Choose to Lose (YOUR PHONE) – Open Doors Youth

Open Doors Youth, PO Box 6, Witney, Oxon, UK, OX29 6WG

+44 (0) 1993 460015 / youth@opendoorsuk.org

We serve Christians around the world whose brave faith in Jesus means they are, beaten, threatened, imprisoned, tortured, falsely accused, disowned and hated.

CHOOSE TO LOSE YOUR PHONE

With increasing digital surveillance putting pressure on Christians around the world, could you Choose to Lose your phone to raise money and prayer?

Choose to Lose

Christians in China, have to be careful when using their phones. Calls, texts and usage of apps can be monitored. In March 2022 a new law came into effect banning ‘unapproved’ Christian content online. That means the majority of Christian websites, podcasts, videos and even social media accounts posting stuff to help people grow with Jesus, have been removed. That even includes Bible apps.

Christians are worried… Just imagine: You can’t message friends about going to church; You couldn’t send your mates a Bible verse to encourage them; You couldn’t post the words of a prayer; It’d be dangerous to even search for your favourite worship song.

Choose to Lose your phone: 7pm on Friday 27 October to 7pm on Sunday 29 October.

We’ll never know entirely what that feels like, but we’d love to challenge you to try. We’d love you to join us standing with our persecuted church family around the world, and choose to lose your phone for a whole weekend. We’d love you to shut down your device just like many Christians in China and beyond, to go silent online and to raise money and prayer.

GET A PACK..

UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?

Could you get sponsored to put down your phone, along with your social media, voice and video chat, instant messaging and all other online time for 48 hours to raise money for Christians facing all kinds of restrictions, monitoring and surveillance?

CHOOSE TO LOSE IN THREE SIMPLE STEPS…

#1 ORDER YOUR PACK!

Commit to giving up your phone and any time online (including apps and websites) for 48 hours. Order our awesome Choose to Lose pack to help you get ready!
#2 DO IT ON YOUR OWN OR WITH A GROUP

Do the Choose to Lose challenge and commit to giving up your phone and time online either on your own or with your youth/community group. If you’re a youth leader we have some extra special downloads (that you can grab here) to help you introduce the challenge to you group and scale it up for a group setting.
#3 RAISE MONEY, PRAYER AND AWARENESS

Set up a JustGiving page to raise money and support for Christians around the world who have to limit their time online or using their phone because of increasing digital surveillance. We’ll send you resources to help you raise money, and to also reflect, pray and tell others what you are doing and why!
#4 LOSE WHAT YOU LOVE…

Got 48 hours without your phone. Join with hundreds of others by giving up your mobile and online time to stand with those prepared to lose everything for their faith in Jesus. We’re suggesting going phone free from 7pm on Friday 27 October to 7pm on Sunday 29 October (but you can do the challenge whenever you like)…

ORDER NOW…

WHAT YOUR MONEY COULD ACHIEVE…

By getting sponsored to lose something you love, you can help to raise money for projects around the world that are supporting Christians who have lost much because of their faith in Jesus. Set a target and see what your money could achieve…

EVERY £20

Every £20 could give Bibles to five believers so they can meet God in His Word.

EVERY £90

Every £90 could train five Christians so they understand the dangers of being digitally spied on.

ORDER NOW…

WHY LOSE WHAT YOU LOVE? MING’S STORY

Ming has to be really careful when he uses his phone. He often communicates in code. He’s worried he’s being watched, and that his messages are monitored. He should worry too. In China, the authorities are increasingly using technology to keep an eye on people. And it’s people like Ming they are trying to find.

You see, Ming has been smuggling Bibles for a few years. He’s trying to share God’s Word with others. It doesn’t sound dangerous to us, but his efforts have already seen him get arrested. That time he was lucky, he was freed, but some of his friends weren’t so fortunate: they are still in prison.

Since his arrest, Ming’s house is searched regularly by the police. It’s likely he’s being watched and that his phone is being monitored which makes it hard for him to trust anyone.

But Ming isn’t giving up. Despite the tight restrictions he’s desperate that others can read God’s Word and grow closer to Jesus in their own faith. He knows this is what God has called him to, and as Ming says: “No matter what happens… We listen and follow. He will guide our paths.”

GET A PACK…

“Our youth group … were given an insight into how it feels to be denied something… they were really challenged by the stories of people who have given up everything for Jesus. They were left grateful, humbled and motivated to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ facing persecution around the world.”

Laura, leader at Mettle Youth Group, Lisburn Cathedral

UP FOR THE CHOOSE TO LOSE CHALLENGE?

Order your pack today to lose what you love. Your pack will be sent to you in the post and includes…

A Choose to Lose planning guide with simple steps to help you plan, prepare and promote your fundraiser
A reflection guide with stories to read and share, prayers to pray and actions to do during your challenge
An awesome Choose to Lose sticker set to wear or stick on what you’ve given up!

Plus you’ll also get access to a bunch of downloads to help you lose what you love including:

A bunch of images to post on your social profiles
Links to setting up an easy JustGiving page to help you get sponsors and raise money
A youth/small group session to help you introduce Choose to Lose to your group
Creative and interactive prayer ideas.

ORDER NOW…

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