Open Doors, an international Christian ministry, will be presented with a top national award for its work serving persecuted Christians around the world.
Christian News Wire reported that the organization will receive the Milestone Award from the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) during the association’s convention next month.
National Religious Broadcasters is an international association of Christian communicators whose member organizations represent listeners, viewers and readers through radio, television, Internet and publishing. Its mission is to advance Biblical truth, promote media excellence and defend free speech so the Gospel may be freely proclaimed in the United States and around the globe.
NRB presents the Milestone Award each year to ministries with more than 50 years of continuous service in Christian outreach and broadcasting. Open Doors has been reaching out to persecuted Christians in countries around the world for 58 years and will be a recipient of the award during NRB’s 70th convention scheduled for March 2-5 in Nashville, Tenn. The award will be presented March 5 at the Gaylord Opryland and Convention Center.
“For nearly six decades, Open Doors has faithfully served the persecuted church through theological training, community development and distribution of Bibles, training materials and other Christian materials,” said Dr. Frank Wright, president and CEO of NRB. “The ministry has done a phenomenal job in raising awareness of suffering Christians around the world, and in mobilizing the church in the West to pray. Only God knows the full impact of this tremendous ministry.”
Open Doors International CEO Jeff Taylor said selection for the Milestone Award from the NRB is greatly appreciated by the organization.
“It is an honor for Open Doors to receive the Milestone Award,” he said. “I would like to thank the National Religious Broadcasters for recognizing Open Doors and other ministries for five decades or more of faithful service.
“I thank the Lord for all those who have supported and prayed for our persecuted brothers and sisters over the years.”
Started in 1955 by Brother Andrew (to preserve his anonymity in the countries he visits and because he is known as a brother to all who follow Christ), the Open Doors ministry supports and strengthens persecuted Christians in more than 60 countries worldwide.
The nonprofit organization works in oppressive countries to provide prayer, presence and advocacy to persecuted Christians along with Bibles and literature to help them remain strong in their faith. Open Doors tries to encourage and strengthen Christians in their stance against persecution, equipping them to shine the light of Christ in dark places.
Brother Andrew still travels around the world on behalf of suffering Christians. Author of the autobiography God’s Smuggler, which has sold more than 10 million copies in 36 languages, he has visited 128 countries.
Open Doors also produces the World Watch List each year. It is a ranking of the top 50 countries where persecution of Christians for religious reasons is worst. The ranking depicts persecution for faith rather than other reasons. North Korea has topped the list for the last 11 years.
The Presbyterian Lay Committee (PLC) prayer blog makes use of the Open Doors Watch List each week, highlighting the need for prayer for persecuted Christians in a different country.