When Ibrahim confessed to his father that he had left Islam to follow Jesus, his father was silent. After several minutes, he gathered Ibrahim's brothers and sisters. His brothers began violently beating Ibrahim—in front of his two children—demanding that he renounce his faith and return to Islam. His father threatened to take away his wife and children as Ibrahim's frightened 7-year old shrieked,

"Daddy, daddy, please renounce your Christian faith, and return to Islam, so you can, for always, be our father."

The story Ibrahim shared with our partners in the field in Algeria is tragically not uncommon. Those who convert to Christianity from Islam face unimaginably harsh consequences.

Families can force couples to divorce, and the parent who becomes a Christian can lose his or her children because they automatically stay with the Muslim parent. When a new convert’s decision becomes public, that person will face harsh persecution from every side and is often forced to flee their village with no place to take refuge.

Remembering that horrible night, Ibrahim recalls, "It was so hard to hear them say that I was about to lose my family, everything, but I couldn't renounce Jesus, I couldn't renounce my faith. I said to my children, 'I love you, but I love Jesus more.'"

Here in the United States, it’s hard for us to fathom such extreme persecution—or such extreme devotion. But our brothers and sisters in Christ face these realities and worse each day. The World Watch List reports that 245 million Christians worldwide experience high levels of persecution by those set on utterly destroying the Christian community in their nations.

It is heartbreaking to know that fellow believers are enduring such intense brutality for their faith—and for the most part, these atrocities are never reported by mainstream media.

3 Key Actions You Can Take Today to Help Persecuted Believers:

• Pray—for the protection of new believers and Christians in Algeria, and for God to give them endurance and perseverance in their faith;

• Share—forward this email to family, friends, and fellow church members to make them aware of the plight of persecuted Christians in these harsh regions. You can also follow LRI on Facebook and share the updates that are reported there;

• Give—your tax-deductible gift of 50, 100, 500 dollars or more will enable us to send urgently needed aid to our partners in the field who are working with men, women and children who are at constant risk of violence, torture, false imprisonment, kidnapping, rape, or even death.

After that horrible confrontation, Ibrahim’s family threw him out. Thankfully, he was able to find refuge at his pastor’s home several miles away. He spent time with fellow Christians learning God’s Word and growing in faith. His prayers were answered three months later when he received a call from his father. Ibrahim was to remain banished by the rest of his family, but his wife and children were allowed to go to him. Though his wife chose to remain Muslim (so far), they are overjoyed to finally be back together with their children.

It is reported than roughly 1500 believers are enduring similar violence and banishment for their faith in Algeria. The churches do what they can, but many remain undiscipled and alone, and increasing government pressure on Algerian churches makes organizing events for believers even more difficult.

You can help provide for the immediate humanitarian needs of believers like Ibrahim as well as emergency food and water, safe houses, trauma counseling, literacy training and job training; restoration assistance to rebuild churches and homes; Bibles, Bible study materials and discipleship training.

Please let me hear from you today. Our prayers and practical relief become a lifeline for our persecuted Christian family suffering this way in Algeria and beyond—especially when they feel so isolated and forgotten. Thank you in advance for standing with LRI to pray for and care for our hurting family all over the world.

God bless you,

Mat Staver
Chairman

P.S. You can help LRI minister to the urgent needs of persecuted Christians and others in unbelievably desperate situations with your generous gift today.

*Representative photos/names used for security reasons.