Open Doors
Fredheim Arena supports the work of persecuted Christians through Open Doors.
Open Doors' work focuses on high-risk areas of the world where Christians experience persecution and oppression for their Christian faith. Through its own networks and in collaboration with local congregations and contacts, Open Doors distributes Bibles and educational materials for children and adults. Theological teaching and training to priests, pastors and evangelists, as well as seminars on discipleship, family life and on standing up during persecution are also a central part of the work. In addition to this, Open Doors provides assistance for vocational training, reading and writing lessons, and has a number of microcredit projects. Emergency care and trauma care among Christians who have been displaced are also an important part of Åpne Dører's work.In Norway, Åpne Dører works to inform and engage congregations and individuals to join and support persecuted Christians through prayer service, travel service and donor service.Åpne Dør expresses a big thank you to Fredheim Arena for its support and commitment to persecuted Christians.
Open Doors' work focuses on high-risk areas of the world where Christians experience persecution and oppression for their Christian faith. Through its own networks and in collaboration with local congregations and contacts, Open Doors distributes Bibles and educational materials for children and adults. Theological teaching and training to priests, pastors and evangelists, as well as seminars on discipleship, family life and on standing up during persecution are also a central part of the work. In addition to this, Open Doors provides assistance for vocational training, reading and writing lessons, and has a number of microcredit projects. Emergency care and trauma care among Christians who have been displaced are also an important part of Åpne Dører's work.In Norway, Åpne Dører works to inform and engage congregations and individuals to join and support persecuted Christians through prayer service, travel service and donor service.Åpne Dør expresses a big thank you to Fredheim Arena for its support and commitment to persecuted Christians.
Mercy Training Center
The story of Mercy Training Charitable Association begins with a lady who wanted to make a difference in her town.
Wossene from the town of Awasa in Ethiopia saw how young girls in her own hometown became forced into a life of prostitution to make enough money to survive. Prostituted girls are particularly vulnerable to HIV/AIDS which is a major problem throughout Ethiopia.
In 2003, Wossene started Mercy Training Charitable Association — an offer to so-called “bar girls” where they can get one hairdressing education. Wossene is himself a hairdresser and his hairdressing education has proven to be a effective way to get the girls away from the bars where the prostitution is often hidden. In Ethiopia, there are more than 40 million ladies' heads to be braided and clipped. The need for hairdressers is therefore great in a culture where hair hairstyles matter a lot to appearance. By providing them with training in a profession, while being paid weekly allowance, many girls have found their way to a dignified, and much better life. Some girls have also continued their education as lawyers, teachers or other profession after completing their apprenticeship as a hairdresser. In addition to a profession/education, all girls are offered weekly Bible teaching under the auspices of the Lutheran Church of Mekane Yesus. Many of the girls eventually became Christians and actively participated in the church.
Wossene from the town of Awasa in Ethiopia saw how young girls in her own hometown became forced into a life of prostitution to make enough money to survive. Prostituted girls are particularly vulnerable to HIV/AIDS which is a major problem throughout Ethiopia.
In 2003, Wossene started Mercy Training Charitable Association — an offer to so-called “bar girls” where they can get one hairdressing education. Wossene is himself a hairdresser and his hairdressing education has proven to be a effective way to get the girls away from the bars where the prostitution is often hidden. In Ethiopia, there are more than 40 million ladies' heads to be braided and clipped. The need for hairdressers is therefore great in a culture where hair hairstyles matter a lot to appearance. By providing them with training in a profession, while being paid weekly allowance, many girls have found their way to a dignified, and much better life. Some girls have also continued their education as lawyers, teachers or other profession after completing their apprenticeship as a hairdresser. In addition to a profession/education, all girls are offered weekly Bible teaching under the auspices of the Lutheran Church of Mekane Yesus. Many of the girls eventually became Christians and actively participated in the church.
In 2009 Mercy Training Center Norway was established as a liaison between donors in Norway and the project in Ethiopia. Our purpose is to assist the Board of Mercy Training Charitable Association with financial and moral support, as well as to inform donors in Norway about what is happening with the project.
In recent years, the boards in Ethiopia and Norway have worked hard to find new premises for the school as well as to develop the school to become financially independent. This work has proved to be very difficult for a number of reasons. Therefore, the school will continue to depend on generous donors in Norway in the future.
Every year, nearly 50 girls start and complete their hairdressing education at Mercy Training Charitable Association in Awasa. As a donor, you help cover the ongoing monthly expenses incurred by Mercy Training Charitable Association in connection with your hairdressing education. In this way, you help ensure that the girls at school have the opportunity to find their way to a dignified and much better life.
In recent years, the boards in Ethiopia and Norway have worked hard to find new premises for the school as well as to develop the school to become financially independent. This work has proved to be very difficult for a number of reasons. Therefore, the school will continue to depend on generous donors in Norway in the future.
Every year, nearly 50 girls start and complete their hairdressing education at Mercy Training Charitable Association in Awasa. As a donor, you help cover the ongoing monthly expenses incurred by Mercy Training Charitable Association in connection with your hairdressing education. In this way, you help ensure that the girls at school have the opportunity to find their way to a dignified and much better life.
Deaconess and Evangelization in Ukraine
“Bring out the good news.”
This headline fits well with what our contact person in Ukraine is passionate about. His name is Vladimir and lives in the town of Chernigov, a few miles east of Chernobyl where the great nuclear accident occurred in 1986.
This calamity still characterizes the lives of people with disease and impaired immune defenses.
Vladimir is an evangelist and conducts diaconal work especially in the village where there is great need and where there is little Christian work.
In essence, it is the support of our assembly and karate hits that enable Vladimir to conduct this work.
Vladimir has a big heart for the kids. The parish in the city, in which Vladimir also participates, organizes children's camps for children every summer and here he is actively involved. Apart from this, he conducts several children's camps around the villages. He has occasionally also been allowed to preach in some schools.
Through His preaching, children have been able to hear the Gospel for the first time. The prayer house in the village is central to the work. Previously, this house of prayer consisted of only a few elders, and the pastor was 80 years old. But before his death, the pastor experienced the growth of the congregation. Vladimir got involved here and there is now a Sunday school and several young families are engaged.
This headline fits well with what our contact person in Ukraine is passionate about. His name is Vladimir and lives in the town of Chernigov, a few miles east of Chernobyl where the great nuclear accident occurred in 1986.
This calamity still characterizes the lives of people with disease and impaired immune defenses.
Vladimir is an evangelist and conducts diaconal work especially in the village where there is great need and where there is little Christian work.
In essence, it is the support of our assembly and karate hits that enable Vladimir to conduct this work.
Vladimir has a big heart for the kids. The parish in the city, in which Vladimir also participates, organizes children's camps for children every summer and here he is actively involved. Apart from this, he conducts several children's camps around the villages. He has occasionally also been allowed to preach in some schools.
Through His preaching, children have been able to hear the Gospel for the first time. The prayer house in the village is central to the work. Previously, this house of prayer consisted of only a few elders, and the pastor was 80 years old. But before his death, the pastor experienced the growth of the congregation. Vladimir got involved here and there is now a Sunday school and several young families are engaged.
Of the services Vladimir performs in the villages can be mentioned:
- Evangelization and preaching, training
- Giving Spiritual Comfort to Seniors Living Remotely
- Sick visits, obtaining medicines, operating transport to and from the villages for those in need
But it has become more and more necessary to provide food to the villages. Clothes and shoes are also in short supply now so I've been trying to acquire some of this, nicely used.
Vladimir and his wife struggle a lot with illness, and he has had two strokes, so they need our intercession. It seems that as long as he is able to draw strength from an afflicted body, he aims to reach new people with the message of Jesus Christ.
Vladimir and his wife struggle a lot with illness, and he has had two strokes, so they need our intercession. It seems that as long as he is able to draw strength from an afflicted body, he aims to reach new people with the message of Jesus Christ.
Cambodia:
Child and family work
Family Camp
Vision: Endowed families to live close to God and close to each other.
What? Project Family Camp is a Normisjon project, which is fully funded by Fredheim Arena. It's about allowing Cambodian families to attend a three-day camp, to experience community across the generations. Families are together at family gatherings and family activities, but also have classes separately. The topics taught are about building strong and healthy Christian families. In this way, one also hopes that society will become stronger. All teaching is based on biblical principles about the family. Many of the participants are pastor families, who can take the teaching home with them to their parish and village. So far in the project period, the number of camp participants has increased from 145 to 300. This figure also includes students, who have been included as staff at the children's groups.
Why? The whole of society in Cambodia is in the build-up following the Pol Pot regime of the 1970s, in which it was stated policy that families should be dissolved. After this time, there is a lot of distrust, even within the families. Only God can fix this.
Isaiah 58.12 says: “Your ancient ruins will be rebuilt, you will rebuild the foundations of ancient lineages. You will be called the one who makes walls crack, the one who sets up roads so that people can live there.”
Vision: Endowed families to live close to God and close to each other.
What? Project Family Camp is a Normisjon project, which is fully funded by Fredheim Arena. It's about allowing Cambodian families to attend a three-day camp, to experience community across the generations. Families are together at family gatherings and family activities, but also have classes separately. The topics taught are about building strong and healthy Christian families. In this way, one also hopes that society will become stronger. All teaching is based on biblical principles about the family. Many of the participants are pastor families, who can take the teaching home with them to their parish and village. So far in the project period, the number of camp participants has increased from 145 to 300. This figure also includes students, who have been included as staff at the children's groups.
Why? The whole of society in Cambodia is in the build-up following the Pol Pot regime of the 1970s, in which it was stated policy that families should be dissolved. After this time, there is a lot of distrust, even within the families. Only God can fix this.
Isaiah 58.12 says: “Your ancient ruins will be rebuilt, you will rebuild the foundations of ancient lineages. You will be called the one who makes walls crack, the one who sets up roads so that people can live there.”
Awana Go, Cambodia.
Vision: Awana's vision is for children and young people to know, love and serve Jesus throughout their lives. We want our children to learn about mission early and to help them learn about their own work.
What? This is the children's own mission project. We will annually raise 60,000 for Awana's work in Cambodia. Cambodia is one of Asia's poorest countries. The main religion is Buddhism. Only 0.5% of those living there identify themselves as Christians. There are about 5 million children under the age of 15 living in the country. Awana started working in Cambodia in 2016, around the same time we started with Awana in Norway. There is now the registry of 13,000 children and more than 300 Awana clubs in Cambodia. Both the number of clubs and the number of children in the clubs are growing.
Why? Awana Go challenges the children at Fredheim to join the ministry of sharing Jesus with other children. With this project, we want to create mission engagement and giving joy in the children. We believe that through this project, the children can both gain knowledge about children and Awana in Cambodia. They will understand that they too can contribute and are important for children both in Norway and other countries to get to know Jesus.
What? This is the children's own mission project. We will annually raise 60,000 for Awana's work in Cambodia. Cambodia is one of Asia's poorest countries. The main religion is Buddhism. Only 0.5% of those living there identify themselves as Christians. There are about 5 million children under the age of 15 living in the country. Awana started working in Cambodia in 2016, around the same time we started with Awana in Norway. There is now the registry of 13,000 children and more than 300 Awana clubs in Cambodia. Both the number of clubs and the number of children in the clubs are growing.
Why? Awana Go challenges the children at Fredheim to join the ministry of sharing Jesus with other children. With this project, we want to create mission engagement and giving joy in the children. We believe that through this project, the children can both gain knowledge about children and Awana in Cambodia. They will understand that they too can contribute and are important for children both in Norway and other countries to get to know Jesus.
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as them” Mark 10:14
“... How can they believe someone they haven't heard of? And how can they hear without anyone preaching... For it is written: How beautiful are they, the feet of those who bring good tidings?” Romans 10:14-15
How can children feel engaged:
“... How can they believe someone they haven't heard of? And how can they hear without anyone preaching... For it is written: How beautiful are they, the feet of those who bring good tidings?” Romans 10:14-15
How can children feel engaged:
- Give some of your weekly pay
- Few tasks and “small jobs” adapted to age like a sheep given to Cambodia
- Drawing or making things that can be sold to friends and family
- Mission Run, Reading Action, Making Bazaar. Selling juice and bowls/cake or old toys
- Read to them and tell them about children in Cambodia and other parts of the world.
Links:
- https://www.awana.org/country/cambodia
- https://www.facebook.com/AWANA-Cambodia-474618109591617/?ref=page_internal
- https://www.fn.no/Land/kambodsja
