Does Open Doors work together with other Christian organisations?
We have a specific role to play in the Kingdom of God, and to do that we need to play our role in partnership with many other ministries. Although we are called Open Doors in the west, there are many places where the face of Open Doors has another name in order to be able to work in partnership to enhance exisiting local ministries.
Is Open Doors breaking the law when smuggling Bibles into closed countries?
Yes, it is true that in some places distributing Bibles is considered illegal. We would contend that as the people of God sometimes we must submit to a higher authority where God's Word is concerned. As with the civil rights movement in the US, the marches and sit-ins they conducted were considered illegal, but morally they were correct to perform those acts of civil disobedience.
Does Open Doors belong to any particular denomination?
No, Open Doors is a totally interdenominational organisation and is therefore not restricted in who we help. If people are Christian and they are persecuted, we help them. We define Christian as anyone who professes the name of Jesus.
What is the main source of Open Doors funding?
Our funding comes almost exclusively from donations made by churches and individuals. God uses His people to support His people.
Does Open Doors have tax deductibility status?
No, we have tried and are continuing to explore possibilties in this area, but we have not been successful due to the evangelisitc nature of our work.
How is Open Doors Australia held accountable financially?
Open Doors is a registered ministry under the Department of Fair Trading. Our annual budget is approved by a Board of Trustees as well as the leadership of Open Doors International (our Parent Body). Our accounts are also audited annually by an independant firm and our audit reports and financial statements are published and available on request.
What places in the world are the worst for persecution of Christians?
Every year Open Doors International produces the World Watch List, which ranks countries in the world from one to fifty, based on the difficulties Christians face within that nation.
Where does Open Doors get its news from?
Because Open Doors works with indigenous Christians and as a results of our underground network, the sources of our information are almost always directly from the field, and based on eyewitness accounts from our contacts. In addition, we refer to Compass Direct, which reports exclusively on Christian persecution.
What does Open Doors do to support Christians who are being persecuted?
It is our policy that the people on the ground decide what is their greatest need and we work together with them to try and meet it. Often our most common request is for Bibles, but if the Pastor requests a pulpit we help to supply that. We have often helped with economic relief, rebuilding of destroyed buildings or churches, micro loans to help people get re-established after losing their property, or whatever appropriate needs our brother and sisters request.