Rumana shouldn’t have to be alone at Christmas

Nine-year-old Rumana sits alone in an empty classroom, in a school in north-west Bangladesh.

The sound of other children having fun drifts through the window. But Rumana is not welcome among them. Instead, she opens her notepad and spends breaktime playing her own made-up game.

“I don’t have any friends because I’m a Christian,” says Rumana, sadly. Every day, she’s mocked and left out. Once, she was pushed down the stairs. “Parents and teachers tell the other children, ‘Don’t mingle with the Christian’.”

Rumana is brave – but the relentless cruelty takes its toll. “When they say something, I keep smiling so they won’t know I’m hurt,” says Rumana. “But when I’m alone, when they can’t see, I cry.

In a nearby village Moryom, the nine-year-old daughter of a church pastor, knows the same painful rejection. She walks to school alone because local rickshaw drivers refuse to take her. In the classroom, teachers turn a blind eye when Moryom is bullied.

“My classmates mock me, calling me ‘Christian’, and sometimes they throw bricks at me,” says Moryom. “They say they will only play with me if I come back to Islam.”

Picture of persecution

This is the heartbreaking picture of persecution among children.

“When I’m alone, when they can’t see, I cry.”
Rumana

While adult believers make a conscious decision to accept the cost of following Jesus, children don’t. They are among the most vulnerable of all persecuted Christians, and the trauma they experience can have a lifelong impact.

Rumana will never forget the day she returned from school to find her home ablaze, smoke billowing from the roof. “No one from our village offered any help,” she recalls. “All of them were just watching. We were utterly helpless.”

In Bangladesh, where 90% of people are Muslim and the honour-based culture dominates, anyone supporting this Christian family could become a target too. So with most of their possession lost to the fire, and nowhere to go, Rumana’s family built a shed in their yard and started living there.

But despite everything, children like Rumana and Moryom keep following Jesus…

Resilient faith

“My mother told me people will always mistreat me but I should follow the Lord, and keep his words in my heart. She said it’s ok to be alone,” said Rumana. “I told God everything, so I feel better.”

“I forgive them. I pray to God every day for them.”
Rumana

Rumana’s remarkable faith means she even forgives the children who hurt her. “Why should I be angry at them? I forgive them. I pray to God every day for them,” she says simply.

This resilience is inspiring – but without support, children like Rumana and Moryom are at risk. If young people are alone, isolated, and disconnected from the body of Christ, how can they withstand the pressures they face daily? The very future of the church is in danger.

Christmas joy

Open Doors has a vision to provide shelter, trauma counselling and relief to persecuted children around the world, as well as education so children have hope and a future. But above all, we believe children should not be alone – especially at Christmas.

With the help and prayers of people like you, Open Doors partners can host a special, three-day Christmas celebration for Christians from a Muslim background from across Bangladesh – like Rumana.

“I love to celebrate Christmas,” exclaims Rumana, eyes shining. Moryom adds, “All our church gathers and we have lots of fun, singing, dancing, praying and reading Scriptures. We have new dresses, cut a cake and eat it.”

For children who, every day, endure rejection because of their faith, Christmas is a rare moment of joy and friendship. It’s an opportunity we cannot let them miss.

Your support today can bring persecuted children together to celebrate Jesus’ birth in a safe place. With your gifts and prayers, children like Rumana and Moryom can forget the loneliness and persecution for one day – and experience joy.

“It’s only because of Jesus’ love that I have survived until now, despite all the persecution,” says Rumana. “His love has guided me this far, and I know I am on the right path.”

please pray

Ask God to protect Rumana and Moryom from cruelty, especially as they walk to and from school, and to put caring friends in their lives.
Give thanks for the girls’ steadfast faith and willingness to forgive. Pray their courage would be a powerful witness.
For persecuted children around the world, particularly at Christmas, that they will know they are not alone.

give today

Today, will you give the gift of joy to a child like Rumana?

Every PHP 1,500 can give Bibles to 10 children to help nurture their faith.

Every PHP 2,600 will help organize a Christmas Party for persecuted children.

Every PHP 5,000 can provide emergency, medical, and immediate help to Persecuted Christians this Christmas (shelter assistance, winter clothes, etc.)

GIVE A GIFT

Rumana shouldn’t have to be alone at Christmas

Picture of persecution

Resilient faith

Christmas joy

Today, will you give the gift of joy to a child like Rumana?

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