JAN / FEB 2016 | releaseinternational.orgVoice of persecuted Christians

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FLIGHT OF FAITHWhere Christians will be under the greatest pressure in 2016

News, stories and prayer requests from persecuted Christians worldwide

2 Release January / February 2015

Doors are opening

Editorial Paul Robinson ‘Thank you to all of you whohave been praying for and financially

supporting our brothers and sisters in Nigeria’

This edition of Release magazine focuses very much on what we have called the Flight of Faith –

Christians being driven out of their communities or even their countries because of their religious belief.

It is a trend we are seeing more and more around the world, whether it is believers in the Middle East fleeing Islamic State, Pakistani Christians chased out of their homes because of false allegations of blasphemy, or even Laotian brothers and sisters forced out of their villages for converting to a so-called ‘Western’ religion.

During a recent trip to the city of Jos in Plateau state, Nigeria, I had the privilege of meeting many Christians who have been displaced, often violently, from their homes, mostly from the northeast of the country.

The dear brothers and sisters I spent time with, such as Esta, a young widow, are representative of many, many thousands of believers (you can read Esta’s moving story on page 8).

I felt such sadness as I listened time after time to stories of devastation, dispossession, loss and bereavement.

When I saw photographs of the killings and violence being perpetrated (photos we could never publish) I found anger rising within me as I contemplated the depth of depravity and wickedness being carried out by human beings against other human beings.

However, that anger was tempered as I heard, again and again, the willingness of these dear Nigerian Christians to forgive their persecutors, and their gratitude being expressed to you, dear supporters of Release, for providing safe shelter, food, blankets and cooking utensils.

You or I would not want to live where they live right now, but they are praising God for being given a place of relative safety (Jos is not always safe) in which they can settle for now and perhaps think about, one day, returning to their communities.

Some of the work we do in Nigeria cannot be described for security reasons – but we are extremely grateful to God that we have been able to advocate effectively to the national authorities on behalf of displaced Christians.

So thank you to all of you who have been praying for and financially supporting our brothers and sisters in Nigeria.

We believe that doors are beginning to open in a way that they never have before, so please, continue praying at this crucial time for God to move in power in Nigeria – and around the world - on behalf of His persecuted children.

Paul Chief Executive

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persecuted releaseinternational | @ReleaseInt #ReleaseInt

4 Flight of FaithPersecution trends 2016: where Christians will face the greatest pressure

8 Esta’s storyHow one Nigerian family escaped from Boko Haram

12 Jailed Christians face prison for speaking out

14 Join something bigger!

says Release Potential

15 ‘Such a big difference’

Supporter Ruth visits Egypt

16 Persecution WatchPresentation of 24,000-name petition

18 Scattering the faith?The Word on persecution

CONTENTS

January / February 2016 Release 3

16

15Release helps Christians in the UK and Ireland to actively engage with their persecuted brothers and sisters around the world: praying with them, standing with them, helping them, and learning lessons of true Christian discipleship with them.

4How you can help bring hope to displaced families in Nigeria 13

Cover: Persecution by Islamist militants has displaced thousands of Christians in Nigeria.

9

FLIGHT OF FAITH

Persecution trends 2016

4 Release January / February 2016

‘I n 2016 we are likely to continue to witness the mass movement of Christians and

others fleeing war and terrorism in the Middle East, northern Africa and many other regions.

Terrorist attacks and the targeted persecution of Christians in countries such as Iraq, Syria and Nigeria have led to growing numbers of internally displaced families who will need continuing support and protection.

In East Africa (see page 6) Islamist terrorists are expanding their campaigns of violence in Kenya and

Tanzania, bringing new dangers to Christian leaders and churches.

While Release provides support to enable persecuted Christians to survive and thrive in their home countries, we are finding it increasingly necessary to aid believers who have fled their homes as impoverished refugees.

As you can read in the following pages, Christians in these and other nations urgently need your prayers and support to help them survive in these most challenging times.’

Paul Robinson Chief Executive

Release’s annual projection of where Christians will be most under pressure during 2016.

FLIGHT OF FAITHWar, terrorism and forced migration

EGYPTIn Egypt, the focus of our 2015 campaign Every Right, the Christian minority remains at risk, especially in regional areas, such as in Upper Egypt.

Militants continue to threaten Christian churches, businesses and individuals. Despite changes to the constitution in 2014, many believers still face discrimination in education, the workplace and the legal system.

Our 11-minute DVD Glimmers of Hope features the moving testimonies of Egyptian Christians

who are bringing hope to their nation.

MIDDLE EAST

January / February 2016 Release 5

FLIGHT OF FAITHIRANIn the face of the growth of the underground house church movement, the Iranian Government is continuing its systematic crackdown on Christians.

It is estimated that around 90 Christians remain in prison, with many experiencing abuse and torture. On release from jail most find it impossible to stay in the country because of continuing state surveillance and so escape to neighbouring nations such as Turkey.

You can hear some of their powerful testimonies in our 10-minute DVD Scattered which is

available free to supporters.

IRAQLike Syria, war and terrorism in Iraq have also had a terrible impact on the historic churches which until now have maintained a faithful Christian witness for nearly 2,000 years.

It is estimated that since 2003 more than half the Christian population of one million has been forced to leave the country. And tens of thousands who remain have relocated to the relative safety of Kurdistan in the north.

‘The attack on Christians has been immense,’ said the Chaldean Archbishop Bashar M. Warda in Erbil, Kurdistan. ‘We were above one million, now you hardly find 300,000. Many Christians have lost their trust in the land and in the future.’

IS has declared its ambition to establish a caliphate – a transnational Muslim empire based on Sharia (Islamic law), with their leader Abu

‘A new and massive wave of desperate refugees.’Bakr al-Baghdadi as the caliph, the deputy or successor to Mohammed.

This strategy includes capturing the capital Baghdad, a key centre of Islam from the eighth to the thirteenth centuries.

Meanwhile any attempt by opposition forces to recapture the city of Mosul from IS is likely to lead to a new and massive wave of desperate refugees.

Find out more about the extreme pressures facing Iraqi Christians in our 12-minute DVD Safe Haven?

SYRIAThe continuing crisis in Syria has brought untold misery to millions. Half of the 12 million Syrians who have left their homes because of violence are children.

Four million Syrians are now living as refugees in neighbouring Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.

In desperation, more than 100,000 Syrians have entered Europe in search of asylum and a new start, with many making the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean.

The civil war, which has cost the lives of more than 200,000 people, has had a devastating impact on the Christian church. It is estimated that half of Syria’s pre-war Christian population of 1.4 million people have fled the country.

Those believers who remain face the ruthless Islamic State (IS) which is committed to creating a new caliphate in the region. Those who are unwilling to swear allegiance and renounce their Christian faith face torture and death, sometimes by public crucifixion.

An Islamic State fighter celebrates the capture of Mosul, Iraq, in June 2014. Photo: Reuters.

Bomb damage in Aleppo, Syria. Continuing conflict has forced an estimated 700,000 Christians to flee as refugees.

Call 01689 823491 to request your free copy of any of these DVDs.

6 Release January / February 2016

EAST AFRICAKenya and Tanzania have both witnessed terrorist attacks resulting from the expansion of Islamist militancy in the region.

In 2015 the Somalia-based al Shabaab group attacked Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya, killing 148 people, mostly students, and injuring 79 more.

Churches have also been the target of bombings, and individual church leaders have been attacked and killed.

It is feared that both the authorities and churches in this relatively peaceful region are largely unprepared for escalating violence.

ERITREARepression, religious persecution, unlimited forced military service and economic collapse have driven tens of thousands to flee the nation of Eritrea (population 6.5 million) to neighbouring countries such as Sudan and Ethiopia. The brutality of the Eritrean state makes it impossible for them to return home.

It is estimated that around 700 Eritrean refugees who tried to cross

into Egypt without official papers are now languishing in prison.

Within Eritrea around 300 evangelical Christians remain in jail without trial, enduring appalling conditions – and sometimes torture by the authorities. A significant number of these prisoners, who refuse to renounce their Christian faith, have been in jail for more than ten years. Some have simply ‘disappeared’ into the large network of prisons and military camps.

Release partners provide support to both Christian prisoners and their families inside Eritrea, and to Eritrean refugees who have fled persecution to northern Ethiopia.

NIGERIAChristians in northern and central Nigeria are likely to face continued attacks by the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram, and other Islamist militants.

Since 2013, more than 14,000 people have been killed as part of Boko Haram’s armed rebellion against the Nigerian Government. More than 60,000 people have been displaced, with many fleeing in desperation to neighbouring Cameroon.

Christians who have fled their homes may not feel safe living in organised camps, and so have difficulty receiving government aid.

Our DVDs The Gathering Storm: Kenya and The Gathering Storm: Tanzania (12 minutes and 10 minutes) report on the increasing level

of attacks against Christians in East Africa. Free to supporters bycalling 01689 823491.

As one Tanzanian church leader told Release:

‘The situation for the church in five years is scary because church leaders are getting contented as though nothing bad is coming. We should strategise and take serious measures.’

Some have simply ‘disappeared’ into the large network of prisons and military camps.

EAST AND WEST AFRICA

Surafeal fled Eritrea because of religious persecution and is now living as a refugee in northern Ethiopia.

Persecution trends 2016

January / February 2016 Release 7

Our 11-minute DVD Crisis Point features the moving testimonies of Christians caught in

the violence, and may be requestedby calling 01689 823491.

Our DVD No Other God (12 mins, 2011) features the moving testimonies of North Koreans who have escaped from the brutal ‘hermit kingdom’.Call 01689 823491 to get your free copy.

Thousands of people in north and central Nigeria have been displaced following attacks by Boko Haram terrorists. Photo: Reuters/Afolabi Sotunde.

Boko Haram continues to abduct girls and women to be sold into slavery or forced into ‘marriage’ with jihadists. Since security is weak, especially in rural areas, abductions are likely to continue. A Release partner is helping some of the victims and their families receive trauma-healing.

Turn to page 8 to read the moving account of how Esta and her children had to flee many times after Boko Haram murdered her husband.

NORTH KOREAWhile North Korea continues to be one of the most repressive nations on earth, a steady stream of defectors, including Christians, continues to escape in the hope of reaching South Korea or other countries in the region. For some, the journey across the Tumen river and through China is fraught with danger.

Christians and others continue to work secretly to help these brave refugees travel along the so-called ‘underground railroad’ of safe houses inside China, at considerable risk to themselves. Refugees caught inside China are usually repatriated to North Korea where they are likely to face punitive sentences in the gulag of labour camps, or even execution.

8 Release January / February 2016

Esta’s village near Gwoza, Borno State, had already been attacked once by a small group of armed

Boko Haram fighters, but the men of the village chased them away – until they returned one night in larger numbers.

Esta, her husband Johanna and four children, then fled for their lives, narrowly escaping a spray of bullets from automatic weapons.

Having led his family away from immediate danger Johanna returned with one of his sons to help others. His wife and children begged him not to go back.

A little while later Esta heard screaming. It was the voice of her son. Terrified, she and the family ran back to find Johanna lying dead not far from their pastor’s home.

Before killing him, the fighters had tortured Johanna in front of his son, by cutting off his ears. In the middle of acute grief it was left to Johanna’s family to carry his corpse away to be buried in a hastily-dug shallow grave, right next to another victim of the attack.

That night Esta was so traumatised that she felt she was paralysed: ‘like a coma,’ she told me. So she and her children, still in fear for their lives, waited in the bush until they could decide what to do next.

By morning they decided to leave the area completely. As they passed their village they could see that their home and many others had been burned down, and all their cattle killed.

Esta also saw that the grave next to her husband’s had been opened and the corpse left in the sun as a mark of contempt and disrespect. Their only consolation was that Johanna’s grave had been left alone.

They spent three days trekking to reach a town where they were helped by local people, but within three weeks they again came under attack by Boko Haram and had to flee.

Within a few days Esta and her children found some respite when church people gathered food for her and even gave her a parcel of land to begin cultivating. But that respite was short-lived.

One day the church where Esta and others were meeting was attacked by terrorists. Esta escaped with two of her children to another location, but was forced to leave her other two children behind. Even now Esta does not know what happened to them, although she has heard reports that they are still alive.

After five days Boko Haram attacked again so Esta then trekked for a

Esta had to move five times to escape Boko Haram after they murdered her husband, writes Release’s Chief Executive Paul Robinson. Names have been changed. Contains torture detail.

Esta’s story

ENCOURAGING OUR SISTERS – INSPIRED BY THEIR FAITHWOMEN

NIGERIA

Esta had to flee with her four children after Boko Haram terrorists murdered her husband.

Persecution trends 2016

January / February 2016 Release 9

further nine days to reach the border of Adamawa and Borno states. As a consequence of so much walking Esta’s legs and whole body were so swollen that it looked like she was pregnant.

After another month, living as best they could, Release’s partner rescued

‘I feel grateful to God that I am at least alive’ her and her two children and took them to their camp for displaced people in Jos, Plateau state. There are not many refuges for displaced families in Nigeria, but your support makes this possible.

Esta told me: ‘I feel grateful to God that I am at least alive, knowing that so many have been burned to death, macheted or shot, including children.’

NightmaresUnderstandably, Esta’s health has deteriorated significantly as a result of her terrifying ordeal and she now has heart problems and hypertension. And she suffers terrible nightmares.

Esta asked me to tell her story so that others will know what is happening in north-eastern Nigeria – and so that she, and thousands like her, might not be forgotten. •

PLEASE PRAY• for the many thousands still

displaced within central and northern Nigeria

• that Esta will be reunited with her missing children

• for an end to the terrorism that has claimed over 14,000 lives since 2013

Saturday, June 25, 201610am – 4pm (arrival and coffee from 9.30am)

Emmanuel Centre, 9-23 Marsham StreetLONDON SW1P 3DWCost £10 (payable on the door)

All welcomeFor more information and to book your place please call our office on 01689 823491 or email: info@releaseinternational.org.

Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ReleaseWomen

HELP BRING HOPE INSTEAD OF DESPAIR Your support has already enabled us to help hundreds of people such as Esta, providing them with secure shelter, food, toiletries, blankets and cooking utensils. Some have also received trauma-healing at workshops run by our partner, and assistance to return to their own communities when this is possible.

But there are many more desperate families like Esta and her children who urgently need our help and prayers. With your support, we can do so much more to bring healing and hope in the name of Jesus.

Please consider making a gift today using the form attached to this magazine. Thank you.

Violent attacks by Boko Haram have forced thousands of families to be displaced in Nigeria.

National Release Women conference

IRAQ: Since 2003, more than half the Christian population of one million believers have left Iraq. Tens of thousands have sought safety in Kurdistan.

ERITREA: Repression and persecution by the government has forced tens of thousands of Eritreans, including many Christians, to flee to refugee camps in Ethiopia, and to Egypt and Sudan.

SYRIA: War and the extreme violence of Islamic State have forced half of Syria’s Christian population, an estimated 700,000 people, to flee as refugees to neighbouring countries.

KENYA: Militants in the north-east have attacked Christians, forcing many to flee.

NIGERIA: Ongoing violence by Islamist militants has displaced tens of thousands of Christians in northern and central Nigeria. Some have sought refuge in Cameroon.

New churches have been planted in central Turkey by Christians escaping from Iran.

IRAQ IRAN

SYRIA

JORDAN

LEBANON

TURKEY

UKRAINE

LIBYA

NIGERIA

CAMEROON

ERITREA

EGYPT

SUDAN

SOUTHSUDAN

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC ETHIOPIA

KENYA

SOMALIA

ALGERIA

KURDISTAN

10 Release January / February 2016

FLIGHT OF FAITH

Persecution trends 2016

IRAN: Christians who have suffered persecution in Iran have sought refuge in neighbouring Turkey, where they receive support from Release partners.

INDIA: some Christians remain displaced following violence in Odisha in 2008.

NORTH KOREA: Defectors travel through China along the so-called ‘underground railroad’, helped by Release partners.

PAKISTAN

SRI LANKA

INDIA

ODISHA

THAILAND

CHINA

NORTH KOREA

SOUTH KOREA

MALAYSIA

January / February 2016 Release 11

FLIGHT OF FAITH

Around the world persecution and war have forced hundreds of thousands of Christians to flee for their lives. Many have been displaced inside their homelands, or now live as refugees in nearby countries. Release partners are providing help in many of these situations.

People movements in-country and to other countries

Release partner has provided help

Map shows selected movements of Christians displaced by war and persecution.

12 Release January / February 2016

In 2015 we witnessed the continuing persecution of Christians in countries such as

Syria, Iraq, Iran, Nigeria, North Korea and many others (see pages 4-7).

In 2016 we expect that active Christians will continue to be detained and imprisoned by many different repressive regimes.

In China, for example, the ongoing campaign to demolish church

buildings and to remove their crosses was the catalyst for peaceful protest from many Chinese believers. This resulted in the arrest, detention and imprisonment of a number of Christians including Huang Yizi and Beijing lawyer Zhang Kai (see box right).

Many repressive governments try to silence those who speak out, and often it is Christians who are jailed

Christians who stand up for religious and human rights – and to share the gospel with others – continue to risk detention and imprisonment around the world, writes Release’s Prisoners of Faith Manager.

JAILEDFOR SPEAKING OUT

HELPING CHRISTIANS IMPRISONED FOR THE FAITHPRISONERS

for standing up for their belief in fundamental human and religious freedoms.

If Christians continue to speak out against injustice and to share their faith boldly despite the risks, then we are likely to see further arrests and imprisonment not just in China but also in Central Asia and the Middle East.

Sharing Christ among Muslims is seen as a heinous crime in many Islamic nations, and could result in long-term imprisonment. Iran is a case in point. Because house churches have continued to grow, there has been a significant crackdown by the authorities.

Persecution trends 2016

January / February 2016 Release 13

Chinese Christian lawyer Zhang Kai was detained by the Chinese Government in August 2015. He had been defending churches in the courts against the continuing campaign to demolish their buildings and tear down crosses. It is believed that Zhang Kai is being held in a so-called ‘black jail’

(unregistered jail) at a secret location. In 2015 the Chinese authorities detained more than 200 human rights lawyers.

Writing on Weibo, China’s social media site, two weeks before his detention, Zhang said: ‘I have thought it through: at worst they can put me in jail. But if I keep silent, I will regret it for the rest of my life.’

Zhang had earlier posted an essay online denouncing the Communist Party’s treatment of churchgoers:

‘I believe it is God’s calling and a compelling and historic mission for today’s Christian lawyers to seek justice and promote reconciliation and the rule of law,’ he wrote.

‘People always ask me, what is the political environment going to be like this year? Will there be more oppression against churches? I want to answer with words from the Bible: “Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope (Romans 5:3-4).” We should thank God for having been born in China in this era.’

• Watch a 4-minute video interview with Zhang at releaseinternational.org/zhang.

Courageous lawyer Zhang Kai

Find out how you can pray and take action for Zhang by downloading our free profile from releaseinternational.org/prisoners. If you don’t receive it already, why not sign up for our free monthly Prisoners of Faith email alert at releaseinternational.org/signup? This is

an ideal way for you to encourage prayer and action in your church for Christian prisoners.

Prisoner Name: Zhang KaiLocation: ChinaArrested: August 2015Sentence: Six months

Arrest and background

Zhang Kai, a Beijing-based Christian lawyer with the Xinqiao Law Firm in Beijing, was seized by security officials on August 25 in Wenzhou, a city in the eastern province of Zhejiang. Zhang had been in Wenzhou offering legal support to churches battling a controversial Communist Party demolition initiative that has targeted Christian places of worship since late 2013. Zhang is passionate in his defence of those who are being treated unjustly by the Chinese authorities. He courageously defended Pastor Huang Yizi when he was charged in connection with his opposition to the removal of church crosses. In July 2015 Zhang announced the formation of a group of some 30 lawyers who would defend churches under attack in Zhejiang. He called the group ‘Lawyers for the protection of the cross.’

Writing on Weibo, China’s social media site, two weeks before his detention, Zhang said: ‘I have thought it through: at worst they can put me in jail. But if I keep silent, I will regret it for the rest of my life.’

Many Christians believe the removal of more than 1,200 crosses, and the complete demolition of some churches in Zhejiang, is a deliberate attempt by the authorities to intimidate local Christians, restrict church growth and discourage local believers from meeting together.

Zhang had been an outspoken critic of the cross removals. In March he posted an online essay denouncing the Communist Party’s treatment of Chinese churchgoers. ‘I believe it is God’s calling and a compelling and historic mission for today’s Christian lawyers to seek justice and promote reconciliation and the rule of law,’ he wrote.

‘People always ask me, what is the political environment going to be like this year? Will there be more oppression against churches? I want to answer with words from the Bible. ‘‘Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.’’ We should thank God for having been born in China in this era.’

A notice from Wenzhou public security officials that was published on social media said Zhang, whose whereabouts are not known, was being held on suspicion of two crimes.

The first is ‘gathering and disturbing social order’, while the second, and potentially more serious, charge is ‘stealing, spying, buying and illegally providing state secrets and intelligence to entities outside of China’.

Christians in Iran are regularly imprisoned on false political charges relating to their Christian faith. Usually they are convicted of ‘undermining national security’ through attending or organising house church meetings, or sharing their faith. Again this trend is set to continue across many parts of the Muslim world.

In some countries governments have introduced laws intended to intimidate local Christians, restrict

North Korea remains the most repressive nation in the world. church growth and discourage local believers from meeting together. These countries include: Laos, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Indonesia.

Anti-conversion legislation in countries such as India and the notorious blasphemy laws in Pakistan will also contribute to the growing number of Christians imprisoned for their faith.

In North Korea the Government of the unpredictable Kim Jung Un has arrested and imprisoned Christian workers based in China who took aid into North Korea. The arrest and interrogation of South Korean missionary Kim Jung-Wook led to dozens of people being rounded up, tortured, imprisoned – and even put to death. In 2016 there are likely to be further arrests and more Christians imprisoned in North Korea, which remains the most repressive nation in the world. •

BE THE CHANGE

‘Ihad the choice either to go to university or take a year out and allow God to use me in ways I

could never imagine. It was terrifying at first, as I had no idea what my year out would look like, but I had the opportunity to join Release Potential’s Change Makers programme. I wanted to be part of something bigger than my normal life.

I want to be a person to change the game, to be a voice for the voiceless and to support others.

Be the change Are you aged between 17-24? Do you want to stand up for persecuted Christians and speak out for justice and peace? Do you want to be equipped to share your faith at home and around the world? Then become a Change Maker!

Check out releasepotential.org/change-makers and apply now!

UNFORGETTABLE!LAST YEAR OUR CHANGE MAKER MOLLY HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF TAKING PART IN A SPECIAL CAMP FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIAN FAMILIES IN SRI LANKA.

‘ I’ve never experienced such a big welcome, with people cheering and clapping: it was a truly

unforgettable moment seeing the children’s faces light up. We spoke about Jesus being the light of the world and that because of Jesus we can be a light to those in darkness too. ’

FOLLOW US

GRAPHIC ELEMENTSThe main graphical device is the red thorn, taken from the Release International logo. This can be used across all applications, even using it as a page border (rotating it to either top corner, but never across the lower edge).

The sketches form a major part of the brand too. These can be used to illustrate and accompany appropriate content.

There is no limit to the amount of these illustrations however new icons must abide by the strict style defined here.

Twitter

GRAPHIC ELEMENTSThe main graphical device is the red thorn, taken from the Release International logo. This can be used across all applications, even using it as a page border (rotating it to either top corner, but never across the lower edge).

The sketches form a major part of the brand too. These can be used to illustrate and accompany appropriate content.

There is no limit to the amount of these illustrations however new icons must abide by the strict style defined here.

Facebook

GRAPHIC ELEMENTSThe main graphical device is the red thorn, taken from the Release International logo. This can be used across all applications, even using it as a page border (rotating it to either top corner, but never across the lower edge).

The sketches form a major part of the brand too. These can be used to illustrate and accompany appropriate content.

There is no limit to the amount of these illustrations however new icons must abide by the strict style defined here.

You tube Releasepotential.org

14 Release January / February 2016 TEENS AND TWENTIESRELEASE POTENTIAL

RACHEL EXPLAINS WHY SHE’S BECOME OUR LATEST CHANGE MAKER

JOIN SOMETHING BIGGER!

We are one family, bigger than blood, and as a family we should look after and take care of our own. Jesus said: ‘As I have loved you… love one another’ (John 13:34). When we support and love one another, we share in the love of Jesus Himself. ’

FREE SESSION GUIDE FOR YOUR YOUTH GROUP

Our latest free resource aimed at young people and students aged 15 and over is here: the Persecution

Uncovered Session guide.

These six creative sessions will help Christian youth groups to engage with our persecuted family in many different and exciting ways. Each 60-minute session explores a different aspect through engaging, fun and challenging activities.

Don’t miss out: ask your youth leader to get a copy via releasepotential.org or by calling

01689 823491.

January / February 2016 Release 15TEENS AND TWENTIES

SUPPORTER VIEW

‘L ast September I had the opportunity to go to Cairo in Egypt with Release. This was

a great opportunity for me to see how funding from Release is being used.

At first we spent a day with some of the facilitators from the Self Help Groups that are being supported by Release. These groups aim to encourage and empower needy Christian women so they can make a real difference in their communities.

The women were so inspiring – I found it beneficial just to listen to

them and hear about what they are doing.

What a unique opportunity it was to see how the money given by supporters is making such a big difference in another part of our world. We heard examples of where the women were facing challenges: but with their love and faith in God they were able to start to overcome them.

Once, when we were sitting in a circle, one chair had been left empty. One of the women said to me: ‘This chair is for Jesus, though He is not

Ruth, a supporter from the UK, recently visited Egypt as part of a Release Women ministry team. She was encouraged to discover how your support of Self Help Groups is helping to transform communities for the better.

UK supporter Ruth was inspired by her recent visit to Egypt.

‘Such a big difference’sitting in the chair but is inside us.’ Release’s partner Dr Elizabeth inspired me, guiding and supporting the facilitators and translating for us.

The facilitators were discussing some of the social, spiritual and emotional aspects of the SHGs. They identified domestic violence, lack of literacy and relationships between churches and the SHGs as being key issues.

It is very easy for us here in the UK and Ireland to take for granted the freedom we have to practise our faith – in Cairo I saw the significant challenges Christians are facing.

At the prayer conference we attended I was able to hear what some of these challenges are: Muslims ridiculing Christians, being spat on while walking down the street, not being able to be open about their faith. In the 2011 revolution 83 churches were burnt down, and a number of Christians were killed.

This visit really did show me how our support through Release can make such a big difference.

Please keep praying for Christians in Egypt, and for the growing network of Self Help Groups. One facilitator asked us to pray that Egyptian believers will understand that they have been given ‘the full armour of God’ to enable them to ‘stand against the devil’s schemes’ (Ephesians 6:11). ’

JOIN OUR TEAMof church representatives, and help present the needs of persecuted Christians in your church. Please callGene on 01689 823491 to find out more.

16 Release January / February 2016

PERSECUTION WATCH

EGYPT

Egypt petition of 24,000 names presented in LondonA big thank you to everyone who supported our #everyright campaign last year to help protect in practice the constitutional rights of Christians in Egypt.

Your efforts in collecting signatures meant that we were able to present a petition of 24,000 names to the Egyptian ambassador in London in November, expressing widespread concern at the way Christians are mistreated in Egypt.

This led to a significant discussion in which we were able to raise specific areas of concern. We were warmly received by embassy staff and delighted that we were able to discuss the problems facing our brothers and sisters in Egypt today, particularly the area of constitutional rights and how these are interpreted through the judicial system.

Please pray for wisdom for the Egyptian Government and that the country’s society and official structures such as the judicial system will respond positively to moves towards true religious freedom as outlined in the constitution of 2014. It

Release CEO Paul Robinson presents a copy of the petition to 10, Downing Street.

is vital that Egyptian society as a whole adopts this tolerant approach and that rights approved in the constitution are protected in practice for all citizens.

We really appreciated all the positive comments from people who signed the #everyright petition online. They showed a great love for Egypt among Christians in the UK and Ireland.

• Please pray that religious freedom for Christians in Egypt will continue to strengthen.

PAKISTAN

Police downplay fire at Christian TV station Police have downplayed several signs allegedly pointing to an arson attack on the office of a Christian cable TV station in Karachi in November.

Sarfraz William, the Director of Gawahi Television, said the fire at the popular Christian channel’s office in Akhtar Colony was an act of sabotage.

He said he suspected arson because computers and other instruments were damaged, perhaps as a result of some chemical being thrown on them, while wooden materials in the office remained unscathed. Computer hard disks were also stolen, and locks had been damaged.

Station personnel had received threats from suspected Islamic militants who warned the station to stop preaching Christianity, William said. Residents of the building complex saw masked men fleeing the site at the time of the fire.

Gawahi TV was established in 2013 as a joint venture of different churches to ‘spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to people of all religions who live in Pakistan.’

• Pray for protection for all staff, and that the station is able to continue its Christian broadcasts.

KENYA

Christian on run from relatives Please pray for a brother in Christ in Kenya who has had to leave his family and flee his home for fear of being killed.

Hassan Ali says his in-laws were among a group of men armed with knives who came to his door in Witu, Lamu County, in November, demanding to see him. He escaped through a window when he heard the visitors questioning his wife about her faith.

His wife and their children, aged seven and four, have been taken back to live with her relatives. Her parents are reportedly insisting the children attend a madrassa (Islamic school).

Hassan was raised as a Muslim but became a Christian about a year ago. He believes that Muslims may have noted his lack of attendance at the local mosque.

Meanwhile, Islamist extremists set fire to two church buildings in Tiribe near Mombasa on October 30.

Pastor Mutuku of Faith Victory Church says his congregation now meet in a tent. Pastor Nyawa of Holistic Church says most of his members have left the church: the remainder were forced to meet outside, under police protection, where they have had to cope with heavy rains and flooding.

• Pray that Hassan can be reunited with his family and that they will be able to live out their Christian faith in freedom.

January / February 2016 Release 17

Each year we are delighted that so many of you organise local fundraising events for Release which raise anything from a few pounds to £1,000 or more to help persecuted Christians.

If you have not already done so, you might be surprised at how much you can raise and how fulfilling it is to do something like this.

Supporters have taken part in local walks, fun runs, bike rides, marathons, triathlons and even the occasional bungee jump. You could also consider running a coffee morning, a cake or plant sale, quiz night or auction.

Some supporters have asked their friends to celebrate their birthdays, anniversaries or even their wedding by sending gifts to Release.

Call us on 01689 823491 and we’ll send you sponsorship forms and other materials to help you arrange your event.

IN BRIEF

INDIA: Several Christians were injured and others forced to reconvert to Hinduism after a village church in India’s central Chhattisgarh state was attacked by Hindu hardliners. The Independent Pentecostal Church in Kohkameta was attacked during a Sunday morning service in October. Christians were dragged from the church and beaten with sticks.

PAKISTAN: Christian Saddique Azam, a headteacher in Punjab, was badly injured during an assault by work colleagues. Teachers at Pernawa Government High School in Kasur district allegedly resented Saddique’s promotion over them. They tried to force him to resign, but Saddique refused to be intimidated.

SUDAN: Suspected Islamists set fire to the Lutheran Church of Sudan in the eastern city of Al Qadarif in October, apparently in response to an outreach by local Christians. The attack followed a prayer meeting which was part of a week-long evangelism campaign. The church and a guest house attached to it were gutted by the fire.

UGANDA: Mother-of-eight Mamwikomba Mwanika was killed after being dragged from her home in Kalampete, Kibuku district, in October. Her attackers had reportedly demanded to see her husband George who they said had ignored their warnings that he should return to Islam. Her husband’s brother Samson was killed for the same reason in September.

UZBEKISTAN: Police in Tashkent raided a Protestant worship meeting in November and detained and abused members of the group, including nursing children. Christian literature was confiscated, as well as computers and other electronic devices. The believers were convicted of violating religious laws and fined.Sources: China Aid, Forum 18 News, Morning Star News, Release International.

Pray for Chinese blogger Zan AizongIn November the Chinese National Security Bureau raided the home of Christian writer Zan Aizong, who had been blogging on violations of religious freedom and the destruction of crosses on church buildings in Zhejiang Province. He was accused of inciting subversion and threatened before being released.

Zan was prohibited from speaking or posting online, and his computer and cell phone were confiscated. ‘I would like to thank Jesus Christ for His grace and help,’ he said.

HAVE FUN, AND RAISE FUNDS

Supporter Sam Gordon has completed several triathlons to raise funds for Release.

18 Release January / February 2016

The mass exodus of Christian communities from parts of the Middle East has been a major, on-going story

over the past few years (see page 4).

Both Christian and secular media have charted the seemingly rapid decline of a Christian presence in countries such as Syria and Iraq – as Islamist extremists pursue their violent agenda to create a Muslim caliphate. The statistics make for grim reading.

How do we react to all of this? With anger? Fear? A sense of apocalyptic foreboding?

Such reactions are perfectly understandable, and it should certainly concern us when a Christian witness is diminished in a particular place or country. It should drive us to our knees in prayer.

But, at the same time, it also challenges us to affirm our faith in a God who is, and remains, sovereign – over all things.

In Acts 8 we read, following the martyrdom of Stephen: ‘And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria...’ (Acts 8:1; ESV). Three verses later Luke tells us: ‘Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word’ (v4). Isn’t that amazing?

The persecution was painful, and unwelcome – as it always is. The scattering would have seemed like a severe setback – as it does today. Yet we see in the verses that follow that our sovereign God is able to use such trials to have His Word broadcast in new places.

What’s more, Acts 8:1 also tells us that the Apostles remained in Jerusalem. By the time we get to chapter 15 there is still a church in Jerusalem! Despite what the world may throw at His Church, God is still in control and is still working out His purposes! •

Scattering the faith?

RELEASE SPEAKERSWhy not invite one of Release’s team of development managers to speak in your church or small group?

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‘By joining hands with the underground church, Christianity in the free world will gain an influx of truth, love, and heroism.’Pastor Richard Wurmbrand was imprisoned for 14 years in communist Romania in the 1950s and 1960s. He inspired the founding of Release International in 1968 to serve persecuted Christians and to make the church in the West aware of their suffering.

The Word on persecution

For reflection• Have you experienced personal

setbacks that God has used for the gospel? Praise Him for His sovereign goodness.

• Read Psalm 96. How might you use this psalm in praying for those places where Christians are fleeing in the face of violent persecution?

F O U N D AT I O N S

JARS OF CLAYLearn more about what the Bible says about persecution in our inspiring book Jars of

Clay (£8 including p&p). Call 01689 823491 or visit releaseinternational.org/estore.

• Give using the attached response card• Call 01689 823491 to give over the phone• Give at releaseinternational.org/donate

1 Because the Bible encourages us to see Jesus in the faces of those who are persecuted, those who are hungry or in prison. It commands us to reach out and help them in practical ways (Matthew 25:31-46).

2 Because often persecuted Christians have lost everything. Their homes and churches might have been destroyed, their possessions confiscated or their right to work denied. Your generous gift can help them to rebuild their lives.

3 Because without our support many persecuted Christians and their families will continue to suffer. Your gift can help cover the legal costs of a prisoner of faith, provide medicine, food, shelter and create employment for those who seek to follow Jesus amidst adversity.

TO MAKE A GENEROUS GIFT TO RELEASE INTERNATIONAL TODAY

FIVEREASONS

Islamist militants continue to attack Christian churches.

4 Because through your generosity you are encouraging God’s people. Your gift can do much more than meeting the physical needs of our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ. It can give them hope and opportunities to continue to be beacons of God’s love in their communities.

5 Because Release promises to use your gift effectively to change the lives of those who need help the most. We work with trusted Christian partners in more than 30 countries around the world, ensuring that your generosity is touching lives every day.

Library photo

R89

Today the Christian community in central and northern Nigeria continues to be under violent attack.

The murderous campaigns of Boko Haram terrorists and other Islamist militants have claimed over 14,000 lives since 2013, leading to the forced displacement of thousands of families.

Esta, whose husband was killed by Boko Haram, had to move five times with her children before she

HELP BRING HOPE

www.releaseinternational.orgRelease International, PO Box 54, Orpington BR5 4RT Tel: 01689 823491 Email: info@releaseinternational.orgRegistered Charity 280577

found safety in a camp run by Release partners (see page 8).

‘I feel grateful to God that I am at least alive, knowing that so many have been burned to death, macheted or shot,’ she told us.

Your gift can provide safe shelter, food, toiletries and medicines for many more families like Esta’s who urgently need your help.

• Use the attached response card• Call 01689 823491 to give over the phone• Give online at: releaseinternational.org/donate

All personal data/sensitive personal data herein are processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Further details are available from Release International.

Please make a gift today, and help provide hope instead of despair.

prayer shieldreleaseinternational.org

Many Syrian refugees, including ‘Raman’ and his family, have drawn closer to Christ through their ordeal.

Dear Lord,

Thank you that you never change. You are my rock and my salvation. Father, I pray that my brothers and sisters worldwide who are being persecuted for your name’s sake will know that you are faithful. May they have a fresh revelation today of how loving, how constant and how powerful you are. In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

January 2016 SyriaFriday 1: On New Year’s Day, let’s commit ourselves to praying with fresh passion and commitment for our brothers and sisters worldwide, including in Syria, who are persecuted in Christ’s name.

Saturday 2: Millions of Syrians have fled their homeland and sought refuge abroad. Ask God to provide for and protect those who have been persecuted for their faith.

Sunday 3: Pray that many more Syrian Christians who have fled their homeland will come to know Christ in a deeper way –

as ‘Raman’, ‘Simta’ and their girls (pictured) have done.

Monday 4: Some churches in Lebanon have more than doubled in number as Syrians have joined them. Pray that the church in the Middle East will grow, even amid persecution and the mass exodus of believers.

Tuesday 5: Continue to pray for Christians who have remained in Syria despite the conflict. Extremists threaten or kill Christians if they refuse to convert or pay an Islamic tax (jizya).

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

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Wednesday 6: Islamic State (IS) militants have been targeting Christian towns in Syria, including Sadad whose residents still speak Aramaic. Pray that Syria’s long Christian heritage will be preserved, despite the exodus of believers.

Thursday 7: IS militants have taken many hostages, including hundreds of Christians. Pray that they will be reunited with their families.

Friday 8: Thank God for Abdelmassih Enwiya, a Christian recently killed by IS. Friends described him as ‘a great man of God who took a risk by staying in his village [in Hassaka] to take care of his people and to encourage them in the Lord’.

Saturday 9: Thank God that IS militants recently released 37 elderly Assyrian Christians whom they had kidnapped in February in Hassaka province.

Pakistan Sunday 10: Christians in Pakistan continue to be treated as second-class citizens. Rights campaigners have decried the recent acquittal of two Muslim men tried for the rape of teenage sisters in Jaranwala.

Monday 11: Pray that the Government will heed a recent petition to the Supreme Court for an end to discrimination in the education system. Christians say many textbooks feed prejudice against them.

Tuesday 12: Asia Bibi, a farm labourer from Punjab, remains on death row for ‘blasphemy’, pending a final appeal to the Supreme Court. At last report, her lawyer said she is safe and in good health.

Wednesday 13: Pray for protection for Christian headteacher Saddique Azam in Punjab. He was assaulted by Muslim colleagues – after refusing a teacher’s request to write a falsified leave of absence.

Sudan Thursday 14: Pray that the light of God’s love will be radiant through His people in Sudan, even as persecution intensifies.

Friday 15: Pray that President Omar al-Bashir and his Government will come to respect Christians as responsible citizens and will uphold religious rights for all.

Saturday 16: Sudanese military continue their aerial bombardment of civilian targets in the southern province of South Kordofan. Local Christians believe the Government is trying to rid the area of non-Arabs and Christianity.

Sunday 17: Officials demolished two church buildings in the same area of Omdurman in just over a week in October. They claimed one church was on government land, a claim church leaders strongly deny.

Monday 18: Pray for new premises for congregations made homeless by recent church demolitions. The Government announced in 2013 that no new building permits would be granted for churches.

Tuesday 19: Suspected Islamist extremists set fire to a Lutheran Church of Sudan building in Al Qadarif, east Sudan, in October, during the church’s annual outreach campaign.

Children in South Kordofan hide in a foxhole when government planes bomb their village.

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Iran Wednesday 20: Pray for the immediate release of Christians imprisoned for their faith in Iran. Pray that God’s peace and joy will strengthen them.

Thursday 21: At least 14 Christians were arrested in Varamin, south-east of Tehran, in November. Another Christian linked with them was arrested in Tehran the next day.

Friday 22: Pastor Saeed Abedini, imprisoned for his faith in Rajai Shahr Prison near Karaj, has reportedly been tortured recently. Other inmates have also abused him.

Saturday 23: Pray that all Christians who are imprisoned for their faith in Iran will be a powerful witness to God’s grace and love to their fellow inmates.

India Sunday 24: Thank God for the overcoming faith of Pastor ‘Suta’ (pictured): he now leads a church in the same village where Hindu extremists beat him mercilessly. Many of his attackers are now in his congregation.

Monday 25: ‘Raji’ was part of the extremist mob who beat Pastor Suta (above). God touched Raji’s heart so that he later rescued Suta and tended his wounds. Raji is now a strong Christian.

Tuesday 26: BJP, the party of the national government, suffered a heavy defeat in Bihar’s elections in November – widely interpreted as a protest against what Christian leaders have

called ‘growing intolerance’ in India. Pray that this will start a popular movement affirming religious freedom and tolerance.

Wednesday 27: Several Christians from a Pentecostal church in Kohkameta, Chhattisgarh, were hospitalised and others forced to reconvert to Hinduism when hardliners attacked them in October.

Thursday 28: Pray that India’s Government will respond to claims that religious intolerance has increased since it came to power and will act to reverse this trend.

‘Whatever may happen, I have to go and share the Gospel message.’ Pastor ‘Suta’, India

Friday 29: Bills proposing a national ban on conversions from Hinduism could soon be brought before both houses of India’s parliament. Pray that these Bills will not pass into law.

Saturday 30: About 20 Hindu extremists in Fattiguda, Madhya Pradesh, brutally beat Pastor Ajmer Singh Damor of Shalom Church, after storming a prayer meeting at a private house in September.

Sunday 31: A recent religious census in India revealed that the proportion of Hindus in India has now dropped to below 80 per cent. Pray that Indians as a nation will learn to be proud of their diversity.

Many of those who now worship with Pastor ‘Suta’ in India once opposed him.

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February 2016

China Monday 1: Shouwang Church, Beijing, continues to meet in the open air because it has been barred from its premises since 2011 (pictured). Church members are still regularly detained for ‘disturbing public order’.

Tuesday 2: Pray for the release of Beijing Christian lawyer Zhang Kai who was detained by the Chinese Government in August, after defending in court churches targeted for demolition or cross removal.

Wednesday 3: Police detained three members of Daguan House Church in Guizhou in October. The church has been raided twice recently and several other members detained.

Thursday 4: Pray for justice for a government-sanctioned church in Anhui province: officials replaced the church’s original building that they demolished with a building half its size.

Friday 5: Officials raided Jinshuixia Church in Wuhan, Hubei, twice last year, pressuring members to join a government-sanctioned church. Pray for wisdom for Pastor Li Yongguang.

Saturday 6: Lu Jiangyang, pastor of Quiotou House Church in Anhui, was detained for

15 days in October for being ‘involved in a cult’. He was also detained in July for holding a church summer camp.

IndonesiaSunday 7: Pray for Christians in Aceh Singkil regency in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province, which is under Sharia (Islamic law). Religious tensions flared in October after hardline Muslim leaders called for church closures.

Monday 8: In October, a 700-strong mob, angered by officials’ slow response to calls for church closures, attacked churches and Christians in Aceh Singkil. In at least one attack, police reportedly looked on and did not intervene.

Tuesday 9: The same mob (above) attacked about 38 Christians in Bulu Semu village in Aceh Singkil. One, a truck

driver, was beaten into a coma: pray for his full recovery.

Wednesday 10: Some 8,000 Christians in Aceh Singkil fled their homes in October. While some have since returned home, many women and children are too afraid to return.

Thursday 11: In response to hardliners’ calls, local government officials in Aceh Singkil destroyed nine house churches in five days in October.

Friday 12: Indonesia Christian Huria Church in Suka Makmur village now meets in a tent beside the scorched remains of its building, destroyed by arson in October. Thank God for their overcoming faith.

Saturday 13: In Bandung, West Java, Immanuel Indonesia Christ Love Church was forcibly closed by Islamic hardliners. Praise God that some Muslim neighbours have called for it to be reopened.

Shouwang Church in Beijing has been forced to worship outdoors for years.

Sunday 14: The GKI Yasmin Church in Bogor city, Java, held its 100th open air service in September. It has been meeting outdoors and in members’ homes since officials closed its building in 2008.

Nigeria Monday 15: Islamists killed Micah Magaji’s wife and attacked him with a machete, leaving him with serious wounds. They also stole his phone: Micah (pictured)

called them on it to say he forgave them.

Tuesday 16: Pray for healing and peace for all those living in a displacement camp in Jos, Plateau State, set up and run by Release partners. Many have fled Islamist extremists Boko Haram.

Wednesday 17: Esta’s husband was tortured and killed by Boko Haram (see Release, page 12). Extremist violence forced her to move on many times, from Borno to Adamawa and then into Plateau state. Pray she will be reunited with her children.

Thursday 18: Pray for an end to the terrorist threat in Nigeria. Pray for fresh political resolve and initiatives to defeat Boko Haram and its associates.

Uganda Friday 19: Pray for Christians in eastern areas of Uganda which have large Muslim populations. They are coming under increasing pressure, despite the fact this is a mainly Christian nation.

Saturday 20: Namusisi, 21, from east Uganda was badly beaten by her father after she became a Christian. She narrowly escaped with her life after community leaders intervened. Her father has now disowned her.

Sunday 21: Pray for five other people, from non-Muslim families, who also put their faith in Christ at the same outreach event that Namusisi (above) attended. One is reported to be a Muslim leader.

Monday 22: Christian mother-of-eight Mamwikomba Mwanika from Kalampete, Kibuku District, was murdered in October by Muslims angered by her husband’s conversion from Islam. They had killed his brother for the same reason.

Tuesday 23: In August, a Muslim in Nsinze, Namutumba District, brutally attacked his wife and 18-year-old son after learning they had converted to Christianity. Thank God both survived.

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‘I don’t keep records of wrongs,’ Micah told those who killed his wife and attacked him in Nigeria.

EgyptWednesday 24: Pray that the Egyptian Government will respond positively to Release’s #everyright campaign petition, handed to the Egyptian Embassy in November. Pray that religious rights enshrined in Egypt’s constitution will be upheld in practice.

Thursday 25: Bishoy Boulos, a convert to Christianity, remains in prison due to longstanding blasphemy charges relating to his attempt to change the religious status on his ID card.

Friday 26: Pray for believers in the Minya area of Upper Egypt, scene of intense persecution against Christians in 2013: they continue to suffer attacks and discrimination.

Saturday 27: Ask God to protect Christians in Egypt from extremist attacks. In November, gunmen reportedly opened fire on an evangelical church near the Giza pyramids.

Sunday 28: Satellite TV broadcaster SAT-7, a Release partner, has been under investigation by Egyptian officials. Cameras and other

equipment were confiscated in a raid in October. Pray that no charges will be brought.

‘The time I spent in prison made me draw closer to God.’ Bishoy Garas, detained for ‘blasphemy’ for three years in Egypt

Monday 29: Thank God for the recent release of Bishoy Garas, detained for more than three years for ‘offending Islam’ in a fake Facebook page opened in his name. Pray he will now be formally acquitted – and compensated.

Lord Jesus,

I thank you that you laid down your life for us: you are no stranger to suffering. I pray today for all those who are in chains for you, all those who are suffering pain, loss or fear – because they are being persecuted for their faith. Help them to walk in your victory, Lord. Fill them with your peace and let your light and your love radiate through them.

Amen.

© Release International 2016

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Sources: China Aid; Gatestone Institute; Human Rights Watch; Middle East Concern; Morning Star News; Release partners; Reuters; VOM USA; World Watch Monitor.

releaseinternational.orgRelease International, PO Box 54, Orpington BR5 4RTTel: 01689 823491 Email: info@releaseinternational.org Registered Charity 280577

For more information on the countries where Release works, go to the ‘Country profiles’ page at releaseinternational.org

Release CEO Paul Robinson hands in a copy of our #everyright petition at 10 Downing Street. The petition was presented to the Egyptian Embassy on the same day.

All personal data/sensitive personal data herein are processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Further details are available from Release International.