In countries where Christians are persecuted and suppressed, Christianity is increasing rapidly. This has happened, for example, in China and more recently in the Arab world. How do persecuted Christians see their life and faith? What is the secret of their success, and why do the number of Christians tend to rise in the midst of persecution?
Western Christians have had freedom of faith for a long time. But are we now approaching a crossroads where our societies are increasingly turning against Christian values? Instead of a gloomy and heavy-handed approach, the documentary brings a different perspective to persecution that can make Western Christians stronger than ever.
The documentary gives a voice to Chinese Christians through Dr. Bob Fu, the leader of the ChinaAid organization, which specializes in helping them. Fu encountered persecution as a young Christian in China while working full-time as an English teacher in a school affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party. In the evenings, he would spread the message of Jesus by bike in the Beijing area.
Representing persecuted Christians in the Muslim world is Rev. Yassir Eric. Raised in the midst of a radical Islamic lineage, and abandoned and even “buried” by his family after his conversion, Yassir provides insights as a former persecutor turned persecuted ex-Muslim.
The history of Christian persecution is presented by Dr. Susanna Kokkonen. She is particularly known for being an expert on Jewish persecution, but her current role as the head of Hope for Persecuted Peoples and her extensive perspective on the history of persecution bring an important temporal and depth dimension to the documentary.
Documentary information
- Name: One Ruler – The Power of Persecuted Church
- Directing: Ruut Ahonen
- Interviewees: Bob Fu, Yassir Eric, and Susanna Kokkonen
- Length: 41 minutes
- Language: English (subtitled: in Arabic, Japan and Finnish)
- Publishing: December 2019
- Producer: Mika Ahonen
- Production: Hurttimurtti
