Contact: Jerry Dykstra, Media Relations Director, Open Doors USA, 616-915-4117, JerryD@odusa.org
MEDIA ADVISORY, Sept. 29 /Christian Newswire/ -- He was stabbed 26 times. His executioners were never found.
Haik Hovsepian's story -- told through the eyes and camera lens of his sons Joseph and Andre -- is an award-winning documentary called A Cry From Iran.
A Cry From Iran will be one of three compelling and inspiring documentaries about the Middle East which will be shown during the first ever Film Fest hosted by Woodlands Church Fellowship Campus in The Woodlands, located 30 miles north of Houston, on Saturday, Oct. 10, starting with registration at 9:30 a.m. The Film Fest is being sponsored by Open Doors USA www.OpenDoorsUSA.org, an international Christian ministry which supports and strengthens persecuted Christians in 45 of the most restrictive countries in the world.
Open Doors is also holding a Walk in their Shoes event at Houston Baptist University on Saturday, Oct. 3, starting at 6:30 p.m. Walk in Their Shoes focuses on helping teenagers and college students understand what persecuted Christians face in their daily walk with the Lord, especially in the Muslim World.
"These events are not only tremendous opportunities for those living in the Houston area to be informed about the persecuted church, but to understand how God is using suffering believers to expand His kingdom around the world. And how you can be part of this movement through prayer, advocacy and many other avenues," says Open Doors USA President/CEO Dr. Carl Moeller. "Please consider joining us at these events...they could be life-changing experiences and a real call to action."
Andre Hovsepian says of A Cry From Iran: "This is the story not only of my father's martyrdom, but also of the victims who have been killed and those who continue to be tortured for being Christians. The chronicling of his life and death puts a focus on the many stories of persecution that are happening as we speak."
A Cry From Iran will be shown at 12:30 p.m., Malatya at 10 a.m. and Facing Extinction: Christians of Iraq at 2 p.m.
Malatya is a documentary about the first martyrs of the Turkish Church. On April 18, 2007, Necati Aydin, Uğur Yüksel, and Tillmann Geske were brutally killed in Malatya, Turkey for proclaiming their faith. Necati and Uğur are the first known modern Turkish converts from Islam to Christianity to be killed for their faith.
Facing Extinction: Christians of Iraq, narrated by actor Jim Caviezel who played Jesus in The Passion of the Christ, chronicles the persecution of Iraqi Christians who are caught in the crossfire of being minority Christians in one of the most violent countries in the world. The crew traveled into threatened Christian communities to film the stories in the documentary.
Cost for the Film Fest is $10, which includes lunch. To register and for more information go to http://opendoorsfilmfest.com. The Film Fest is open to adults and youth. The church is located at One Fellowship Drive, The Woodlands, 77384.
The Walk in Their Shoes event will start with registration at 6:30 p.m. at Houston Baptist University, 7502 Fondren Road, Houston. Participants should meet in the visitor parking lot right of the main entrance (gate 1). The event will start at 7 p.m. with a debriefing at 8:30. Participants should bring a Bible and cell phone. For more information, go to www.opendoorsusa.org/UserFiles/File/Walk_in_their_Shoes.pdf. To view a video on Walk in their Shoes go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is-nOPdkA3E.
At designated spots during the event, walkers will learn about persecution and hear dramatic stories of faith. During the debriefing, participants can verbalize what they learned and hear ways they can turn that into concrete action on behalf of the one million Christians worldwide who suffer persecution for their faith.
To set up interviews, contact Jerry Dykstra at jerryd@odusa.org or 616-915-4117.
