Irene's husband, Francis, a Muslim-background believer from Uganda, was brutally murdered for his faith on 21 September 2010. As a mother of four, Irene has since struggled to provide for her children single-handedly and the children miss their father deeply.
Irene is just one of many young mothers whose husbands have died for their faith. Fathers like Francis are often the breadwinners and so, when they die, mothers like Irene have no source of income. They struggle to pay for clothes, food and school fees for their children. They may end up with no place to live.
This is the time when they need their wider family to get alongside them. You. Me. Us. We are their extended family, united by our love for Jesus. They need our support. Long term.
That's why Open Doors has been providing Irene with spiritual support, practical help and training in livelihood skills, so that she can earn her own living and fend for her children.
But there are many more families who need our support. And you can help. By putting Open Doors in your Will now, you can ensure that we are there for mothers like Irene as long as we are needed.
- Every £100 gift in your Will could teach three widows the skills to provide for themselves and their families.
One simple line in your Will is all it takes.
You can make a difference... now and forever
Find out how you can make a difference to a widow like Irene by requesting a copy of our booklet, Now and Forever. You can order a copy by phoning 01993 777300 or emailing wills@opendoorsuk.org.
For further information about how you can make a legacy to Open Doors, please contact Paul on 01993 777300 or email pault@opendoorsuk.org.
How to include Open Doors in your Will »
Your solicitor is the best person to advise you on how to reword your Will to include a gift to Open Doors. There are certain details you need to have handy when you see your legal adviser, such as our registered address and registered charity number. Having this information can save precious time and money. Many supporters have found it useful to take the following wording along with them:
A pecuniary legacy - for a specific sum of money you wish to donate in your Will.
I give to Open Doors with Brother Andrew (and its successors) of PO Box 6, Witney, OX29 6WG, registered charity number 1125684, the sum of:
£ (figures)
£ (words)
absolutely for its general purposes, and I direct that the receipt(s) of the Director of Finance or other duly authorised officer shall be sufficient discharge to my executors.
A specific legacy - for a specific item such as a piece of jewellery, antique furniture, or even your house.
I give to Open Doors with Brother Andrew (and its successors) of PO Box 6, Witney, OX29 6WG, registered charity number 1125684, my:
(Description of property)
absolutely for its general purposes, and I direct that the receipt(s) of the Director of Finance or other duly authorised officer shall be sufficient discharge to my executors.
A residuary legacy – for what remains of your estate once family and friends have been taken care of and all debts cleared..
I give all (or a share) of the residue of my estate to Open Doors with Brother Andrew (and its successors) of PO Box 6, Witney, OX29 6WG, registered charity number 1125684, absolutely for its general purposes, and I direct that the receipt(s) of the Director of Finance or other duly authorised officer shall be sufficient discharge to my executors.
The gifts supporters leave to Open Doors in their Wills are vitally important. The promise of help long into the future frees us to make an important promise to those who will look to us for spiritual and practical support when their need is greatest. Your legacy gift means we can say to them, "We will be there. We will stand with you when the time comes. You won't be alone."
Currently, gifts from Wills account for just under 10 per cent of our income, which means there is a huge opportunity for us to do more for our suffering brothers and sisters now and far into the future too. If everyone who wants to support us, like you, could make this special provision for us in their Will, we could be sure of delivering more Bibles to those who are still denied access to God’s Word. We could train and equip more Sunday School teachers so that tomorrow's children could learn that Jesus loves them. Too many children in the world are growing up not knowing this vital truth.
We could provide more training to the next generation of eager pastors and church leaders. We could support the families of those who have been killed or imprisoned for their faith with practical sustenance such as food, shelter and the livelihood skills they need to provide for their families.
We can do all these things now and for years to come with a simple promise from you today in your Will. It won't cost you anything to do now, but it will mean a lifetime of support for those in the future who will continue to suffer simply for doing what you do: following Jesus.
Don't put it off!
Many people leave it too late to protect the people they love with an up-to-date Will. Even if you have made a Will, it is very important to regularly review it to ensure it still takes account of your wishes. All kinds of things can affect what is in your Will, such as the birth of a grandchild or the death of a spouse, a change of address or the end of a career when you retire. Updating your Will is also an ideal opportunity to remember Open Doors and your extended family - the persecuted church. Why not make an appointment to see your solicitor today?
