In East Africa, the price many Christians pay for following Jesus is being sidelined. It is a hidden cost, not visible to the untrained eye. Open Doors’ economic empowerment programs equip marginalized believers towards fruitful Christian living in the face of hostility. Earlier this year we travelled to Ethiopia to meet Khalid*, one of the many persecuted Christians Open Doors has helped in East Africa.

Khalid* (32) was born into a Muslim family where he enjoyed the support and care of a community.

Everything changed after a Christian friend testified to him about Jesus.

“It is very difficult for a Muslim to come to Christ, because in Islam, Jesus is said to be human, and in Christianity it is said that He is Lord. I used to believe that Christianity is a lie, because you can’t be God and human at the same time. How can a God come to earth, born as a human being and save us?”

He slowly became convinced that he should not follow Allah, but Jesus. “It was hard, but God helped me answer all the questions in my heart.”

Khalid arranged to see a pastor in his town. He wanted to understand God’s Word.

“All my questions were answered, and I became a free man.”

Afterwards, he was baptized and started attending church.

He thought it was time to tell his family.

“They told me that I had betrayed them and their faith, and they forced me to leave the house.”

He left and moved to town to start anew.