Watch: young people of the persecuted church celebrate Christmas

Christmas is a time of joy – and it’s a joy still very much felt by young believers who celebrate it in the shadow of pressure and persecution for their faith. These short videos are a powerful testament to this. Feel free to use them at your church or home group, and please remember our persecuted family in your prayers over the festive season.

“I am impatiently waiting for Christmas” – Anti in Cameroon

Anti (11) in Cameroon is very excited for Christmas – because she can celebrate it without risk of attack.

Between 2017 and 2022, heightened Boko Haram violence prevented Anti, her family and others in Tourou, Far North Cameroon, from celebrating Christmas publicly, because singing and worship could draw deadly attacks.

Anti, her mother and eight siblings (her father died in 2021) are now in a safer area, where they’re being looked after by a church supported by Open Doors local partners.

Since October, Anti has been rehearsing Christmas songs – and she can’t wait to perform them!

“Celebrate the joy of His birth” – young people in Brunei

Did you know that, in Brunei, public Christmas celebrations are banned?

It means that Christians can only celebrate the festive season where Muslims cannot see them – and it’s why, in the video below, the identities of the young people featured are hidden.

The young people are part of one of the discipleship programmes run by Open Doors local partners. The training is crucial, given the pressures facing young believers in Brunei – conversion from Islam is illegal, Sharia (Islamic law) continues to be enforced, and the government even offers incentives to those that convert to Islam.

In the video, the young people are singing a Christmas song in their local language.

“We have come to worship Him” – children in Central African Republic

Because of violence and conflict, millions of Christians in sub-Saharan Africa will celebrate Christmas away from their homes.

That includes these children from Central African Republic (CAR), who have been displaced and are being cared for by a local church. They are so grateful for this support and are excited for Christmas – looking forward to gifts and good food, without the danger of attack.  

In this video, the children recite Matthew 2:1-8, sharing the message of Christ’s birth and the salvation He brings.

“Your birthday, O Jesus, is joy and peace!” – little girl in Egypt

In Egypt, Christians are so often deprived of justice, fairness and protection because of their faith. In fact, at times they must hide their faith to be treated in the same way as other Egyptians.

Despite the pressures experienced by many believers, Christmas remains a precious and joyous occasion, particularly for children, and that’s why this young girl is singing as she decorates a Christmas tree.

For security reasons, her face is hidden – a reminder of the secrecy that must accompany the Christmas celebrations of so many of our persecuted family worldwide.