This month, the world observed the International Day of the Girl on October 11. It's a day showing the challenges and opportunities faced by girls all over the world. For girls who are persecuted for their in Jesus, the day is an opportunity to show how faith can affect the most vulnerable members of society.
Open Doors marked the day by highlighting its report showing how Christian girls are triply at risk of persecution because of their age, sex and faith. Researchers looked at religious freedom of children and youth (under 18) in the 50 countries where it is most difficult to live as a Christian as ranked by the Open Doors World Watch List. While the main threat for boys is recruitement into militias, Christian girls in the top 50 countries are particularly at risk of forced marriage in 66 per cent of the countries as well as sexual violence - 58 per cent.
What does this look like in real life? Here are two recent examples: A 17 year old Nigerian girls escapes after she has been abducted and forced to convert to Islam. In Iran a 2 year old little girl is taken away from her adopted parents because they are Christian converts.
Sometimes Christian children are given a "choice", such as in Iran where they were told to attend classes studying Islam or leave. Children and youth can also e put under pressure to join in activities that contradict their faith, or to denounce it.
"If children can be prevented from growing up as Christians - occupying valued roles in society, and as parents of future Christians - fewer resources will be needed by those opposed to Christianity to remove a smaller, weakened Christian community in generations to come, said the report. "Children and youth are targeted in order to prevent the next generation from building up the church."
Open Doors, through its local partners, works with children and youth in countries all over the world.
Please pray for the kids who will become the leaders of the worldwide Church.
Ask God to shine a light on the threats to Christian children, and especially girls, around the world so that evil is not allowed to prosper in darkness and secret.
Pray for girls who face loss of educational opportunites and spiritual freedom in countries where they are treated as lesser people.
Lift up ministries that work directly with Christian children and young people in oppressive societies, that they may be able to encourage and equip them for their future.
Thanks so much for praying, God bless. Taken from a text alert sent by Open Doors USA.
Open Doors marked the day by highlighting its report showing how Christian girls are triply at risk of persecution because of their age, sex and faith. Researchers looked at religious freedom of children and youth (under 18) in the 50 countries where it is most difficult to live as a Christian as ranked by the Open Doors World Watch List. While the main threat for boys is recruitement into militias, Christian girls in the top 50 countries are particularly at risk of forced marriage in 66 per cent of the countries as well as sexual violence - 58 per cent.
What does this look like in real life? Here are two recent examples: A 17 year old Nigerian girls escapes after she has been abducted and forced to convert to Islam. In Iran a 2 year old little girl is taken away from her adopted parents because they are Christian converts.
Sometimes Christian children are given a "choice", such as in Iran where they were told to attend classes studying Islam or leave. Children and youth can also e put under pressure to join in activities that contradict their faith, or to denounce it.
"If children can be prevented from growing up as Christians - occupying valued roles in society, and as parents of future Christians - fewer resources will be needed by those opposed to Christianity to remove a smaller, weakened Christian community in generations to come, said the report. "Children and youth are targeted in order to prevent the next generation from building up the church."
Open Doors, through its local partners, works with children and youth in countries all over the world.
Please pray for the kids who will become the leaders of the worldwide Church.
Ask God to shine a light on the threats to Christian children, and especially girls, around the world so that evil is not allowed to prosper in darkness and secret.
Pray for girls who face loss of educational opportunites and spiritual freedom in countries where they are treated as lesser people.
Lift up ministries that work directly with Christian children and young people in oppressive societies, that they may be able to encourage and equip them for their future.
Thanks so much for praying, God bless. Taken from a text alert sent by Open Doors USA.
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