Christian Women

Miss A's husband was held by the Islamic State for more than two months after his abduction in Syria. Then, on Christmas Day, they murdered him. Two days later, IS militants telephoned Angela to inform her that her husband was dead and sent her a DVD of the beheading. Then IS began to pressure her to convert to Islam and threatened her children. Miss A was one of over 90 Christian widows from Aleppo, Syria, helped by Barnabas Fund with practical aid, spiritual encouragement counseling. Angela and her children fled to a safe country nearby. She says, "Previously, I had a gloomy future. Now I have trust and faith that God is with me. My future and my kids' future are 100% in His hands."

Some Muslims consider all Christian women to be "immoral", and therefore deserving of abuse. In countries such as Pakistan and Egypt Christian women and girls are liable to be kidnapped, forced to convert to Islam, and then marry a Muslim - often their abductor.

Christian women who become widowed in contexts of persecution are often left with little or no income to support themselves and their children. Barnabas helps with literacy projects, small business start-up grants, and vocational training as well as feeding programmes.