Open Doors

Open Doors
Name	Open Doors
Type	Nonprofit
Founded	1955
Founder	Brother Andrew
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Ralph D. Winter; Paul Begley; Eric Foley
Focus	Christian humanitarian aid; religious freedom; persecution support

Open Doors

Open Doors is an international Christian organization dedicated to religious freedom and support for persecuted Christians around the world. Founded in the mid-20th century by Brother Andrew after clandestine scripture deliveries to Eastern Bloc believers, the group evolved into a global network providing aid, advocacy, and documentation of persecution in regions such as the Middle East, North Korea, and parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. The organization is known for publishing annual rankings and reports that inform governments, churches, and international bodies including the United Nations and regional bodies like the European Union.

History

Open Doors traces its origins to clandestine missions into Communist-controlled territories in the 1950s, inspired by earlier evangelical movements and figures such as Hudson Taylor and the legacy of Moravian Church missions. Its founder, Brother Andrew, gained prominence through covert scripture distribution in the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and East Germany during the Cold War era, intersecting historically with events like the Prague Spring and policies of the Warsaw Pact. During the 1970s and 1980s the organization expanded links with evangelical networks tied to institutions such as Fuller Theological Seminary and movements associated with leaders like Ralph D. Winter. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, Open Doors shifted focus to regions affected by Islamist insurgencies, authoritarian regimes, and ethnic conflicts involving actors like ISIS and Boko Haram. The post-9/11 geopolitical environment and interventions by states including the United States and Russia influenced its operational priorities and partnerships with faith-based NGOs and humanitarian coalitions.

Mission and Activities

Open Doors states a mission centered on strengthening Christian communities facing persecution through material aid, spiritual resources, and international advocacy. Its activities intersect with numerous organizations and institutions such as World Vision, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, and denominations including the Catholic Church and various Evangelicalism networks. The organization produces country-specific reports that are cited by think tanks like the Pew Research Center and policy institutes such as the Brookings Institution; these outputs inform hearings in legislative bodies including the United States Congress and the British Parliament. Open Doors also collaborates with ecumenical forums like the World Council of Churches on relief efforts in crises involving state actors like Syria and Iraq.

Global Presence and National Chapters

Open Doors maintains national chapters and offices across continents, operating in locations tied to historic missionary routes such as Latin America, Southeast Asia, and East Africa. National branches often liaise with local churches, seminaries like Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and indigenous ministries in countries including Nigeria, Pakistan, China, and Iran. The network coordinates logistics with international agencies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross during conflict, and it registers with national authorities in countries like Germany, Australia, and Canada to facilitate donations, legal compliance, and volunteer mobilization.

Advocacy and Policy Impact

Open Doors engages in advocacy that reaches supranational entities including the United Nations Human Rights Council and bilateral partners such as the United States Department of State. Its annual World Watch List and briefing materials are used by legislators, diplomats, and NGOs in deliberations over sanctions, asylum policies, and aid allocation; these instruments have been referenced in hearings involving committees like the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee and panels at Chatham House. The organization partners with legal advocacy groups and academic centers such as Harvard Kennedy School and the London School of Economics on research and training for faith-based advocacy. Open Doors' influence has intersected with international legal instruments like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in debates over minority protections.

Programs and Services

Programs administered by Open Doors include emergency relief, literacy and Bible distribution, trauma counseling, leadership training, and capacity building for church leaders. These programs are delivered in concert with partners such as Samaritan's Purse, Mercy Corps, and local ministries connected to denominations like the Anglican Communion and Orthodox Church. Training initiatives often reference curricula from seminaries and theological colleges including Moody Bible Institute and Wycliffe Bible Translators resources. In contexts of displacement, Open Doors collaborates with agencies such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to provide shelter and legal assistance for refugees fleeing persecution in regions affected by conflicts involving state and non-state actors like Yemen’s civil war parties.

Controversies and Criticism

Open Doors has faced critique from academic scholars, human rights organizations, and interfaith groups concerning methodology, reporting, and alleged proselytism in sensitive contexts. Critics from institutions such as Amnesty International and scholarly analyses published in journals affiliated with universities like Cambridge University and Oxford University have questioned ranking methodologies used in the World Watch List and the potential impact on interreligious relations in countries like India and Indonesia. Other controversies have involved debates with governmental bodies over the allocation of foreign aid and the delineation between humanitarian assistance and evangelistic activity, drawing scrutiny from policy analysts at think tanks including the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Category:Christian charities