ICC's Persecution Newsletter: 2014 Annual Report

A n I r a q i b o y t h at s p o k e w i t h o u r s t a f f w h i l e I S I s w a s f i g h t i n g o n ly

6 0 m i l e s away

2 0 1 4 A n n ua l r e p ort

PERSECU ION.org

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN

Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s 4

Why We S er ve

6

How We S er ve

8

2014 At A Glance

10 A s s i s t a n c e 12 Where Most Needed 14 C o m m u n i t y Rebuild 16

Suffering Wives And Children

18

Kids Care

20 Underground Pastors 22 Bibles to the Persecuted 24

Save Our Sisters

26 B r o a d c a s t i n g

the Gospel 28 A w a r e n e s s 30 Advocacy 34 V o l u n t e e r 36 T r i p s 38 Finances And Distinctives

COVER

ICC staff visited directly with the persecuted while in Iraq in August.

To read more about their trip and the plight of Iraqi Christians, see page 7.

T

h i s y e a r, I S I S f i n a l l y w o k e t h o s e w h o w e r e

ICC

still asleep about the horrifying reality

what

o f ra d i c a l I s l a m’s p e r s e c u t i o n o f C h r i s t i a n s .

holding neither

hands can

and do

doing alone.

together In

other

words, you are greatly needed and greatly appreciated!

ISIS

burst

ing

captured

flicting

onto

the

women

mass

beheadings,

rape

world into

and

scene

sex

slaves,

m u r d e r,

all-the-while

turnin-

televising

shouting,

S o, a s yo u p e r u s e t h e fo l l ow i n g p a g e s, p l e a s e s e e this as your work as much as ours.

“A l l a h

i s G r e a t ,” a n d r e v e a l e d t h e t r u e n a t u r e o f r a d i c a l /

If you haven’t joined with us in the fight of

fundamental Islam.

bandaging and building the battered body of Jesus, know that it is a high and holy calling and

Landing

in

Iraq

in

August,

while

ISIS

f i g h t e r s w e re o n l y 6 0 m i l e s a w a y, I CC s t a f f s e t

that you are greatly needed by your persecuted brothers and sisters.

a b o u t d i s t r i b u t i n g t h e a i d y o u , o u r p a r t n e r, p ro v i d e d t o b r i n g I ra q ’s C h r i s t i a n s re l i e f a s t h e y

Yo u r g i f t s w i l l b e u s e d e f f e c t i v e l y, e t h c i a l l y

f l e d f r o m t h i s t e r r o r.

a n d e f f i c i e n t l y.

We local

purchased Iraqi

and

church)

distributed tents—to

(through shade

the

I Promise!

people

from the 100 degree temperatures (130 degrees o r m o r e i n t h e s u n ) — f o o d , w a t e r, i n f a n t f o r m u l a ,

A l l G o d ’s B l e s s i n g s ,

mattresses, etc.

We

were

and

ICC

persecuted

able are

to

do

partners. only

works

this Our

because service

with

you

to

you

Jeff King, President

the

International Christian Concern

and

3

Why WE SERVE Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them HEBREWS 13:3.

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter PROVERBS 24:11. Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth, defend the rights of the afflicted and needy PROVERBS 31:8-9.

Let us do good to all people, especially believers GALATIANS 6:10. If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you JOHN 15:18 (ESV). He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in His sight PSALM 72:14. Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the your bodies rights of the oppressed & the destitute PSALM 82:3 (NLT).

But I say to you, love Are (part) of your enemies and pray for those who perseChrist himself. cute you MATTHEW 5:44. The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you JOHN we were all 15:20. Who will separate us from the love baptized of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or by the Holy spirit peril, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake to form ONE BODY. we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered” ROMANS 8:35-37. Blessed are you when people If one body part suffers, hate you and when they exclude you and the whole body revile you and spurn your name as evil, on suffers with it. account of the Son of Man LUKE 6:22. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 1 JOHN 3:13 (ESV). Do not fear Together, what you are about to suffer. Be faithful unto death, and I will you are the body of Christ. give you the crown of life REVELATION 2:10 (ESV). I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the 1 Cor. 6:15 and 1 Cor. 12 testimony of Jesus and for the word of God. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years REVELATION 20:4 (ESV). Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” REVELATION 7:13-17 (ESV)

The Persecuted On a Roman road about 2,000 years ago, a horse carried its solitary rider along to Damascus.

“I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”

Having come from Jerusalem, the rider was roadweary and ready for his journey’s end so he could continue in his mission to stamp out a dangerous new sect that had quickly lead many faithful astray.

As is God’s way, so much information had been packed into a simple question and statement, so even though the rider had been gifted with a brilliant mind, it took him months to unpack all of the life-changing meaning of two sentences.

Tireless in disposition, confident in his mission and gifted with a keen mind, he had suppressed “THE WAY” zealously and mercilessly. He had imprisoned and put to death, many of its followers.

Nearing Damascus, though, a blazing light flashed all around him and some hidden force knocked him off of his horse to the ground.

Laying on the ground winded, perplexed and speechless, was where he heard The Voice for the first time. Encompassing all truth and authority, it carried a message that would forever change his life and illuminate that all his work to crush The Way had been from Hell.

“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting ME?” “Who are you, Lord?” the man asked.

The man’s question revealved much for all his work had supposedly been for his Lord, and yet this sheep did not know its master’s voice.

The Voice, then said something extraordinary.

Something that in his wildest dreams he couldn’t imagine and would change his life forever.

His newly discovered LORD hadn’t asked why Saul was persecuting His children or why Saul was hurting those He loved. HE had said “why are you persecuting ME?” My friend, this is the foundation of why ICC serves the persecuted Church.

The Word tells us clearly that Jesus’ body is made up of believers. It is His spiirt living within us (if we are truly His). That is why Jesus said, “Why are you persecuting ME?” Jesus feels when the persecuted are imprisoned, beaten, raped and murdered. He feels our pain and hurts because He lives within us.

That is why I say it is Jesus in prison that we are trying to help. It is Jesus we serve when we help the wife and family of an imprisoned pastor.

This is an incredibly powerful mystery that will not be fully understood until we get to Heaven. In the end, all I know is that the Word tells us we are ONE BODY and that body is Jesus.’ It is Jesus in pain that we serve.

Jeff King President, International Christian Concern

5

How we serve ICC exists to better the lives of persecuted believers by providing them with effective advocacy

awa r e n e s S

A s s i s ta n c e

A t h r e e - pr o n g e d att a c k o n p e r s e c u t i o n T h e b r u t a l i t y o f I S I S ’s c a m p a i g n t o e m p t y I ra q o f i t s C h r i s t i a n c o m m u n i t y — t h e c ro s s worshipers—has driven more than 100,000 Christians from their homes.

To s t a n d w i t h t h e c h u rc h i n I ra q , I CC h a s u t i l i z e d a l l a s p e c t s o f Aw a re n e s s , A s s i s t a n ce a n d A d v o c a c y. We w e n t t o I ra q a t t h e h e i g h t o f t h e re f u g e e c r i s i s t o d i s t r i b u t e a i d d i re c t l y t o t h o s e i n n e e d. We a re a l s o wo r k i n g w i t h g o ve r n m e n t o f f i c i a l s i n Wa s h i n g to n , D. C . a n d I ra q to e n s u re t h a t C h r i s t i a n s a re re c e i v i n g a s s i s t a n c e . F i n a l l y, t h ro u g h t ra d i t i o n a l a n d n e w m e d i a , w e h a v e i n f o r m e d t h e c h u rc h a b o u t t h e s u f f e r i n g o f I ra q ’s C h r i s t i a n s .

ICC is working with local churches in Iraq to provide displaced Christians with fo o d, water, mattresses, pillows,

tents, infant

formula and basic medical supplies. In August, our staff was on the ground handing out aid only 60 miles from the frontlines.

O u r a s s i s t a n c e i s s t i l l o n - g o i n g a s w e w o r k t o h e l p k e e p I r a q ’s Christians from being ultimately driven out of their homeland for the final time.

Through traditional and new media, ICC has reached millions in an effort to raise concern in the public to spur the U.S. government to action to ensure critical aid is delivered to underserved Christian minorities across Iraq. Just one of our social media posts on Iraq reached 2.4 million people. With that reach, we are able to alert the Church to the fact that almost none of the $138 million in U.S. aid for Iraq has reached Christians in need.

I n r e t u r n i n g f r o m I r a q , I C C ’s A d v o c a c y D i r e c t o r i m m e d i a t e l y went to work alerting the U.S. Congress that Christian minorities we re n’t re c i ve i n g U . S . a i d. Wo r k i n g w i t h m e m b e r s o n Ca p i to l Hill, ICC organized a call campaign that played a critical role in U S A I D ’s d e c i s i o n t o s e n d a n a d d i t i o n a l $ 4 8 m i l l i o n i n e m e r g e n c y a i d t a r g e t e d f o r I r a q ’s d i s p l a c e d C h r i s t i a n s .

7

AT A GLANCE WHERE WE WORK

Afghanistan Algeria Bangladesh Burma China

Egypt Eritrea Ethiopia India Indonesia

T his Y ear ICC SERVED

90,000

Iran Iraq Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya

Kyrgyzstan Laos Malaysia Mali Morocco

North Korea Nigeria Pakistan Saudi Arabia Somalia

Sri Lanka Sudan Syria Turkey Uzbekistan

Vietnam Washington, D.C. *headquarters

D i s t r i b u ti o n o f o u r A id 11.4% Bibles to the Persecuted

Community Rebuild 14.8%

5.6% Underground Pastors 7.4% Kids Care

Save Our Sisters 5.8%

2014

PERSECUTED BELIEVERS Broadcasting the Gospel to Closed Countries 41.9%

5.2% Suffering Wives and Children 7.6% Hand of Hope

M OS T A C T I VE C OU N T R Y

W H ERE WE T R A VE L E D

s o cial m e dia in f l u e nc e

14 Countries

FACEBOOK

9 projects

Bangladesh

Ky rg y z s t a n

25,000 persecuted

Ethiopia

Lebanon

Christians assisted

Egypt

Malta

4 different funds

India

Morocco

used to help

Indonesia

Nepal

Christians

Iraq

Sri Lanka

Kenya

Tu r k e y

76% Growth Total followers: 453,401

A d v o cacy E f f o r t s

TWITTER I ra q

INDIA

ICC HAS 156 VOLUNTEERS T H I S D E PA RT M E N T GREW BY 122% IN 2014

PA S T O R B K

S ri L A N K A

107% Growth Total followers: 44,000

9

this year:

Our assistance projects not only bandage the persecuted Church, but build it as well.

= 1,000 people

90,000 victims assisted total

M OS T A C T I V E COUNTRY

Iraq

= 1,000 people

40,000 victims assisted in Iraq & Syria

IN 22 countries

O vernight our life changed , we left everything behind .

Assistance

-SINAN, A CHRISTIAN FROM MOSUL, IRAQ

We’re a b l e to s e r ve t h e p e r s e c u te d b e c a u s e o f our generous donors’ gifts to these funds:

Where most Needed

COMMUNITY REBUILD

Hand OF HOPE

HIGHEST NEED

FUND BALANCE: CRITICAL

FUND BALANCE: CRITICAL

UNDerground pastors

Save our sisters

BroadcastING THE GOSPEL

FUND BALANCE: MEDIUM

FUND BALANCE: MEDIUM

FUND BALANCE: LOW

Suffering Wives & Children

KIDS CARE

BIBLES TO THE PERSECUTED

FUND BALANCE: HIGH

FUND BALANCE: LOW

FUND BALANCE: MEDIUM

11

WHERE MOST NEEDED HIGHEST NEED

“ Wh e r e M o s t N e e d e d ” i s t h e h e a rt b e at o f e v e r y t h i n g w e d o at I C C . T hi s f u nd s u p p o r t s :

All Advocacy efforts on behalf of the persecuted.

Overseas trips where we uncover persecution and aid victims.

Awareness effor ts to aler t the Church and the secular world to persecution.

Needed projec ts where we don’t have funds available in one of our designated funds.

Where Most Needed

IN 11 countries

AD V O C A C Y e f f o rt s , T R I P s AND P R IO R I T Y NEEDS

Above: An I raqi gir l receives a food pack age from an ICC staffer in I raq.

I C C ’s W h e r e M o s t N e e d e d f u n d s u p p o r t s o u r Advocacy

efforts,

like

when

we

fought

to

free Sudanese Christian, Meriam Ibrahim: the pregnant mother imprisoned with her twoyear-old child and sentenced to death.

8,746 donors gave I C C ’s i n v e s t i g a t i v e t r i p s o v e r s e a s t h a t a l l o w

$1,119,109

staffers to train in-country representatives,

to this fund in 2014

Our Where Most Needed fund also supports

meet

with

the

persecuted

and

develop

networks to fight for persecuted Christians.

Our Where Most Needed fund made it possible to send ICC staffers to Iraq to work directly with

our

partners

in

distrtibuting

critical

aid to Christians displaced by ISIS.

13

Community rebuild FUND BALANCE: CRITICAL

When Christian

this year:

communities become targets of persecution, it can be devastating for generations to come.

ICC supplies sustainable assistance to help communities rebuild their lives.

= 1,000 people

39,832 victims assisted

Community Rebuild

IN

4 countries

Syr ian refugees receive aid from ICC

M e e t I R A Q ’ S LAS T C H R IS T IANS When the conflict in Syria spilled over into Iraq and Christians began to be driven from their homes, ICC immediately star ted working with local churches to find out what the needs were and how best to respond.

Since

June,

ICC

has

par tnered

with

churches

and

aid organizations to provide thousands of displaced

Overnight our life changed, we left everything behind.

- Sinan, a Christian from Mosul, Iraq

C h r i s t i a n s w i t h f o o d a n d w a t e r, m a t t r e s s e s a n d p i l l o w s , tents, and basic medical supplies. These essentials have been the difference between life and death for more than 100,000 Christians driven from their homes.

Yo u c a n d o n a t e t o I C C ’s C o m m u n i t y R e b u i l d f u n d t o h e l p

1,087 donors gave

k e e p I ra q ’s C h r i s t i a n s f ro m b e i n g d r i v e n o u t o f t h e i r

$300,475

h o m e l a n d, t h e b i r t h p l a c e o f C h r i s t a n i t y, f o r g o o d.

to this fund in 2014

15

Suffering Wives & Children FUND BALANCE: HIGH

When Christians are

this year:

martyred, imprisoned or their livelihood taken from them, their families struggle for survival. This fund exists to fulfill the Biblical mandate of caring for

300 victims assisted

IN

8 countries

orphans and widows.

Suffering wives and children

M e e t ANH

I thank God for ICC.

A n h ’ s h u s b a n d , a V i e t n a m e s e p a s t o r, w a s t o r t u r e d a n d

I had no idea how to

m u r d e r e d b y V i e t n a m e s e p o l i c e e a r l i e r t h i s y e a r. S h e

feed my kids.

l e a r n e d o f h e r h u s b a n d ’s d e a t h w h e n t h e p o l i c e s e n t h e r

I don’t know how to

h u s b a n d ’ s b o d y t o h e r. S h e w a s f i v e m o n t h s p r e g n a n t

re p a y, e x c e p t I t h a n k t h e

with her fif th child.

When we met her and her four children in Thailand (where

Lord and THANK YOU.

- Anh

she is seeking asylum) she was expecting her baby at any moment and was living with more than 12 other people in a small and crowded apar tment without air conditioning in the tropical heat.

ICC provided emergency assistance during the delivery of her baby (Dania, born 9/8) and we are now setting her up with a small business she can run to provide for herself and five children.

1,243 donors gave

$114,188 to this fund in 2014

17

KIDS CARE FUND BALANCE: LOW

Children are often

this year:

the unseen victims of persecution. ICC has the privilege of caring for those who are orphaned by violent persecution or harassed for their faith.

504 children cared for

KIDS CARE

IN

6 countries

M EE T ALL SAIN T S C HU R C H On September 22, 2013, the future of an entire Christian communit y in Pakistan was almost entirely destroyed.

Two s u i c i d e b o m b e r s a t t a c ke d A l l S a i n t s Chu rc h k i l l i n g over 120 Christians and injuring over 150 others. The Christian children whose parents were killed were left most vulnerable by the blast.

ICC and Voice of the Mar t yrs are now providing these kids with a free, Christian education (through high school)

Without this critical help, we would not be able to send these children for education.

- GUARDIAN, ALL SAINTS CHURCH SCHOOLING PROGRAM

for the orphans of the All Saints Church bombing.

Through the Kids Care fund, ICC is able to pursue projec ts to assist Christian children, who are often the most severely affected by persecution. Join us in providing

742 donors gave

for the children affected by the bombing of All Saints

$103,735

Church, and others like them, by pledging your suppor t t o I CC ’s K i d s C a re f u n d.

to this fund in 2014

19

UNDERGROUND PASTORS FUND BALANCE: MEDIUM

Underground pastors

this year:

are on the front lines of persecution in some of the most dangerous countries around the world. ICC is proud to support their ministry and their families.

80 underground pastors supported

IN 14 countries

underground pastors

M EE T PAS T O R T EE A Vi e t n a m e s e e v a n g e l i s t , Pa s t o r Te e h a s b e e n t o r t u re d, beaten by mobs and had attempts taken on his life. Fearing f o r h i s s a f e t y, Pa s t o r Te e e s c a p e d t o T h a i l a n d w h e re I CC is now providing his daily essentials and medical care while he applies for asylum.

811 donors gave

While pastoring churches in Vietnam and Thailand, Pastor Te e i s a l s o t ra i n i n g a g ro u p o f 1 2 - 1 3 m i s s i o n a r i e s i n s i d e Vietnam. Working through this net work of believers, ICC

$76,610 to this fund in 2014

is now delivering Bibles to persecuted congregations in Vietnam.

To s u p p o r t w o r k l i k e t h a t o f Pa s t o r Te e’s , d o n a t e t o I CC ’s Underground Pastors fund and change the world, one life at a time.

21

BIBLES TO THE PERSECUTED FUND BALANCE: MEDIUM

this year: The Bible brings life wherever it goes. When governments shut down access to the Bible, we get to work. ICC provides Bibles for those without access to nativelanguage Scripture.

= 1,000 Bibles

36,081 Bibles sent to persecuted believers

IN

Bibles to the persecuted

7 countries

M EE T P AS T O R Z A C HA R IAH In 2014, ICC provided six new Christian communities in Bangladesh with 50 brand new Bibles in their own l a n g u a g e . I n B a n g l a d e s h ’ s m o r e r u r a l a r e a s , t h e 3 0 0 Ta k a ($3.75) it costs to purchase a Bible is a real burden to many poor Christians who would like to learn more about C h r i s t i a n i t y.

W i t h f u n d s f ro m I CC ’s B i b l e F u n d, w e a re a b l e t o p ro v i d e communities across the world with Bibles in their own

Through the Bibles provided

by ICC, this new generation in Christ will be blessed and will develop s p i r i t ua l l y.

- LOCAL PASTOR, BANGLADESH

native languages. After overseeing a distribution of Bibles, Pastor Zachariah told ICC that his church “will be a place where believers study the Word of God together a n d g r o w a s o n e i n C h r i s t .”

764 donors gave To j o i n u s i n d i s t r i b u t i n g B i b l e s t o p e r s e c u t e d C h r i s t i a n s a c ro s s t h e w o r l d, c o n s i d e r g i v i n g t o I CC ’s B i b l e f u n d.

$233,842 to this fund in 2014

23

SAVE OUR SISTERS FUND BALANCE: MEDIUM

At the hear t of ICC,

this year:

we exist to rescue the most vulnerable in the Kingdom. ICC is providing relief, job training, discipleship, and safe places for women who are in, or at risk of, sexual bondage.

= 10 women

307 women assisted

IN

4 countries

Save our sisters

M EE T SHAFILA I n P a k i s t a n , C h r i s t i a n w o m e n e n d u r e “d o u b l e p e r s e c u t i o n ” for being both the wrong gender and the wrong religion.

R e l e g a t e d t o t h e b o t t o m o f s o c i e t y, C h r i s t i a n w o m e n i n Pakistan are often forced into labor conditions where they suffer physical and sexual abuse.

Shafila is one of over 110 Christian women ICC has helped r e s c u e f r o m t h i s “d o u b l e p e r s e c u t i o n” t h r o u g h I C C ’s S a v e O u r S i s te r s Vo ca t i o n a l Tra i n i n g Ce n te r s.

Eve r y d a y, I faced abuse from the home owner, but continued to work because my family needed m o n e y.

- Shafila, SAVE OUR SISTERS TRAINING CENTER GRADUATE

ICC was able to assist Shafila by enrolling her at an ICCsponsored beauty salon school where she was taught beautician skills as well as how to run a small business.

A f t e r g r a d u a t i n g t h i s y e a r, S h a f i l a i s n o w r u n n i n g a s m a l l beauty salon out of the safety of her home using the skills she learned from her time at an ICC Save Our Sisters V o c a t i o n a l T r a i n i n g C e n t e r.

451 donors gave

$77,508 to this fund in 2014

25

BROADCASTing the gospel FUND BALANCE: LOW

ICC suppor ts Christian

this year:

broadcasts via satellite T V, I n t e r n e t a n d r a d i o into the most dangerous parts of the world.

Seekers and Christians are able to encounter Jesus without fear of punishment or death.

= 1,000 people

4,127 responses to the Gospel

THROUGHOUT THE ISLAMIC WORLD

broadcasting the gospel

M e e T T HE GOS P EL 2 . 0 Ev e r y d a y, n e w t e c h n o l o g i e s a re b e i n g u s e d t o t ra n s m i t t h e G o s p e l i n t o s o m e o f t h e w o r l d ’s m o s t c l o s e d a n d d a n g e ro u s co u n t r i e s. R a d i o, m o b i l e a p p s, I n te r n e t a n d television are just a few of these technologies that are allowing the Gospel to be announced safely across the Middle East, South Asia, the Far East and Africa.

In 2014, ICC harnessed several of these new technologies and bir thed a new broadcasting ministry targeting one

This is something I never dreamed p o s s i b l e . . . i t ’s something so desperately needed.

- BROADCAST NETWORK VOLUNTEER

o f t h e w o r l d ’s m o s t c l o s e d c o u n t r i e s . I n s t a r t i n g t h i s n e w m i n i s t r y, I CC p u t a n e m p h a s i s o n f o l l o w i n g u p the Gospel message sent over the broadcast with inp e r s o n c o n n e c t i o n s i n - c o u n t r y. O n t o p o f b ro a d c a s t i n g the Gospel, ICC is also managing a net work of over 100 ministries who operate as a network to connect with those touched by the Good News of Jesus Christ.

103 donors gave

$109,339 to this fund in 2014

27

S ocial M edia

500K Followers

1 F A cebook P ost

2.4 Million VIEWS

persecution maga z ine : circulation of

27,000

PRESS I nterviews : 156

AWARENESS

108 NEWS releases

persecution . org

2 million views

W h y Aw a r e n e s s ?

We are constantly at work being a witness for the persecuted so that the world cannot forget them and so that countries that persecute are held accountable at some level.

In doing this, we have found that many countries curtail persecution. They often decide, over time, after their deeds done in secret are shouted from the rooftops, that it is not wor th the trouble.

Fa c e b o o k

Speak for those who

TWITTER

cannot speak; seek 500,000

50,000

justice for all those

400,000

40,000

on the verge of

300,000

30,000

460K

200,000 100,000 0

190K 2012

260K

44K

20,000

21K

10,000

2013

2014

0

12K 2012

2013

d e s t r u c t i o n . S p e a k u p, j u d g e r i g h t e o u s l y, a n d defend the rights of the

2014

Total followers:

Total growth:

Total followers:

Total growth:

460,000

76%

44,000

46%

afflic ted and oppressed.

- PROVERBS 31:8-9 (ISV)

29

WHERE MOST NEEDED HIGHEST NEED

A d v o cacy E f f o r t s

Our strategic location in Washington, D.C. and long history here allows us access to U.S. legislators, the State Department and the White House.

108 letters signed by U.S. congressman

Advocacy

4 prisoners set free!

A d v o c a c y e f f o rt s

Meriam Ibrahim Sudan Sentenced to death

Pastor BK Kazakhstan Imprisoned for leading Muslim to faith

Sri Lanka: Rising attacks on churches

FI V E p e t i t i o n s C ALLING FO R the the the the the

immediate release of Pastor Bakhytzhan Kashkumbayev i m m e d i a t e re p e a l o f Pa k i s t a n’s “ B l a s p h e m y ” L a w s immediate and unconditional release of Meriam Ibrahim end of church demolitions in Xhejiang Province, China immediate dropping of all charges against Kirollos Atallah

2 7 , 7 8 0 T o t a l s i g n at u r e S

Congressional Briefing o n I ra q ’s Christians

India: Rising persecution under Modi

86 m e e ting s o n ca p it o l H ill 31

S om e of t he 90 co n gre s s i o n a l s ta f fe rs th at attended an ICC - led b r ief ing o n I raq in O c to b er. ICC i nvited Am ne st y I nte r nati o n a l, H u m a n R i g hts Watch and Op en D o o r s to si t o n t he p anel.

F i g h t i n g f o r t h e v i ct i m s o f I s i s on capitol hill After our return from Iraq in August, we immiediately began to work in the Congress and Senate informing key human rights members about the reality of Christians living in Iraq.

While the UN had been given over $100 million to help ISIS vicitms in Iraq, hardly any of it h a d re a c h e d I ra q ’s C h r i s t i a n c o m m u n i t y.

Our first-hand testimony from our trip to Iraq gave them ammunition to prod USAID (the international aid arm of the U.S. government) to send relief to these beleagured believers as w e l l a s t o I r a q ’ s Ya z i d i c o m m u n i t y .

We then held a closed congressional briefing in Oc tober for members of 90 legislative offices to brief them and ask them to continue to press USAID to bring relief to I r a q ’ s C h r i s t i a n s a n d Ya z i d i ’ s .

327

ICC Advocac y Direc tor Isaac Six speaks in front of the White House on June 13 as he and 100 others gathered to demand M er iam I brahim’s immediate and unconditional release.

FIGH T ING T O F R EE A C H R IS T IAN M O T HE R SEN T EN C ED T O DEAT H I CC w a s t h e f i r s t o rg a n i z a t i o n i n Wa s h i n g t o n , D. C . t o t a k e M e r i a m I b ra h i m’s c a s e t o C a p i t o l H i l l. W i t h I CC ’s i n p u t , t h e f i r s t c o n g re s i o n a l p re s s re l e a s e t o a d d re s s M e r i a m’s p l i g h t w a s p i c k e d u p b y t h e N e w Yo r k T i m e s a n d s h a r e d w i t h o v e r a m i l l i o n Tw i t t e r f o l l o w e r s . A t a l m o s t t h e s a m e t i m e , A m n e s t y I n t e r n a t i o n a l — w h o I CC m a d e a w a re o f M e r i a m’s c a s e — p u b l i s h e d h e r s t o r y. T h e s e t w o e v e n t s l e d t o M e r i a m’s s t o r y m a k i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l h e a d l i n e s a n d h e l p e d create the firestorm of public outrage that eventually led to her release.

Within hours of an ICC-sponsored protest in front of the White House that featured key members of Congress, major media outlets and prestigious human rights organizations, Secretary of State John Kerry issued the first official statement by the Obama administration c o n d e m n i n g M e r i a m’s d e a t h s e n t e n c e . A l l o f t h i s a d v o c a c y w o r k p a i d o f f o n J u l y 2 4 w h e n M e r i a m a n d h e r f a m i l y f i n a l l y e s c a p e d t h e c o u n t r y.

33

In 2014 Our Volunteer

the Volunteer Program grew by

Program provides

122%

ways for you to tangibly help fight persecution.

156 volunteers Volunteers are present in

32 states &

22 countries

AD V O C A C Y

A W A R ENESS

ASSIS T AN C E

P R AYE R

OFFI C E

27

47

38

29

14

V

volunteer

special pr o j e ct s

28

2 0 1 4 I C C V OLUN T EE R SE M INA R

C A R DS FO R C HINA ’ S C HILD R EN

On May 17, ICC held a volunteer training

Chinese Sunday School children stood

workshop at our headquarters in DC.

praying, encircling their church cross,

Twe n t y - t wo vo l u n te e r s s p e n t t h e d ay

which lay haphazard on the ground. It

re c e i v i n g h a n d s - o n t ra i n i n g f ro m I CC ’s

had been torn down in the middle of the

regional managers, advocacy director and

night by government officials.

t h e v o l u n t e e r c o o r d i n a t o r.

The pastor of their church asked for They also spent time in prayer for the

prayers of encouragement for the

persecuted and had the opportunity to

children, as they were sad and confused

hear first-hand stories of persecution

by this new form of persecution that

from an International Par tner who came

churches in their par t of China were

to speak.

undergoing.

Our volunteers told us that they came

The Western church responded with

away from the workshop better equipped

prayers and droves of handmade cards!

to do their volunteer jobs, feeling more

A ro u n d t h e c o u n t r y, S u n d a y S c h o o l

connected to ICC and encouraged in their

classes, children and their parents drew

faith. As this was such a raving success,

pictures and letters of encouragement to

we plan to continue these on a more

these precious children. The cards were

regular basis.

h a n d d e l i ve re d by I CC s t a f f.

35

B angledesh

E thiopia

I ra q

K yrgyzstan

M orocco

C hina

INDIA

K azakhstan

L E banon

N epal

E gypt

I ndonesia

K E nya

M alta

T urkey

trips

ON - T HE - G R OUND IN V ES T IGAT IONS ICC divides the world into regions, each of which is overseen by a regional manager responsible for finding and assisting persecuted Christians there. Each regional manager also oversees in-country indigenous staff that are well connected with the Church in their country and alert us to attacks on Christians.

Our regional managers visit several of their countries a n d s t a f f e r s i n t h e i r r e g i o n i n a n y g i v e n y e a r.

These trips are used to investigate persecution, appraise current projects and search out new

I C C S TAFF T R A V ELED MORE THAN

80K

MILES THIS YEAR ALONE

oppor tunities to relieve the suffering of our persecuted b r o t h e r s a n d s i s t e r s . T h i s p a s t y e a r, w e t r a v e l e d t o 1 2 different countries over the course of eight different trips!

S u p p o r t I CC ’s o n - t h e - g ro u n d i n v e s t i g a t i o n s b y

T h a t ’s 9 x a ro u n d t h e g l o b e !

contributing to the Where Most Needed fund.

37

finances I C C ’ s A n n u a l F i n a n c i a l R e p o rt 2 0 1 3 An increasing number of individuals, churches, foundations and other ministry par tners suppor ted ICC during 2013 with record giving to our projects, and g e n e r a l m i n i s t r y s u p p o r t . I C C a l w a y s s e e k s w a y s t o w i s e l y u s e t h e L o r d ’s m o n e y f o r ministry to the persecuted Church, and to maintain our administrative expenses at an absolute minimum. O ur G eneral and Administrative Expenses and Fundraising E x p e n s e s w a s 9 . 5 p e r c e n t o f o u r t o t a l i n c o m e t h i s p a s t y e a r . A c o m p a r i s o n o f I C C ’s financial results for the past five years follows:

Fiscal Year

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Income

$799,402

$2,031,076

$1,234,958

$1,491,855

$2,131,624

Program Expenses*

$756,772

$766,663

$1,149,480

$1,299,477

$1,940,119

General & Admin.

$86,771

$78,767

$96,193

$120,602

$146,019

Fundraising

$30,243

$27,579

$33,974

$47,816

$55,728

$873,786

$873,009

$1,279,647

$1,467,895

$2,141,866

Total Expenses

* Pro g ra m e x p e n s e s a re f u n d s we a re s p e n d i n g t o d o m i n i s t r y.

I C C B o a r d o f D i r e ct o r s ICC is a 501(c)(3) tax- exempt corporation organized in 1995 in the State of Maryland.

J ames S chnabel , C hai r man

All gifts to ICC are fully tax- deductible. Our latest IRS Form 990 is available on our website at w w w. p e r s e c u t i o n . o rg.

Copies of the latest independent financial audit or IRS Form 990 are available for cost of reproduction and postage. Requests should be directed to us, in writing, at 2020 Pennsylvania A v e . N W, # 9 4 1 , Wa s h i n g t o n D C 2 0 0 0 6 - 1 8 4 6 .

C hristopher K irk

J eff K ing , P r esident

S cott S treator S teve S wales R ichard T ucker E d W ormald

longevity-Track record Established in 1995

low overhead General and administrative expenses kept around 10 percent

Targeted funds Many organizations raise funds for a general fund. ICC gives you options to specifically target your donations, so your money goes where you want.

consistent growth in expertise, impact and finances

Four-Star rating from charity navigator Only 10 percent of all non-profits receive this rating.

ECFA Compliance We adhere to industry financial and ethical standards and we are audited by independent accountants to ensure our compliance.

distinctives

39

.org

PERSECU ION

I N T E R N AT I O N A L C H R I S TIAN CONCER N

International Christian Concern is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) (all donations tax-deductible). ICC makes every effort to honor donor wishes in regards to gifts.

Occasionally, situations arise where a project is no longer viable. ICC will then redirect those donated funds to the fund most similar to the donor’s original wishes. ICC uses 7.5 percent of each restricted donation to carry out the mission of it’s segregated funds.

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