Throughout the world, extreme Christian persecution continues to increase. Millions of believers face harassment, discrimination, abuse, kidnapping, sexual assault, psychological torture, forced marriage, and even death.

Sadly, there’s a lack of focus on the plights of our brothers and sisters in Christ who suffer because of their faith. Many Christians in the western world take for granted the freedoms we experience when it comes to expressing our beliefs.

We don’t know what it’s like to not have access to God’s Word; most of us have bookshelves filled with many Bibles in a multitude of formats and versions.

We never fear for our safety or livelihoods if someone overhears us speaking of our Christian belief in a public place.

We never doubt if our church will be open — or even still standing — on Sunday morning.  

Sadly, for almost 360 million Christians across the world, these concerns are all too real. And for many, they dim in comparison to the persecution they must endure on a daily basis.

Poverty—A Secondary Problem

Persecution has an odd way of partnering with poverty, which further depresses the downtrodden. It’s no coincidence that extreme persecution flourishes in impoverished areas. A lack of basic necessities, including reliable electricity, clean water, medical care, and education often puts the most vulnerable at an even greater disadvantage.

Hopelessness, confusion, isolation, and dealing with the effects of trauma keep the persecuted from overcoming their circumstances. Should a natural disaster, personal emergency, terrorist attack, or war befall those already struggling, restoration becomes all the more elusive.

Families living in these conditions often fail to break the vicious cycle of persecution and poverty, meaning the next generation is doomed to repeat their parents’ experiences.

Meanwhile, personal flourishing, self-sufficiency, and financial independence are jeopardized, and the future of the Church is at stake.

Equipping the Next Generation to Persevere

Indeed, it may surprise you to learn what most persecuted Christians claim is the biggest threat to their faith.

Would you guess it’s the struggle to find food or stay warm? Or their disappointment that they have no church building in their communities?

Perhaps it’s living under the constant state of fear that terrorists will attack them at any time just because they claim the name of Christ.

These are all valid concerns, for sure.

But reports say that persecuted Christians cite isolation and hopelessness as the biggest threats to their faith.

These people feel invisible and alone in their suffering.

Their biggest fear is that their Christian brothers and sisters have forgotten about them or don’t care about their plight.

They are terrified that this lack of support will have a devastating effect on their children who may succumb to the temptation to give up the good fight.

They continually wonder if the next generation will be prepared to persevere in their faith if they must deal with both persecution and feeling forsaken by the body of Christ.

Tell Them “You Are Not Alone”

For more than eight years, Take Heart has been telling persecuted Christians, “you are not alone.” Our mission is “motivated by the love of Christ, we exist to spiritually encourage, technically equip, and financially support local leaders serving persecuted Christians around the globe.”

To date, we have served nearly 50,000 persecuted Christians in four countries: Nigeria, Egypt, Iraq, and Syria. We want to come alongside them with love and support because they are our brothers and sisters in Christ. We encourage them with Jesus’ message from which we take our name: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).

Working through a model of sustainability, we help these communities grow and heal from past traumas. We address their basic needs while also equipping them with skills and education so they can become financially independent and self-sufficient. Training leaders is a primary focus so that we leave behind strong communities that will thrive long after we are gone.

Trained individuals then go on to lead other communities, replicating the skills and education from which they benefited.

We do not simply show up, offer a hand-out, and leave. We teach, train, and encourage, equipping communities to replicate their success.

Stand With Egypt’s Future

One of our core activities is working to help young people in Egypt. Overwhelming poverty, limited employment opportunities, and a sub-standard educational system put youth and young adults in this area at an extreme disadvantage for success in life.

Girls and young women are subject to common practices and traditions that do not empower females, denying them an education and independence.

Boys and young men deal with substance abuse, sexual addictions, and a lack of healthy role models for Christian manhood.

Take Heart partners with local Egyptian organizations to care for these young people today, helping to secure the future of the Church in Egypt.

Christian Persecution in Egypt

Nearly 100 million people live in Egypt, with 15 percent identifying as Coptic Christian

and 28 percent of the population living below the poverty line.

The Coptic Christians are targeted by Islamist terrorist organizations and many of their rights to worship are restricted by the Egyptian government. While the Egyptian government recognizes the right to freedom of religion, there are many restrictions on building churches and other practices.

The large demographic size of Coptic Christians had kept major persecution at bay

for centuries, but that is beginning to change. Christians are now facing acts of violence, intimidation, and bombings during religious services. While the current president is making efforts to restore the rule of law in Egypt, Christians remain disadvantaged and face discrimination in education, health, and legislation.

The living conditions are at their worst for Christians living in Upper Egypt, which is considered the country's most impoverished region. In many of the villages that experience attacks by radical Muslims, believers are being forced from their homes and prohibited from having a sustainable income source because of their faith.

Christians who converted from Islam are facing the worst persecution, largely from

their own families.

Egypt is ranked number 38 in persecution of the top 50 persecuted countries in the whole world.

Key Initiatives Among Persecuted Egyptian Young Adults

We are focused on three areas to help Egyptian young people persevere:

1. Relieving trauma through skills building

We teach young men and women skills for processing emotional trauma through creative expression.

• Drawing and painting
• Crocheting
• Creative resin products
• Playing musical instruments

2. Healing the body through medical care

Providing routine medical care—and teaching young people about its importance—is critical for maintaining overall health and wellness.

• Full checkups annually
• Necessary lab tests
• Follow-up and medications as needed

3. Nurturing the soul through spiritual and awareness days

Gathering young people for designated days of teaching and togetherness helps encourage relationship-building, faith formation, and personal growth. Activities and topics covered include:

• Praising, praying, Bible study groups and discussions, and purposeful games
• Biblical manhood and planning for the future
• Health awareness aimed at decreasing infections and diseases
• Nutrition awareness
• Personal hygiene improvement
• Sexual awareness/harassment
• Sex/drug addiction and pornography

It Takes the Whole Body of Christ

In many ways at Take Heart, we feel as if we’re just getting started. We’ve made incredible progress in our eight years of service, but, sadly, there’s much more work to be done.

Our vision is to see “the body of Christ at peace, standing firm, and with great hope.” Until our vision is a reality, we must continue our work.

And we can’t do it alone.

It takes all of us as the body of Christ — ministering to our brothers and sisters in their greatest time of need.

Scripture reminds us that we have a responsibility to the body: “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:26-27).

We hope you’ll join Take Heart in our work. The future of the Church depends on it.

Get Involved with Take Heart

There are several ways you can learn more about Take Heart and the work we do.

• Follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
• Visit our website to sign up for our monthly newsletter or join our Prayer Team.
• Partner with Take Heart financially to serve persecuted Christians in Nigeria, Egypt, Iraq, and Syria.