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The Children of the Persecuted Church
Jen-jen transformed by the power of God's Word
Jen-jen discovered the power of the Word of God during her vacation Bible school study.
Every summer in the southern Philippines, Open Doors and our partners on the ground host a massive vacation Bible school for children in the area. There’s so much praise, prayer and power. Seeing these boys and girls, many coming from areas of utter poverty, encounter Jesus for the first time…it’s amazing.
Jen-jen was radically transformed by Jesus. After reading His story in the Bible she was given at vacation Bible school, she believed with all her heart. And after one of our partners presented the gospel message, she immediately raised her hand to be saved.
God's Word changed everything for Jen-jen
The change in her life was shocking to those who knew her. The difference God’s Word, and the presence of Jesus, made in her heart…she was a completely different person.
She didn’t fight with the other neighborhood children anymore. Her brothers and sisters didn’t fear her yelling. Jen-jen obeyed her parents. And she also showed respect to her teachers.
Excited about the gospel, passionate for Jesus
But what’s even more amazing, Jen-jen began excelling in school. After expecting to leave primary school to work for the family because her grades weren’t good enough for secondary school, she passed all her classes with the highest marks.
And her efforts were so inspiring, our partner church provided a scholarship to Jen-jen to help pay the school fees required for her to attend secondary school.
Jen-jen was excited. About the gospel. About Jesus. About her future. Then, suddenly, the ground was ripped from beneath her feet. And all she had was God’s Word to stand upon.
Jen-jen's faith exposed
In Jen-jen’s area of the Philippines, Islam is the state religion. And while Christianity isn’t technically outlawed, it’s dangerous to convert. Jen-jen knew the risk. She also knew she had to keep her faith a secret.
As part of her curriculum in secondary school, she was required to learn Arabic. And she struggled all year long. Even though she did her best. In order to pass her final evaluation, Jen-jen needed to memorize an Arabic Muslim prayer to recite.
But, her teacher added, they would have to go to the local mosque and recite the prayer with other petitioners during the afternoon call to prayer. Immediately, unable to control herself, Jen-jen stood up and said she couldn’t go to a mosque and pray. Because she was a Christian.
The silence was deafening. Jen-jen’s secret was out…
Persecuted for her faith
The other students sneered at her. And the teacher told her that she could then just fail her class, saying: “You must do it or you can fail.” And her teacher went on, “You should’ve never left your Islamic faith.”
This wasn’t the first time Jen-jen had experienced pressure and persecution for her faith. And it wouldn’t be the last. During the Muslim Holy month of Ramadan, her teacher threatened to fail her if she didn’t fast. And she had other students spy on Jen-jen. They were to report her if she ate.
The Children of the Persecuted Church
Jen-jen transformed by the power of God's Word
Jen-jen discovered the power of the Word of God during her vacation Bible school study.
Every summer in the southern Philippines, Open Doors and our partners on the ground host a massive vacation Bible school for children in the area. There’s so much praise, prayer and power. Seeing these boys and girls, many coming from areas of utter poverty, encounter Jesus for the first time…it’s amazing.
Jen-jen was radically transformed by Jesus. After reading His story in the Bible she was given at vacation Bible school, she believed with all her heart. And after one of our partners presented the gospel message, she immediately raised her hand to be saved.
God's Word changed everything for Jen-jen
The change in her life was shocking to those who knew her. The difference God’s Word, and the presence of Jesus, made in her heart…she was a completely different person.
She didn’t fight with the other neighborhood children anymore. Her brothers and sisters didn’t fear her yelling. Jen-jen obeyed her parents. And she also showed respect to her teachers.
Excited about the gospel, passionate for Jesus
But what’s even more amazing, Jen-jen began excelling in school. After expecting to leave primary school to work for the family because her grades weren’t good enough for secondary school, she passed all her classes with the highest marks.
And her efforts were so inspiring, our partner church provided a scholarship to Jen-jen to help pay the school fees required for her to attend secondary school.
Jen-jen was excited. About the gospel. About Jesus. About her future. Then, suddenly, the ground was ripped from beneath her feet. And all she had was God’s Word to stand upon.
Jen-jen's faith exposed
In Jen-jen’s area of the Philippines, Islam is the state religion. And while Christianity isn’t technically outlawed, it’s dangerous to convert. Jen-jen knew the risk. She also knew she had to keep her faith a secret.
As part of her curriculum in secondary school, she was required to learn Arabic. And she struggled all year long. Even though she did her best. In order to pass her final evaluation, Jen-jen needed to memorize an Arabic Muslim prayer to recite.
But, her teacher added, they would have to go to the local mosque and recite the prayer with other petitioners during the afternoon call to prayer. Immediately, unable to control herself, Jen-jen stood up and said she couldn’t go to a mosque and pray. Because she was a Christian.
The silence was deafening. Jen-jen’s secret was out…
Persecuted for her faith
The other students sneered at her. And the teacher told her that she could then just fail her class, saying: “You must do it or you can fail.” And her teacher went on, “You should’ve never left your Islamic faith.”
This wasn’t the first time Jen-jen had experienced pressure and persecution for her faith. And it wouldn’t be the last. During the Muslim Holy month of Ramadan, her teacher threatened to fail her if she didn’t fast. And she had other students spy on Jen-jen. They were to report her if she ate.
