At the start of 2023, the team that formerly led the U.S. affiliate base for Open Doors relaunched as Global Christian Relief, a separate ministry that continues to raise awareness, prayer, and support for the persecuted church worldwide. Open Doors International continues its work through a new U.S. affiliate office, Open Doors U.S., which supports the organization’s long-established fieldwork in 70 countries.
The two ministries have agreed to work independently to support the persecuted church at a time when worldwide oppression of Christians has reached historic levels. Both organizations remain committed to serving the persecuted church and advocating for their support and prayer as co-laborers for the Kingdom.
“We have enormous respect for Open Doors’ presence and work in the most difficult places,” said David Curry, CEO of Global Christian Relief, and commissioner on the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). “We currently have a handful of ministries doing this work, and we need a thousand.”
“We are thankful for what our former U.S. affiliate has done in the past to raise awareness, prayer and support for those who share our faith in Christ but not our freedom,” said Dan Ole Shani, CEO of Open Doors International. “The global church needs to take its responsibility seriously to ensure that our brothers and sisters in Christ do not face their trial alone.”
Today, more than 350 million Christians around the world suffer extreme persecution and discrimination for their faith in Jesus—and they need to know they’re not alone. Both organizations encourage U.S. Christians to take action through prayer, advocacy and support for their persecuted brothers and sisters.
For more information about Open Doors U.S., visit www.OpenDoorsUS.org
For more information about Global Christian Relief, visit www.GlobalChristianRelief.org
After much prayer and discussion, the Open Doors International and Global Christian Relief boards agreed to separate in October 2022. You can read their joint statement above.
Over the years, the two ministries developed different ministry models and strategies to generate awareness, prayer, and support for the persecuted Church. The U.S. leadership team has created its own infrastructure and fieldwork, independent from the global Open Doors network.
As a result, there are two organizations working independently to support persecuted Christians where there was one before.
Open Doors continues to raise support and prayer in the U.S. through a new office fully dedicated to the mission and vision of its founder, Brother Andrew. Open Doors supports the world's largest covert network serving the persecuted church in more than 70 countries, forged over 68 years of courageous service. Open Doors is expanding this network to support the needs of increasing numbers of persecuted Christians.
Global Christian Relief continues to support persecuted Christians by delivering on-the-ground emergency relief for suffering believers and providing long-term support for the church in some of the most dangerous countries to follow Jesus, like Afghanistan, Pakistan, North Korea, Syria, Burkina Faso and so much more. Leveraging GCR's 50 years of experience, their vision is to create a movement of prayer and support for the suffering church to fuel the Great Commission.
Both organizations are dedicated to supporting the global persecuted church. To learn more about the distinctives of Global Christian Relief and Open Doors US, please visit:
www.OpenDoorsUS.org/en-US/about/
www.GlobalChristianRelief.org/about-us/
The boards of ODI and GCR have reached a final Agreement that concludes the process of separation that began in October 2022.
The boards agreed that both organizations should continue to communicate with supporters of the former Open Doors office in the USA. However, donors can easily opt-out of communications from either organization.
If you wish to change your communications preferences, please contact the relevant organization.
Open Doors US – email [email protected] or call 1-800-896-5285
Global Christian Relief – email [email protected] or call 888-524-2535