HELP RUMANA KNOW SHE IS NOT ALONE!

Rumana starts her day like many other young people around the world, setting off on her journey to school. But she walks the mile to HER CLASSES on her own. And when she gets to school, no one says hello or sits near HER in class. She’s surrounded by people at school, but she’s also completely alone. All because she’s a Christian.

ALONE AT SCHOOL

In Rumana’s village in north west Bangladesh, almost everyone is Muslim. When her family decided to follow Jesus, the community turned against them. Even people who don’t hate Christians are reluctant to associate with the family, because it could mean they are also rejected by the other villagers.

“I don’t have any friends in school because I’m a Christian and my parents are also Christian,” she says. “If I sit with them, their parents scold them saying, ‘She is a Christian. You can’t mingle with them because Christians are bad.’ When the children say something unkind, I just keep smiling. But I cry when I’m alone.”

You might think that Rumana’s teachers stick up for her, but sadly the opposite is true. She explains, “My teachers scold children if they sit with me, saying, ‘Don’t mingle with the Christian. If you mingle with her, you might also become a Christian.’”

Rumana’s remarkable faith

Rumana has also faced persecution from the village children while walking to church. They mock her, throw stones at her and slap her. But Rumana shows a remarkable generosity and forgiveness to the children who torment her. She says, “I told God everything so I feel better. Why should I be angry at them? I forgive them. I pray to God every day for them.”

Rumana’s faith and dependence on God are so strong. Her favourite Bible verse is Joshua 1:9: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be you wherever you go.” As she says, “It relates to my life story. I will not be fearful of my classmates. I will be courageous.”

PERSECUTION AT HOME

Rumana was walking home from school when she saw something was seriously wrong. There was a thick cloud of smoke in the sky – and she realised it was coming from her home. It was on fire.

“The fire was massive. There was nothing left from our house. It had all gone,” she remembers with sorrow. “No one from our village offered to help. All of them were just watching.”

“No one allowed us to stay,” Rumana says. “With nothing to wear and no food, we were utterly helpless. We were all crying.”

Eventually, one neighbour took pity and let them stay a few days, but after a short while, the neighbour asked them to leave: she, like others, feared being rejected by the community for helping the Christian family. Rumana’s parents built a shed in the grounds of their destroyed house and had to live there until Open Doors partners came to help rebuild their home.

A special Christmas

This brutal rejection, bullying and discrimination is hard every day for Rumana, but the isolation can feel worst of all at Christmas. Rumana knows it’s a special time for Christians to remember the birth of Jesus, and she loves spending it with other Christian children.  

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.

Rumana’s joy

It’s not just a time when children like Rumana can celebrate the birth of Christ safely and joyfully, though that is so important – it’s also a time when she can meet and play with lots of other young believers who understand what her life is like. They share a deep knowledge of being a young, persecuted Christian, and can support and encourage one another. Open Doors provides a regular Sunday school that she can travel to, meeting children scattered in different villages across her region – but this Christmas celebration is something even more special, with a much wider community.

“I love to celebrate Christmas because all the Christians gather around together singing songs and reading from the Bible,” says Rumana. “Sometimes we read from a storybook. We recite the Bible verses we learned from Sunday school.”

They cut and eat a birthday cake for Jesus and share a special meal. At the end of the time together, each family gets a Christmas gift from Open Doors partners. These partners help in many practical ways – but the greatest gifts that children like Rumana receive are community, encouragement and love.

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

HELP YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE RUMANA. HOLD A ‘NOT ALONE CHRISTMAS PARTY’!

Use our free Not Alone Christmas Party outline and spend a festive evening with your youth group, friends or church, learning more about Rumana’s story, playing games, enjoying food and treats and praying that young Christians around the world would know they are not alone. 

By selling tickets for just a couple of pounds, could you raise £69?

This would be enough money to send a young person like Rumana to a special, three-day gathering where she can safely celebrate Christmas with other young persecuted Christians. 

Your party could fund another party, helping young persecuted Christians know they are not alone!

Get the free Not Alone Christmas Party Outline here…