Human Rights Offering Helps Plant House Churches in Middle East

ICC Note: Evangelism in Muslim countries throughout the world is extremely dangerous. Many Christians regularly risk their lives in order to spread the Gospel and plant churches, but they cannot do it alone. Their need for resources is increasing as persecution intensifies, which often prevents Christians from being able to support themselves or their families.

06/30/2009 Middle East (ABP) - She gets up early, traveling all day to teach Bible studies and lead worship services. She must remain unknown to keep the churches she works with safe. She does her work quietly, fearing persecution—or worse—if government officials learn what she is doing.

She is a woman who heard a message of hope through Jesus and decided to become a Christian. She is an indigenous church planter who now shares the same message she heard where she lives—a predominantly Muslim country in the Middle East. She has no assurance when she begins her day that she will not be killed by the end of it for the work she is doing. For her, letting others know about the hope in Jesus that she has found is worth the risk she takes in doing so.

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“There is no religious liberty outside of Islam in this country,” Sample [one of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's field personnel] said. “However, people are hungry for Christ and so very open to the gospel. But the laws and the punishments for converting are getting more strict.” Currently 135 women have been trained as church planters through the group. The Carter Offering will provide financial support for some of these women. A salary of $400 a month would provide for one woman’s basic needs and would be just above the poverty level.

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Each qualifying recipient of the funds already has planted at least three churches and is actively leading them, as well as actively witnessing and tithing. Each woman also has demonstrated that her priority is to do the work of her ministry; has completed foundational classes in Christianity, baptism and kingdom living; and has completed three basic leadership classes. The church planters all are associated with an international organization to which they are accountable through monthly reports and supervision.

Many Muslims find their way to these churches through indigenous-language Christian broadcasts, but an increasing number also come through word of mouth as believers multiply and share Christ throughout the Middle East.

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