Meet Samira*, a 23-year-old Christian mother of four in Chad, a landlocked nation in Central Africa.
This young believer has made one of the boldest decisions a woman in sub-Saharan African can make. She recently left Islam—the religion she grew up with—to follow Jesus.
“What led me to accept Jesus Christ was the gospel I received,” she says. “I was a Muslim woman, but today I am a Christian woman.”
Where Samira lives, Christian converts are among the most persecuted. They can be targets of extremist groups like Boko Haram. They can face abuse, isolation and even ostracism from their family and community who see their conversion as a betrayal to their family, tribe and nation.
Samira knows this all too well. She still remembers her husband’s painful words and the burning slaps on her skin when he found her reading her Bible and discovered she had left Islam to follow Jesus.
“I cannot live with a kirdi (unbeliever) like you,” he shouted at her. He kicked her out of the house. “I am abandoned outside, and my own parents have also rejected me.” But the young wife and mother refused to cower.
Through your prayers and support, Open Doors has played a major role in Samira’s life—behind the scenes. In addition to help they received from a local church, she and her children were helped by a caregiver who participated in a three-day training session led by our Africa team.
Alongside more than 30 others, Samira’s caregiver received both spiritual training and practical tools to help support new believers facing rejection and persecution after leaving Islam. Both the caregiver and the church have come alongside Samira to provide housing and funds to start a peanut business.
“These few weeks have been hard for the children, but I have a good feeling, and I am happy,” she says.
Clearly, the spiritual support and practical help that Samira has received are helping to grow and mature her faith. She now focuses on raising her children to follow Jesus.
“I decided to enroll my children in Sunday school so they can learn the Word of God,” she says.
Arise Africa petition
Samira is just one of millions of Christians in sub-Saharan Africa who face violence and need to know they’re not alone—that the worldwide Church is standing with them. That’s why Open Doors is calling the Church to sign the Arise Africa petition.
Our goal is to get 1 million signatures and present the petition to leaders in the African Union, European Union and United Nations by November 2026. Through this mass action, we hope to awaken and unite world leaders and the global Christian community to speak out against the violent persecution aimed at Christians in sub-Saharan Africa—and to support church in Africa, strengthening them to persevere and remain resilient, resourceful and influential.
If you haven’t already signed the Arise Africa petition, would you please add your voice? If you have already signed it, thank you! Now, would you share this opportunity to make a difference, urging your friends and family to add their name?
Few people know that sub-Saharan Africa is the world’s most violent place for Christians. You can mobilise prayer invite others to step into the lives of resilient believers like Samira.
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” (Isaiah 60:1-3).
*Name changed for security reasons
please pray
For Samira and her children, for their safety and provision, and that her children would grow and be rooted in faith.
For Samira's husband and family, that God would soften their hearts, remove hostility, and give them opportunity to hear and believe the gospel.
For the persecuted church in Africa, that they would stand firm in trials and continue to be a blessing to their communities.
Arise Africa Petition
You can add your voice to the Arise Africa petition, answering the call of the African church to join them in calling for protection, justice and restoration.
If you’ve already signed, please share with your church, family and friends – we have a global target of a million signatures by November 2026. The aim is to take the petition to the UN, EU, Africa Union and other local governments and decision-makers.
