9,000 Attend Open Doors Event in Germany to Pray for Persecuted Christians
About 9,000 people gathered in Karlsruhe, Germany, from May 14 to 16, 2026, for the Open Doors Days, a three-day event focused on persecuted Christians worldwide. Speakers from North Korea, Indonesia, Burkina Faso, and other countries shared firsthand accounts of violence and imprisonment.
About 9,000 people gathered at the dm-arena in Karlsruhe, Germany, from May 14 to 16, 2026, for the Open Doors Days, an annual event organized by the non-denominational aid organization Open Doors Germany.
The three-day gathering brought together Christians from across Germany to hear firsthand accounts from believers living under persecution in countries including North Korea, Indonesia, Burkina Faso, Mexico, and Central Asia.
Among the speakers was Jung Jik, a North Korean pastor who survived hunger, forced labor, and a dangerous escape from his country. He told the crowd that the Kim dynasty is nearing its end. Vina, a survivor of a 2021 church bombing in Indonesia, also shared her story.
The event opened on May 14 with a youth day aimed at engaging younger generations with the realities of faith under persecution. A prayer evening followed on May 15. The main Open Doors Day on May 16 included a parallel program for approximately 900 children aged 3 to 12, organized under the theme "Hidden Kingdom."
The 2026 event also marked the second phase of the "Arise Africa" campaign, an international initiative supporting Christians in sub-Saharan Africa who are fleeing violence.
Markus Rode, head of Open Doors Germany, said the event gives German Christians a chance to meet their persecuted brothers and sisters "face to face," building solidarity across the global church.
Open Doors Germany has already announced that the Open Doors Days 2027 will take place from May 6 to 8, 2027, during the Ascension weekend.
The event comes as Open Doors reports that more than 380 million Christians worldwide face high levels of persecution or discrimination for their faith. Nigeria, North Korea, and several Central Asian nations consistently rank among the most dangerous countries for Christians.
