Open Doors

WOMEN’S MINISTRY February

2011

Dear Sisters in Christ strength to the weary and increases the

Isaiah chapter 40:28-31(NIV): “Do you not
know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the
everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of
the earth. He will not grow tired or weary and
His understanding no one can fathom. He gives
strength to the weary and increases the power
of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall; but those who
hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They
will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not
grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
When we observe people around us who are weary
and tired, we notice how they reach out to various
crutches to help them cope. One such a favourite is Red
Bull. The slogan of this product is: It gives you wings. To-
day I would like to remind us that God is the One who gives
power of the weak. Women living in
countries where persecution is a reality
and women living in Southern Africa
will soar on wings like eagles...without
Red Bull. If we put our hope in the Lord,
He will renew our strength.
Keep the bookmark in your Bible and
pray for our sisters who are growing
tired and weary of persecution. Also
remind yourself where your strength
should come from if you face hardships
and trials. Thank you for praying for
our beloved sisters and their families in
2011.
Together in His service
Janine

SOMALIA: Young hero of the faith killed

In 2010, I shared Nurta’s testimony
with you. Remember that she was
the 17 year old Somali girl who had
been persecuted by her parents for
leaving Islam. They had severely
beaten her and regularly shackled
her to a tree at their home. She had
been confined to her home in Gedo
region in southern Somalia since May
10, when her family found out that
she had embraced Christianity.
Her parents also took her to a doc-
tor who prescribed medication for
a “mental illness”. Alarmed by her
determination to keep her faith, her
father, Hassan Kafi Ilmi, and mother,
Hawo Godane Haf, decided she had
gone crazy and forced her to take the
prescribed medication, but it had no
effect in swaying her from her faith.
Traditionally, he added, many Somalis
believe the Quran cures the sick,
especially the mentally ill, so the
Islamic scripture was recited to her
twice a week.
She had declined her family’s offer of
forgiveness in exchange for renouncing
Christianity. The confinement began
after the medication and punishments
failed.
Nurta fled her village last year to live
with relatives. Two unidentified men
shot her in the chest and head with a
pistol on the 25th of November. Area
sources strongly suspected that the
two men were relatives acting on her
parent’s behalf.
Prayer Points:
Pray that Nurta’s parents and
her killers will find peace in
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Pray for all Somali converts
who face harassment and
persecution from relatives
as well as the community.
Turning from Islam is socially
unacceptable and punishable
by death.
Praise God that Nurta will live
for eternity, due to her faith
in Jesus Christ.
CHINA: SHI Weihan released
SHI Weihan was released on the 9th of
February. He was arrested on the 19th
Prayer Points:
of March 2008 for publishing Bibles
and Christian literature without the Thank the Lord for SHI’s release.
necessary permission of the authorities. Pray that they will have a wonderful time together as a family and that
Many of you wrote letters to encourage they will enjoy being together as a family again.
him, his wife, Zhang Jing and their two
daughters during the past 3 years.

NORTH AFRICA: Nasira finds joy again

I shared Nasira’s story with you last
year as well. She was struggling with
Prayer Points:
depression and was feeling very tired, Pray for Nasira’s planned trip into North Africa. Pray for her protection
her house had been broken into and and for good health.
her relations with her family were stre- Pray that the Lord will give her strength and endurance to do His work
nuous. Nasira is a secret believer. and also pray that the Lord will give her wisdom and peace at heart
when it is time to take a break.
One of my colleagues met with Nasira
and reported that she had found joy Pray for her personal situation; the tension with her family is still pres-
ent since they are all Muslim. Pray that when she travels, the family will
again. Please pray for her as she has
not find out exactly what she is doing.
found strength and hope.

IMPORTANT NOTICES:
Please remember that I am running (or should I rather say walking)
the 5 km’s race during the Two Oceans for funds for Bibles. Come
and join me as we do something practical to provide women with
the much needed Word of God.

Our new website will be launched in March. This will provide you
with fabulous resources which you can use during your prayer
group meetings.

We have a new Prayer Alert distribution list. If you sign up for this,
you will receive immediate prayer requests from our brothers and
sisters. Contact me if you would like to sign up.

A women’s prayer group has come to being at our head office.

Come and pray with us every second Friday from 11:00-12:00.
Contact me for more information.

Women’s Ministry
Janine
T 011 888 9341
F 011 888 9362
C 071 364 6318
E janinec@od.org
I www.opendoors.org.za