When a persecuted believer reaches safety, their journey of faith begins to deepen in a new way.
Inside Help The Persecuted’s Safe Houses, the first days are for rest and recovery. As peace returns, discipleship begins. Field Ministers open Scripture, prayers rise again, and believers are refreshed in the hope of Jesus that persecution could not destroy.
Our goal is always holistic—physical safety and spiritual renewal. We want every person leaving a Safe House to be stronger in their faith than when they arrived.
From Rescue to Renewal
Every believer who enters a safe house has endured loss. Many come from Muslim backgrounds where conversion is treated as betrayal. Some have been disowned by families or suffered imprisonment and assault.
Discipleship starts gently. Field Ministers visit several times each week to pray, listen, and study Scripture together. These early conversations help residents experience God’s presence after trauma and find the confidence to take the next step in faith.
Help The Persecuted’s Pastoral Care Teams, comprised of ten members in Lebanon and eight in Syria, serve as spiritual mentors and counselors. Most have theological training and firsthand experience with persecution themselves. Their empathy turns discipleship into healing.
One of our team members described their ministry in this way:
“Every believer who comes to us is broken and afraid. But by God’s grace, they leave with new strength to stand firm in faith.” — Field Minister, Lebanon
How Discipleship Happens in Safe Houses
Discipleship in Help The Persecuted safe houses is intentional and personal. There are no large classes or public gatherings, only one-on-one mentoring and small groups for safety.
Residents receive Bibles and discipleship materials in their own languages. Many follow online lessons through secure channels such as Pedaraneh, which provides intensive discipleship and teaching for Persian-speaking believers in Iran.
Teaching often centers on the Gospel of John, prayer, forgiveness, and living out faith when returning to hostile environments. Field Ministers also help residents memorize Scripture so that even if they lose their Bibles, the Word remains with them.
In Lebanon and Syria, women’s discipleship has become a central focus. Female leaders visit safe houses to counsel women recovering from abuse or forced marriage and to teach them biblical truth about dignity and identity in Christ.
Stories of Transformation
Inaya, a young Lebanese believer, was forced into hiding after her conversion was discovered. During her stay in a safe house, she began daily Scripture study with our team. Over time, she shared, “I no longer feel like a secret believer. I feel like a daughter of God.” She now helps mentor new arrivals, reading the same passages that once gave her courage.
Brother Ihsan, a believer from Turkey, had endured years of rejection after his conversion. With help from our team, he moved near a safe house where he could receive discipleship support and care for his young daughter. “The Word of God became my stability,” he said. “It gave me peace to wait on His timing.”
In some safe houses, believers from several nations will come together for daily prayer and Scripture reading. One Field Minister shared: “Believers from several nations worship together daily in the refuge center. They pray, read Scripture, and encourage one another in their new faith.”
These moments are the heartbeat of Help The Persecuted’s safe houses: faith rekindled, families restored, and believers prepared to live out the gospel again.
Spiritual Growth CONTINUES
Discipleship continues even after residents leave a safe house. Through Enduring Faith Conferences and local pastors, Help The Persecuted continues to walk alongside those who have completed their stay.
Each resident completes an exit interview that tracks progress in practical and spiritual areas—confidence, forgiveness, prayer life, and relationships within the Church. Many express gratitude for a deeper sense of calling.
While numbers alone can’t capture transformation, the fruit is visible. In the last ministry year, Help The Persecuted trained 303 new discipleship leaders and hosted 13 Enduring Faith Conferences across six countries, reaching 1,822 believers with teaching and worship.
These leaders now serve others facing persecution, often risking their own safety to share what they’ve learned.
Why Discipleship Matters
Jesus said in John 8:3–32, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
That truth sustains believers who have lost everything else. In safe houses, discipleship restores identity and renews purpose. It turns trauma into testimony.
By the time believers leave, they are equipped to stand firm, rooted in the Word and strengthened for the road ahead.
How You Can Strengthen This Work
Every Bible opened...
Every prayer whispered...
Every moment of renewal inside a Safe House…
is possible because of your partnership.
Will you bring the Father’s love to persecuted believers growing in faith today? Your gift helps provide spiritual mentoring, Scripture teaching, and safe places for believers to be discipled.
Be part of the rescue. Be part of the restoration. Be part of the sanctuary.