Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84Plough Quarterly • Winter 2017 61 Baptism Means Danger Conversions like Amir’s do not come without cost. Many converts from Islam face discrimi- nation and exclusion. Some suffer beatings, and others have paid the ultimate price for their faith in Christ. However, even the threat of violence doesn’t stop converts from Islam from wanting to be baptized. A baptism, usually a very public declaration of a private commit- ment to faith, must be conducted in secret so as not to endanger the local Christian community. At Open Doors, we support our persecuted brothers and sisters and share the gospel where it is forbidden. Our annual World Watch List identifies the top fifty countries in which it is most difficult to be a Christian. In 2016, eight of the top ten countries cited Islamic extrem- ism as the primary reason for persecution, and thirty-five out of the top fifty reported as much. In this context, we’re called not only to pray for conversions from Islam but to nurture new believers. Studies have shown that in parts of the Middle East, many Muslim-background believers return to Islam if they do not receive support within six months of coming to faith. Thus, it’s imperative to reach new believers quickly to support them in the isolation and danger they experience. A sustaining Christian community is vital for people who may have lost their status, family, and livelihood because of their commitment to Christ. New believers must also have access to the Scriptures. This is why smuggling Bibles is as important to Open Doors today as it was to our founder, Brother Andrew, in the 1950s. Smuggling Hope In 1957, Andrew van der Bijl loaded up the back of his battered Volkswagen Beetle with Bibles and Christian literature. He drove to Moscow, directly violating the laws of the Soviet Union, which forbade religious literature. He prayed as he passed through checkpoints and miraculously succeeded in meeting Christians and handing out the Bibles. When people asked him his name, he said, “I am a brother to all those who love and follow Jesus Christ.” Through these journeys, he became known as Brother Andrew. Just as Brother Andrew did decades ago, we’re still smuggling Bibles and Christian literature into closed countries – often at great personal risk. Of course, in the digital age we have more opportunities than ever to get the Word of God to the people most hungry for it. Of the 355 million people living in the Middle East, about 50 percent now have access to the internet. Open Doors’ social media projects focus on supporting Christians in the Arabic- speaking world. This includes helping parents teach their children the values of the kingdom of God as they grow up. For example, for parents from cultures where boys are valued more than girls, it is important to share stories of a God who values everyone equally. Tens of thousands of people from all over the Middle East, from Morocco and Libya to the Arabian Peninsula, take part in Open Doors’ online community. But the goal is to get people engaged not only online but also in a local church. To this end, an online support team operating from inside the region is avail- able to minister to people in contact with us. Online connections can have an offline impact. According to one local coordinator, a frequent visitor from Iraq “likes to visit our page because she feels [it] makes a difference in her life and plays an important role in her Brother Andrew and his Volkswagen Beetle, which he filled with Bibles to smuggle into the Soviet Union in 1957.