Understanding Persecution

Saving the Next Generation

Massive numbers of Christians have been forced out of their homes in the North, many escaping with just the clothes on their backs and now living in refugee camps. The humanitarian crisis and exile severely disrupted, if not entirely eliminated, educational opportunities for children and young adults. Without intervention, an entire generation of young minds have almost completely lost access to education and are growing up illiterate.

To address this need, ICC opened a school in a Jos refugee camp in 2016. Over 130 displaced children have already began their studies at our School in Bukuru, Jos. With trained teachers, learning materials and furniture, ICC aims to save as many persecuted kids as we can in Nigeria.

Surviving Genocide

Displaced Iraqi families struggle daily to access food and adequate housing, often left with no choice but to live in tents. Surrounding churches have assisted hundreds, but have been unable to match the extensive demands. Food, clothing, bedding, and basic necessities are in scarce supply. Homeless, abandoned, and without future prospects of security, displaced Iraqis live in a state of desperation.

ICC was on the ground in Iraq in August 2014, one month after ISIS came to the world stage, and we have been providing assistance ever since. ICC has provided for the most basic needs such as food, water, clothes, housing (tents and small houses), and even small businesses. ICC’s efforts have helped restore homes, rebuild communities, and grant security to families that lost everything. Today, we continue to be the helping hands for Christians in Iraq.

Social Boycotts

In southern India, many communities rely on fishing for a sustainable living. Collective fishing is a common practice, which requires village members to share boats. Unfortunately, Hindus have denied Christians access to these communal village boats. This social boycott has left thousands of Christians in crisis, and deprived them of their sole source of income. Often, borrowing money is the only way Christian families can survive, putting them at risk of poverty or falling into crippling debt with “mafia” figures.

Ending Generational Persecution

These issues don’t capture headlines the way an imprisoned pastor or a church bombing does, but they are core to the persecution story and have devastating effects on entire Christian populations.

In Egypt, Christians have been discriminated against and persecuted for generations. They have been degraded to the lowest levels of society, both politically and economically. Christians are relegated to sub-standard ghettos with terrible public schools and inferior facilities, where they are harassed, excluded, and dehumanized. Egyptian Christians often abandon school altogether, putting themselves at a social and economic disadvantage.