The below reflection was written by Howard Satterthwaite for Open Doors, October 2025
Oxygen on the dying embers of my burnt-out heart. That’s what the testimony and stories of persecuted believers became for me. Today, more than 380 million of our brothers and sisters live under pressure for their faith. Their courage helped me glimpse a bigger view of God, and motivated me to keep going – because I’ve heard them say Jesus is worth it, despite many being forced out of their homes, and losing loved ones.
A Chinese underground church leader once said: “We may need your support, but you need our faith.” A young Egyptian believer put it like this: “We’re all in the same fight, ours is a more brutal form, yours is more subtle. We’re hit by the stick of persecution, you have the carrot of comfort dangling in front of you.”
Although hard-hitting, I find these words helpful. The persecuted church has widened my eyes to the battle we face here in the UK, and why following Jesus can be hard even without open persecution. Their witness challenges and encourages us – and may even be the spark we need to see renewal and revival in the UK.
At Open Doors, we’d love to help you connect with your persecuted family, to learn from them and pray with them. We have staff and volunteer speakers available to share in churches, plus excellent resources for children, youth and adults – from a creative Christmas nativity to a small-group course on lament called Among the Ashes.
For more details, please contact: howards@opendoorsuk.org
