Cuba
In 2019, Danish European Mission exceptionally turned its gaze west instead of southeast, and a board member imported twelve study Bibles to churches in Cuba. There is no actual Bible smuggling to Cuba, as it has been safe to bring Bibles into the country for the past 25 years.
Advocacy
- Danish European Mission works continuously to prevent violations of freedom of religion and belief in general and persecution of Christians in particular. Therefore, we regularly support some of our local partners to participate in meetings under the auspices of the UN and OSCE.
- These meetings are attended by officials from countries where there are several examples of discrimination and persecution of Christians. In addition, our project partners can advocate for Christians and network with officials from their own countries who can hopefully gain a better understanding of the situation of Christians and other minorities.
- In 2019, we supported a local pastor, who with our support does a lot of social work, to travel to the OSCE Human Rights Conference in Poland, where he gave a presentation on the situation of Christians and other minorities in a country in Central Asia.
Secret projects
For security reasons, we cannot mention in which countries these secret projects take place or describe in detail the nature of the work.
Bible smuggling
- For 20 years, Danish European Mission's donors had supported the translation of the Bible for a language group in Central Asia that had never before had the entire Bible in their native language. But in 2019, the day finally arrived when the books were printed and the precious cargo had to be smuggled into one of the world's most closed countries.
- The Danish European Mission and the Bible translators, as well as the person responsible for the transportation, were in an intense dialogue about how the Bible could best be introduced into the country.
- Thank God, the operation was successful. The Bible smuggler said afterwards that he believes God had been preparing him all his life for this task. It was a joyful day. When the staff at the Danish European Mission office later received a few copies for the library, some kissed the books with gratitude and joy.
Medicine for poor believers
- In one of the world's most closed countries, 25 poor Christians received medicine. The recipients were disabled, elderly and children. Medicine is expensive in the country, so our project partner found cheaper medicine in Russia and Turkey.
- Fifteen people were helped to get a medical check-up for heart disease, cholesterol and hormonal disorders, among other things.
- Three people received medical treatment. One of the people had become disabled as a result of a heart attack. He is a husband and church leader. Another recipient was a woman who needed dental treatment, while the third recipient was a woman who had a disabled child who needed medication.
Help for self-help
- In the same country mentioned in the previous point, a pastor received help to start a company that can organize weddings, funerals and other celebrations. In the country, Muslim leaders are threatening convert Christians that they will not be able to have funerals, as is traditional in the country. That's why our project partner bought equipment for a priest to start a company that organizes funerals, including for believers. This way, believers can have a funeral where the grave does not face the mosque, which is the practice in the country, but the Christians do not want.
Bags of hope
- In 2019, 1,060 bags of hope were distributed from a church in Central Asia. The church is located in an area with many socially vulnerable families, where children are affected by their parents' alcohol abuse.
- In addition, the following were handed out 250 Christmas bags for poor Children, who are fed from the soup kitchen every Saturday.
- Social workers in the municipality where the church is located can see that it does people good to receive food from the church and hear the message of God's love in Jesus Christ. Authorities in the predominantly Muslim country can see broken people being transformed and discreetly refer vulnerable people to the church.
Self-help for inmates
- 2019 was the year the Danish European Mission embarked on a new secret project to help inmates in various prisons in a city in a Central Asian country.
- Courses are held for prisoners, giving them the tools to master life outside the prison walls.
- Inmates receive counseling so they can meet someone who listens and work through trauma, memories and problems.
- The Christians do not preach to the prisoners, but the inmates are connected to Christians who, based on their personal testimonies, can tell where Jesus can forgive, restore and save.
Theological education
- In 2019, 51 people studied theology in a country in Central Asia with the help of Danish European Mission improvers and donors. Of these, 34 were studying theology in a local Turkish language in that Central Asian country. This is the first time in the history of the world that indigenous Christians in this country can receive a theological education in their native language.
- For a young and in some ways immature church, it is crucial that pastors receive theological training, but also training in pastoral care, ethics, leadership, finances, etc.
Iraq
- 10,348 Christians and other minorities were helped in Iraq in 2019 thanks to the support of Danish European Mission's intercessors and donors.
- People who had been displaced by Islamic State received emergency aid, including food, water, medicine, winter aid and hygiene items.
- The Islamic State abused Yazidi and Christian women as sex slaves. Most of the women were exposed to traumatic events and this, combined with living in a constant state of fear due to the lack of security, resulted in a sharp increase in mental health problems among them. Convert Christians, with the support of Danish European Mission's intercessors and donors, created a safespace where the women could receive fellowship with like-minded people, pastoral care and job training.
- Emergency aid and trauma treatment breaks down prejudices against Christians and creates interest in knowing more about the Bible.
Iran
- It was a great pleasure that Danish European Mission's donors supported the printing and distribution of 61,788 copies of the New Testament in Iran and neighboring countries in 2019. Never before have there been so many Christians in Iran, and therefore more Bibles are needed than ever before.
Kyrgyzstan
- In 2019, support continued for the Oak House in Bishkek, a transition house for six girls who previously lived in orphanages. When they turn 16, they can no longer live in state orphanages and some have no family to live with. Egehuset picks up these girls and gives them a safe base where they can live, get food and peace of mind to get an education. There are housewives who are there for them, and they are given life skills so they can navigate society away from the culture of the orphanage. At the Oak House, they can volunteer to participate in Bible studies.
- In 2019, the Danish European Mission's donors also funded that Egehuset got a better water supply.
Mauritania
- In 2020, a Christian convert received support for his theological education. In several countries in the southern hemisphere, the church is growing rapidly, but if leaders are not rooted in God's Word, growth can be skewed. Not only can doctrinal imbalances occur, but unhealthy practices can also emerge. That's why theological education is important for young churches.
Sri Lanka
- In 2019, donors to the Danish European Mission ensured that 4493 Bibles were distributed to Christians in different regions of Sri Lanka. The Christians could not afford to buy a Bible themselves. The message we received was that the Bibles brought great joy.
- 27 families were helped to help themselves. These families are typically pastors who plant churches in villages in Sri Lanka where there are no Christians. They therefore lack income, and persecution and opposition in the local community is challenging. Self-help consisted of help to start a small business, such as a chicken farm, calf farm, help to start a small grocery store or other businesses, depending on the pastor's skills and the local needs.
These families are now self-sufficient and the income has improved the pastoral families' standard of living - and self-help has been a great blessing in their ministry.
Syria
- 10,049 Christians and other minorities were helped in 2019 in Iraq thanks to the support of Danish European Mission's intercessors and donors.
- 10 years into the civil war, many Syrians are struggling to survive. The school system is far from optimal, with 7,000 schools either completely or partially destroyed. Many Christians are leaving Syria, not only because of Muslim extremism, but also because Christian parents want their children to have a good education and good future prospects. That's why many Christian parents are looking to the West. But by securing schooling for their children in Syria, some Christians can hopefully see a future for themselves and their children in the country. Christians are needed in Syria, both in the churches and because they make a positive contribution to society.
- In addition, those in need received food, water, medicine, hygiene items and winter aid from local Christian relief teams.
Turkey
Church planting
- 2019 was the year the Danish European Mission took a revolutionary step. In eastern Turkey, tentative steps were taken to support a church plant. The local community is led by an Afghan Christian convert who offers fellowship and prayer to Iranians and Afghans fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan and the Ayatollahs in Iran.
Radio Shema
- 2019 was also the year of another brand new step. Danish European Mission's donors ensured that a new Christiann radio station could be opened in southeastern Turkey. The broadcasts are not only in Turkish, but also in Arabic, Kurdish and Assyrian. Most Assyrians in Turkey live in the southeastern part of the country and are orthodox Christians.
- The radio programs are also broadcast across northern Syria. Some Assyrians have fled Islamic State. They have had a very hard time like Yazidiswho has also fled Islamic State and speaks Arabic.
Umut Kalesi
- Support for the youth channel on Youtube, Umut Kalesi, continued in 2019. Our project partner makes very high-quality videos, some of which have hundreds of thousands of views. Many prejudices against Christianity can be broken down through these videos.
- Click here to see one Music video.
Sat-7 Turk
- After being a general partner with SAT7 for 18 years, the Danish European Mission changed the partnership to earmark support for SAT7 Turk in 2019. SAT7 Turk's programs are broadcast on Turk Sat, which is the satellite whose stations are watched by the most Turks.
Ukraine
- The Danish European Mission has been active in Ukraine since the collapse of the Soviet Union, including supporting a church that helped children who were sick as a result of the Chernobyl accident.
- In 2019, donors ensured that a church was able to distribute emergency aid to the vulnerable.
Yemen
- Due to the support of the Danish European Mission's donors, 4174 vulnerable people in Yemen received emergency aid.
- The majority of the population suffers from water shortages, famine, and innocent children and adults lose their lives as a result of the war.
- The relief project is led by Yemeni Christian converts. Their relief work demonstrates God's love in Jesus in a concrete and tangible way and can break down skepticism towards Christians.