Open Doors' Arise Africa Petition Passes 1.04 Million Signatures Ahead of CEO's Congressional Testimony
Open Doors announced in Santa Ana, California, on November 10 that its three-year global petition, Arise Africa, has surpassed its goal, reaching over 1.04 million signatures calling for protection, restoration and justice for Christians facing extreme violence in sub-Saharan Africa. Open Doors US CEO Ryan Brown is set to present at a congressional hearing this Thursday, November 12, on protecting Christians in Nigeria's Middle Belt.
Brown called the milestone a monumental achievement, saying Christians in sub-Saharan Africa had challenged the global church to gather one million signatures and that more than a million people are now proclaiming with one voice that the suffering must end.
The petition calls on governments to strengthen protection for vulnerable communities, prosecute those responsible for attacks and help survivors rebuild their lives. Open Doors' international advocacy team will present the signatures to the United Nations, the European Union and governments around the world. The organization says an average of 12 Christians are killed for their faith every day in sub-Saharan Africa, where violence against Christians is more widespread than in any other region; its 2026 World Watch List recorded at least 1,700 Christians worldwide who experienced sexual violence or harassment for their faith during the reporting period, with eight of the 10 most affected countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Founded in 1955, Open Doors supports persecuted Christians in more than 70 countries and is best known for its annual World Watch List. The Arise Africa campaign aims to support four million Christians affected by violence through practical assistance, trauma care and advocacy.
Related: Open Doors US CEO to Testify Before Congress Nov. 12 on Violence Against Christians in Nigeria
(Source: Open Doors US)
Source: Open Doors US
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：尼日利亚首都 Abuja 的国民议会大楼与权杖雕塑（资料图）。Kabusa16 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The National Assembly building and Mace sculpture in Abuja, Nigeria (file photo). By Kabusa16, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
