involved?

While ministering to the persecuted church, we often encounter children who face persecution and need to share their stories as well.

Tell us about what some of these kids go through?

Some are alienated at school or in their communities. Others are rejected or thrown out of their towns. Some even have their parents snatched away from them, being thrown in prison or being killed for their faith.

Wow, I can’t imagine having to deal with those kinds of circumstances. How do you help the children cope with losing their parents?

Open Doors offers biblical counseling for children who have lost their parents. We also call on the church in the west to pray for these children.

How does this affect their own decisions to follow Christ?

Though this can be traumatizing, many children remain strong in their faith- an amazing testament.

What countries have the largest group of Secret Children?

All of the countries on our World Watch List have secret children.

What are some things people can do to help support the Secret Children?

Prayer is the number one thing they ask for. You can also write letters of encouragement and advocate on their behalf (this info is available on the Open Doors website).

What are some of the challenges that Open Doors faces with this ministry opportunity?

It is difficult for us to know of each secret child, we do not know all the children.

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer a few of our questions.

Please consider praying for the secret children.  All month long we will be promoting their stories, and giving you a small glimpse into the life that they live. We will share stories of children who have been desribed as disposable, displaced, vulnerable, deprived, isolated, rejected, and disadvantaged.

My prayer is that your heart will be filled with compassion, and you will not only be moved by their stories, but that compassion would lead you to action.  One of the things that Open Doors mentioned in the interview is that they are calling on  the church in the west to pray for these children.  Will you pray for them?

Will you stand with the persecuted and be One With Them?

Dr. Carl Moeller, Open Doors USA President/CEO said ““Millions are living every day under severe persecution because they choose to be followers of Christ. This is happening, and it’s on our watch. Imagine the impact of millions of people, all praying on one day, for the same thing: Strength and courage for those who share our faith, but not our freedom. Today is the day to begin! Now is the time to become One With Them in prayer.”

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