about open doors
For over 70 years, Open Doors has served the persecuted Church, strengthening and standing with our Christian family in places where following Jesus is most dangerous.
Our Purpose
The purpose of Open Doors is to strengthen and equip Christians around the world who are facing persecution and discrimination because of their faith in Jesus Christ, and to encourage their involvement in world evangelism.
We do so because we believe that when one member suffers, all members suffer with it (1 Corinthians 12:26), all doors are open and God enables His body to go into all the world and preach the gospel.
“Our very mission is called ‘Open Doors’ because we literally believe that every door is open to go in and proclaim Christ.“
— BROTHER ANDREW
Our Story & Founder
Open Doors originated in 1955, when a young Dutchman started smuggling Bibles to the persecuted Christians in Communist Europe. He became known as Brother Andrew, and his work led to more than seven decades of support for the persecuted church.
Our Response
Open Doors works through long-term on-the-ground partners who are best placed to create projects that respond and adapt to the unique needs of persecuted Christians in their own community. We go where persecution is worst and stay for as long it takes to strengthen the church.
Our Reach
As the world’s largest underground network serving the persecuted church, Open Doors reaches millions of believers in over 70 countries each year as they shine Christ’s light in some of the darkest places.
Our core values
We are very committed to our values – established by Brother Andrew, and reflected in every Open Doors base around the world.
How we support our Christian family
Since 1955 we have strategically supported Christians across the world by working with local churches.
Our statement of faith
Open Doors is an evangelical Christian ministry. Our Trinitarian faith is enshrined and expressed in the historic creed of the church:
We believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit; born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell, the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from where He will come to judge the living and the dead.
We believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy Christian Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.