Christian Post Honored with Passion for Persecuted Award

By Audrey Barrick, Christian Post Reporter Monday, February 28, 2011

The Christian Post was awarded Monday morning with the "Passion for the Persecuted" award.

A plaque was presented by Open Doors USA, a Christian ministry that supports persecuted Christians around the world, during the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville.

"Christian Post has been a faithful partner in spreading news about Christian persecution and suffering," said Dr. Carl Moeller, president and CEO of Open Doors USA, in a statement earlier. "Through its accurate, professional and timely news stories and commentaries, it has raised awareness about suffering Christians. The Christian Post is on the cutting edge of news, wherever or whenever it happens. We are so thankful for their commitment to keeping Christians informed."

This is the third time Open Doors has presented the Passion for the Persecuted award, which recognizes a media organization that has established an ongoing commitment to inform its audience about the plight of persecuted Christians. Last year, Mission Network News was honored.

Humbled by this year's award, The Christian Post CEO Will Anderson commented, "We wish to thank Open Doors for presenting Christian Post with the 'Passion for the Persecuted' award.

"The Christian Post hopes to work harder than ever to bring the news of persecution to light. Our hope is this kind of award no longer needs to exist; Christians will no longer be persecuted, tortured and killed solely because of their faith in Jesus Christ. As we accept this award, our heart and our prayers go out all the more to our brothers and sisters in Christ who are deeply suffering for their faith around the world."

According to Open Doors, an estimated 100 million Christians worldwide suffer persecution in the form of interrogation, arrest and death for their faith. Millions more face discrimination and alienation.

Its latest World Watch List, which was released in January, ranks North Korea as the No. 1 persecutor of Christians, followed by Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Somalia, respectively.

Open Doors will be addressing the plight of Christians in the Middle East at a conference scheduled for March 12 in Chicago. The event is titled "The Persecuted Church: Christian Believers in Peril in the Middle East."