Source: Aid to the Church in Need via YouTube
For 70 years now, Aid to the Church in Need has followed a single mission: to build a bridge of love that enables the suffering and persecuted Christians worldwide to witness their faith and inspire those who help them. ACN acts under the guiding principle: information, prayer and action. In fulfilling its work an essential part of ACN’s mission is to inform about this hidden suffering of Catholics in the world. We are committed to religious freedom and reconciliation across all faiths.
Each year we fund more than 5,000 projects in over 140 countries around world, helping to support the Church in its mission, and bringing hope and solidarity to millions of people. We support important projects which are undertaken by the local Church in the countries where we provide aid, all thanks to private donations, as the foundation receives no public funding.
From building churches to providing catechetical books to emergency aid, our projects range from big to small and cover a whole range of ideas to help nurture the faith internationally and support persecuted and suffering Christians wherever they are in need.
149 countries around the world.
From Iraq, Syria, and Saudi Arabia to India, Egypt, and North Korea we work tirelessly to ease the suffering of those in need.
5,357 projects supported.
From emergency aid for refugees in Syria to training seminarians in the Congo, we provide support for the Church wherever it is needed.
1,212 construction projects.
From homes and schools to hospitals and churches, we fund thousands of building projects every year.
Music in this video
Song: POSITIVE JOURNEY – Musique and Music-13958
Artist: POGE Sylvain
Album: ZIK405
Licensed to YouTube by: AdRev for Rights Holder (on behalf of Musique and Music (13958)); AdRev Publishing, UMPG Publishing, and 2 music rights societies.
ACN in the Middle East.
In Western Syria, on the border of Turkey, many Syrians remain under the control of violent jihadist groups who enforce Sharia law on all people – regardless of their religion. Women are forced to wear veils, Christian properties have been confiscated and crucifixes are torn down. In the villages of Knayeh and Yacoubieh, 300 Christian families of different denominations remain. Every day, they face the possibility of persecution by violence or death – all because of their faith in Jesus Christ.
Two Franciscan friars, Luai Bsharat, aged 40, and 67-year-old Hanna Jallouf, have refused to abandon the people of Western Syria, remaining there to minister to people regardless of the imminent danger. The presence of friars Luai Bsharat and Hanna Alouf, is a light in the darkness for Syrian Christians – and for many Muslims. Believers from Muslim backgrounds are forced to keep their faith in Jesus Christ a secret, as leaving Islam would bring shame and persecution from even their families and communities.
Today, 744,000 Christians live in Syria, which is about four per cent of the population. This is 70,000 fewer Christians than in 2019 and far less than before the civil war started. In 2010, the Christian population in Syria was 1.2 million Christians – ten percent of the country’s population.
Aid To The Church In Need is currently financially and prayerfully supporting over fifty different projects to assist Christians in Syria. Our aid in Syria is not only a response to the severe need caused by the jihadist bombing and persecution; our aid aims to prevent the Christian presence in the Middle East from being completely wiped out. Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Syria. We are but one Body in Christ and your financial and spiritual support makes all the difference to them. Please prayerfully consider supporting the work Aid To The Church In Need does in the Middle East.
Header image: After the forcible closure of Church hospitals in Eritrea: “It is like amputating one of the Church’s arms” – via ACN International.
