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RELEASE INTERNATIONAL AND YOUR CHURCH
For such a time as this
lifelong friends. It made all the difference, after a really long, hard day cycling – sometimes over 50 miles. Without them we would have been totally exhausted. They prayed with us and sustained us. Thank you to so many supporters who allowed us to share with them.’
‘If it pleases the king,’ she said, ‘and if he regards me with favour and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?’
the bike pilgrims for their wonderful 900-mile cross-country ride, there is still time to do so via our website.
Laura added: ‘We were so deeply thankful to God for bringing us so many enthusiastic cyclists. We had no idea how many people would take up the challenge, but we were so grateful for every one. We also thank the brilliant drivers, who made sure that all the luggage was picked up and delivered every day. Many Release volunteers attended the church services to help with the bookstall. You were essential to the smooth running of the event too. God bless you all.’
Release International was delighted
to be part of the Robert de Berry bike pilgrimage this year, which reached its conclusion by the beach at Margate at the end of June.
Laura Hayes, Release International’s Director of UK Engagement, said: ‘It was such a joy to spend some time with our bike pilgrims. I joined the team in Truro in Cornwall and toured with them in support to St Austell, Plymouth and Exeter, meeting some of the day riders too. I want to send my deepest thanks to Robert, Paul, Karien, Roger and Simon, who all cycled the whole ride. They trained so hard and gave up their time to raise the voice of our brothers and sisters who suffer for Christ.’
She concluded: ‘Finally I would like to say a big thank you to all the church leaders who hosted us in their churches. We visited over 40 churches, and we made so many new friends at every event. Many of the church events were supported
(Esther 8: v5-7)
Paul Robinson, CEO, joined Robert and the bike pilgrims for their last event, which was held at St Philip’s Church, Palm Bay. All the riders were presented with a thank-you Bible – the recently published Voice of the Martyrs’ New Living Translation edition titled One Year Pray for the Persecuted.
Karien said: ‘The ride was an amazing experience, and the very best of it was when we met with the volunteer hosts who put us up in their homes every night. I met the most amazing Christians on the route. It was so generous of them to open up their homes and provide us with dinner and breakfast – we were complete strangers but we have made
SUNDAE SERVICE
by Release International speakers
and I particularly want to thank Paul Thomas, Colin King, Andrew Wilmshurst and Imtiaz Ashraf who delivered such wonderful Bible talks along the way. One of the talks was about Esther and how she realised, almost too late, that her first duty was to protect her faith family from persecution and intercede. We are all called, like Esther, to raise the voice
of persecuted Christians for the sake of the Kingdom. How can we bear to see the destruction of our own family in Christ?’
This fantastic volunteer-led fundraiser has now raised more than £80,000
to date and we are keeping the fund open for gifts until the first week in October. So if you would like to give to
The One Year Pray for the Persecuted Bible is available for £13 from the woocommerce-1195296-4229685.cloudwaysapps.com estore.
Amazing experience
We also want to thank the 82 day riders who joined the ride for a one-off stage.
An encounter with Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand 43 years ago left an impression on Paul and Carol Trezise (pictured) that continues today.
Christians, initially by collecting clothes which were taken to Christians in communist countries.
The Romanian pastor and his wife,
who inspired the founding of Release International, stayed at the couple’s home in Hull when they were visiting the area to speak at an event and on a local radio station.
The couple now live in South Wales and have continued to support persecuted believers by fundraising at their church. With their fellowship’s support they sell ice-cream after Sunday services in the summer months and hot drinks in the winter.
Since then Paul and Carol have prayed for and practically supported persecuted
In total the couple have raised around £2,500 while enjoying a few ice creams along the way!
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