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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Open Doors affiliated with any organizations? Which ones?

Open Doors is proud to be a charter member of the ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability), as well as partners with World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), and the National Association of Evangelicals (NEA).

Open Doors International is also affiliated with the Forum of Bible Agencies. Return to top

What version of the Bible do you distribute?

Open Doors delivers standard (Protestant) Bibles all over the world but almost none of our Bibles are in English but in the languages of the countries we serve. All of the translations are fully approved by the Bible Societies.

We stay with "tried and true" versions. For instance, in China, Mao simplified the very complicated Chinese script. There is now an excellent Bible translation available in this new script and is the version most Christians in China request. Because it is also a doctrinally sound translation, this is the one we distribute. Return to top

How much do the Bibles cost?

Our Bibles cost around £3.50 each, which includes delivery. The actual printing cost varies from country to country but we combine those figures and this is the worldwide average amount.

As you can imagine, the delivery costs are what this ministry is about. For some, the cost of delivering God's Word to other Christians has been a prison sentence or exile from their home and family. A few have lost their lives for distributing the Word of God in their respective countries.

We do everything we can to put Bibles and other helps into the hands of our persecuted brothers and sisters. We appreciate your partnership in this work. Return to top

Can I send you some of my extra Bibles?

Thank you for the generous offer! However, most of the work Open Doors does takes place in non-English speaking countries, so the Bibles we distribute are most often in other languages.

We recommend that you give your extra Bibles to a local church. Perhaps your church has a ministry to a nearby shelter or prison?

Additionally, The Salvation Army would be able to use your extra Bibles. Return to top

What does Open Doors take to the churches you support?

It is our policy that the church determines the need, and together with them, we try to find answers to their needs.

Every country has different needs and every church has its own unique struggles. We are careful not to push our own agenda on the church.

If a pastor needs a pulpit, we help supply that. If they request Bibles, we are quick to provide what we can.

We have also helped with hymnals, economic relief, rebuilding of destroyed churches and whatever else our brothers and sisters have requested. Return to top

Who is Brother Andrew?

He is the founder of Open Doors. He started out in 1955 as a young Dutch missionary. He went on a group tour to Poland where he discovered a remnant church behind the Iron Curtain, desperately in need of the Word of God.

Brother Andrew (as he would later be known around the world) distributed a suitcase full of Christian literatureÖmarking the humble beginnings of Open Doors with Brother Andrew.

Today Open Doors is working in more than 45 countries to strengthen the Persecuted Church, sustaining indigenous Christians in hostile lands so they can continue to spread the Gospel to the unsaved majority around them.

His autobiography, an international bestseller, God's Smuggler, details his early experiences of dangerous border crossings, KGB pursuits, and Brother Andrew's courageous journey toward living radically for Jesus Christ.

His 11th and most recent book, The Calling, spans another 30 years of ministry highlights to communist China, war-torn Sudan, and the Middle East.

In 1997, Brother Andrew was the recipient of the World Evangelical Fellowship's Religious Liberty Award, recognising his lifetime of service to the persecuted church and passion for spreading the Gospel.

Referring to Mathew 25, he says, "You cannot give a person something to eat unless you are there. You cannot provide drink or clothes, or visit the sick and imprisoned, unless you are there."

Currently in his 70s, Brother Andrew and his wife, Corrie, live in Holland and have 5 children and 4 grandchildren. Return to top

Why is Brother Andrew called Brother Andrew? Is he a monk?

Brother Andrew was first given that name when he began delivering Scripture behind the Iron Curtain. The recipients of God's Word would ask him his name, and he would say, "I am a brother of all those who love and follow Jesus Christ."

For Andrew, 'Brother' is a name given to all who believe. It is not a title.

Andrew is the English translation of his Dutch name. Return to top

Is Brother Andrew a pastor?

Brother Andrew is an ordained minister in a very large Protestant/Evangelical denomination, but he does not pastor a church. Like John Wesley, "the world is his parish!" Return to top

Where does Brother Andrew live? Is he still active?

Brother Andrew, the founder of Open Doors, lives in the Netherlands, and he is still going where faith costs the most. He travels extensively around the world, ministering to persecuted Christians and sharing the Gospel with those who do not know Christ. Return to top

Do you have any openings for ministry positions?

There are only a small number of salaried jobs here at Open Doors UK, and those positions vary at any time. Look to see if there is a link called Join the Team on our Home Page to see if we're advertising for employees. If the link isn't in the left-hand blue bar, we currently have no vacancies.

However, if the Lord is calling you to take Bibles to a restricted country, there is always a need for volunteer short-term Bible couriers who travel at their own expense.

Currently we offer trips into China - where the demand for Bibles and Christian literature is almost incomprehensible - and to Latin America.

Bible-courier trips can be a life-changing experience! If this sounds like something you would like to do, visit this page of our website.

You can find out about other ways to get involved on this page. Return to top

What is Open Doors' statement of faith?

Our statement of faith is on this page of our website.

You can read the Open Doors mission and ministry statement on this page. Return to top

Where is persecution the worst?

A major area of intense persecution today is in the 10/40 window where 97 per cent of the world's least evangelised people live. This rectangular area extends from West Africa across Asia, between the 10th and 40th parallels north of the equator.

The Christian population in the 10/40 Window is less than 2 per cent, a small but precious minority. Return to top

Why is the persecution of Christians almost never reported in the mainstream media?

There are several possible reasons. First of all, persecution is hard to cover; it often happens in remote areas far from the bars and receptions where journalists and diplomats like to socialise.

The general secularising trend in the West has reduced the sensitivity of journalists to the persecution of specific religious groups. Few reporters/editors take religion seriously, so they don't examine it closely. They assume persecution is rooted in economic, political or 'ethnic' problems.

The media has an educated membership but with little knowledge of the oppression of minorities in general and Christians in particular, especially in the Muslim world. This gives rise to an attitude that Christians in these countries are foreigners, western offshoots, imperialist transplants etc.

Criticising persecuting countries, particularly Islamic ones, might involve serious dangers, both physical and professional.

Moreover, oil and other strategic interests compel policy makers in the West to overlook such violations so as not to displease or embarrass their 'friends' from persecuting countries.

All these factors have come together to make it difficult for the persecution of Christians to make the headlines and newscasts of our mainstream media. Return to top

Why do you encourage Christians to stay in their country to face persecution instead of fleeing?

If all Christians living under persecution fled their native countries, there would be no witness, no opportunity for those left behind to hear the Gospel.

Even though their suffering is great, we believe that their Christian example is the greatest possibility of sharing Jesus Christ with the lost people in their community. Return to top

How are you held accountable financially?

Open Doors is a registered charity with the Charity Commission (No. 260600).

We produce an annual budget which is approved by our Board of Trustees and Open Doors International, and we report our progress to both groups monthly.

Our accounts are audited annually by an independent firm of auditors.

Our Annual review and full audited accounts are available on request. Return to top

Why do you ask for help? Why don't you just trust God to supply the needs?

Over the years we have been asked why Brother Andrew doesn't just pray and trust God to provide the funds as he did in God's Smuggler.

His simple response is that he does believe God will provide all that Open Doors needs to strengthen the persecuted. He lives his life trusting the Lord to meet his personal needs.

However, when it involves the needs of others, he does not hesitate to ask for help on their behalf. Open Doors doesn't feel there is anything wrong with asking other Christians to help their brothers and sisters living in restricted areas.

Throughout Scripture, we see examples of Christians asking for support from their fellow believers.

Paul asked for money to help those in need in 2 Corinthians 8:13-15, and King David asked for help to build the temple in 1 Chronicles 29:1-5 because all his wealth was not enough.

In Exodus 53:5 it was God Himself who instructed Moses to ask the Israelites for materials and labour to build the tabernacle, and to take an offering from "whosoever is of a willing heart". Return to top

What are your training programmes like?

Our training varies, depending on the country and depending on the need of Christians in that country.

For example, in several countries in Africa, we concentrate on building up church leaders, most of whom have little or no previous pastoral training. The training is done for one week each month, for ten months.

The course is completed in three years, and is based on 2 Timothy 2:2, with the emphasis on faithful men who are able to teach others.

It is unique and valuable because it was developed locally, and students are not taken out of their community during their schooling.

They stay in touch with their real world and apply teachings immediately.

Fellowship is possible between pastors and students, and tutors are also local residents who are in touch with the real needs of the students.

In some countries the difficulties are still very great, but the dedication of the students and teachers keeps the program alive.

In countries where training must be absolutely secret, seminars are arranged for several days, and everyone stays in seclusion for the entire time. Again, these training courses and seminars vary according to the country, but we have taught on topics such as "The Faithful Pastor," "The Kingdom of God," "Christian Leadership," and "Preaching and Teaching."

One of our most powerful seminars is "Standing Strong through the Storm". It seeks to teach Christians living in high-risk areas how to thrive under severe persecution and suffering. Return to top

What materials do you use to teach church leaders and new believers?

The Study Bibles we deliver are designed to edify. They are doctrinally sound and much appreciated in places where Bible study "helps" are almost nonexistent. We believe that by providing Study Bibles, we are strengthening new believers in their faith and furthering their understanding of and belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. Return to top

Do they really print Bibles in China?

Yes, the Chinese government allows Amity Press to print Bibles, but they cannot produce nearly enough to meet the demand. It is estimated that 15,000–25,000 people come to know Christ in China every day!

Amity Press in Nanjing now has permission from the government to print an unlimited number of Bibles per year, and those Bibles are sold through two avenues: the official "Three-Self Church" which is a government-controlled institution, and government sponsored bookstores in some of the large cities.

Many of the pastors of the Three-Self churches are men of God and have a real love for our Lord. However, the government regulates what they can preach about and sets strict guidelines for them to follow.

For example, they must abstain from preaching on certain important Biblical topics, and they are not allowed to operate freely outside the perimeter of the Church grounds.

Many Chinese Christians do not attend the Three-Self Church for these reasons.

Additionally, the majority of Chinese Christians do not live in large cities where Bibles are available, and they do not have the money to purchase their own copy of God's Word. The expense of travelling to the nearest city and purchasing a Bible is far beyond the ability of a Chinese peasant family, which must live on 1000 yuan (£85) or less, per year.

By taking advantage of every avenue to assist the church in China through Bible deliveries, leadership training, prayer support and encouragement, Open Doors seeks to support the continued growth of the world's largest revival. Return to top

Is persecution really taking place in Mexico?

Yes. There are parts of Mexico, particularly in the central states where Christians are in the extreme minority, numbering less than 2 per cent of the population.

Many of these Christians live as "squatters" (with no home of their own) because they have been driven from their lands and face desperate economic conditions. Return to top

Where does Open Doors get its information from?

Because Open Doors works with indigenous Christians, and as a result of our longstanding underground network, the sources of our information are almost always directly from the field, based on eyewitness accounts from our contacts.

We have developed personal relationships with the churches we serve, and have often worked with the pastors of these congregations for years. This is partly why we are so careful to protect the identity of persecuted Christians and why we often cannot disclose the nature or location of the assistance we are providing in full detail.

In addition, we refer to news reports published in the countries where the events have taken place, and news services including Compass Direct News Service, which reports on Christian persecution exclusively. Return to top