Meet the persecurted Christians in Africa

African Christians face opposition from Islamic extremists and the traditional Orthodox Church. Open Doors' teams work with pastors and converts, providing practical, as well as spiritual help.

The battle between the Muslim north and the Christian south in Nigeria rages on. At least 12 of Nigeria's northern states, where many Christians live, have implemented Shariah law - the Islamic legal code.

Thousands have been killed and wounded in religious violence in recent years.

While on holiday with her grandfather in the year 2000, Abigel was shocked to discover that he had become a Muslim and that he was intent on forcing her to convert to Islam.

When she refused, a Muslim family came and took her away. Abigel's name was changed to an Islamic name, and she was forced to go to an Islamic school.

Abigel prayed desperately for God to rescue her. After three months, with the help of Open Doors, she was joyfully reunited with her Christian parents.

In January 2002, Aladin was at Khartoum airport on his way to Uganda where he was planning to attend Bible college.

However, while he was lining up to check in, security police arrested him and put him under surveillance.

After his arrest, Aladin was subjected to interrogations, beatings, drug injections and death threats by the authorities.

As soon as he had the chance, Aladin went into hiding.

He has now been able to escape Sudan and is settling in a 'safe' country.

Shortly after his baptism in 1999, Antoine was arrested.

Angered by his conversion to Christ, local Muslims reported him to the authorities.

Antoine was severely beaten with batons and thick electrical wires. He was also pressured to sign a document renouncing his faith. He refused and was later released.

Antoine's friends from his village have also been beaten and pressured to deny their faith.

"I know persecution will come again," says Antoine, "but I am not afraid."

Markus is from the West African Fulani tribe that is almost entirely Muslim.

Within the tribe, there is a small number of Christians, all of whom, like Markus, have suffered severely for their faith in Christ.

Often it is the believers' fathers who invoke the problems, ashamed at having an 'apostate' in the family. Markus and his brother, Toma, together with a few of their friends, have been arrested and beaten. Their houses have also been destroyed.

Despite his suffering, Markus holds fast to Jesus, saying he's glad to suffer for his Lord.

Tony lives and works in a very dangerous region of southern Sudan where thousands of Christians have been displaced from their homes and land as a result of attacks by government forces from the North of the country.

Many have suffered untold atrocities and are in desperate need, being forced to eat leaves from the trees.

It is also an area where the rebel group, the 'Lord's Resistance Army' (LRA) is wreaking havoc.

In early 2002, Tony received word that the LRA was about to attack his town. He quickly warned his friends, family and congregation, who fled in fear of their lives. The LRA arrived soon after and destroyed the church buildings and the orphanage Tony had built.

Now Tony lives among these displaced people, ministering God's love to them.

Rahmet came to know the Lord Jesus when she was just 15 years old.

"A Christian man took me to another town to see the 'Jesus' film"; Rahmet explains. "I started to weep when I saw how Jesus suffered for my sins."

When Rahmet's Muslim family found out about her new faith, they were enraged. "My father said that if I wanted to follow Jesus, I'd have to leave the house," Rahmet laments. Her father forced her out of the family home and she was also rejected by her friends.

Rahmet now lives with a Christian family however, and is doing well at school.