Young believer faces loss of family in the Philippines

"If you do not return to Islam, you are no longer my daughter."

These words haunt 20-year-old Leila* every day.

At 18, her Muslim father discovered her faith and forcefully dragged her home to her community in the Southern Philippines. She was enrolled in a Madrasah (Islamic school) and became more and more isolated, especially once her Christian grandmother passed away. She was the only believer in her family.

"I know following Jesus is not easy."

Leila*, Filipino believer

Leila was forbidden from attending church or meeting with Christian friends. But she bravely continued to follow Jesus in secret—reading her Bible and praying as much as she could without being caught.

Now, two years after her persecution from her family began, the silence in Leila's home has grown even heavier. The ultimatum from her father has reached a breaking point: return to her traditional roots or face being disowned forever.

For those outside the Philippines, it can be hard to grasp the weight of Leila's situation. In her community, family loyalty, personal behavior and worth are based on the cultural concept of maratabat—a deep sense of family honor and social standing.

This means, to Leila's father, his daughter's continued devotion to Jesus is not just her personal choice; it is a public wound to the family's honor. To "heal" this perceived shame, the family has now threatened to send Leila away for an arranged marriage—a common tactic used to isolate young women and silence their new faith once and for all. To be disowned in this culture is to lose everything: protection, inheritance and a sense of identity. Leila is being forced to choose between the father she loves—and her entire worth as a person—and the Savior who has sustained her.

Despite months of forced religious re-education, Leila's heart has not wavered. She still clings to the scriptures she memorized in secret, drawing strength from the story of Paul and Silas in Acts 16—men who worshipped even while in chains.

"I know following Jesus is not easy," she shared, tears welling in her eyes, "but I did not expect it to be this hard."

Yet, her faith in Jesus has led her to a beautiful, quiet act of defiance. Leila risks her safety to attend a monthly youth fellowship supported by Open Doors. This gathering is her only source of spiritual oxygen.

"When she enters that room, you can see the weight of the Madrasah fall away," shares Ann*, Open Doors' local partner. "For a year, her family has tried to 're-educate' her, but in these fellowships, she is reminded of who she truly is. Here, she isn't a disappointment or a project to be fixed; she is a beloved daughter of the King."

Will you commit to prayer and standing with your sister on her journey? You can also help through your financial support to Open Doors to help us in our work for Leila and other Christians around the world. By providing her with these secret fellowships, we ensure that while Leila may be an outcast in her own home, she is never alone in the Body of Christ.

Here's how you can pray with Leila today:

• Pray that Leila's father would be moved by her steadfast love and that he would withdraw the threat of disownment.
• Pray that the Holy Spirit would guard Leila's mind during her forced Islamic studies, keeping the Word of God alive in her heart.
• Intercede against the plan for a forced marriage; pray that Leila remains in her city, where she can access fellowship.
• Pray that Leila would feel the tangible prayers of the international Church, reminding her that she is part of a family that will never let her go.

*Names changed due to security reasons.