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Welcome
by Paul Robinson, CEO
Standing with
the prisoners
In 1967 Richard Wurmbrand published his
moving account of life in prison in Romania
under communism. Tortured for Christ is a
powerful, challenging and at times harrowing
read but today, more than 50 years later,
Christians are enduring the same brutalities
around the world. Perhaps little has changed
because the dedication of believers globally
to share the gospel no matter what the
consequences has not altered either.
As you can read in this special prisoner-focused
edition of Voice, our dear brothers and sisters
in places such as Eritrea, China, North Korea
and Pakistan are paying a high price for their
commitment to worshipping Christ and sharing the
good news. We can, and we must, stand with them
in prayer and, if God moves your heart, then please
also give to support our work helping them and
their families in their darkest hour. You can find out
the difference your gifts make on pages 10-11.
Like Richard’s book, our feature on prisoners can
be difficult to read: discovering that the Eritrean
authorities hold Christians in prison to break their
spirit and that when they are released sometimes
they are unable to rejoin the Christian community
is immensely saddening.
Yet at the same time I’m grateful for Mebrhit’s
story on page 7. Despite signing a form to
renounce her faith in order to secure her release,
she has been restored to God and now serves
in ministry to help others come to Christ. As
the Apostle Peter found after denying the Lord,
there is restoration for those who turn back to
Him. That can be such an encouragement to us
when we feel we’ve let God down or even, under
pressure, denied Him.
Thank God too for the words of Chinese believers
such as pastor Li Jie on page 8 who told his wife:
‘The prison is where I meet with God and experience
His Grace!’
Of course, as well as praying and giving we can
also take specific action at times to help our
persecuted family. One of those who is serving a
long prison term in North Korea is Deacon Jang.
See how you can help him on page 9.
I would also encourage you to join us for the
International Day of Prayer for the persecuted
church (IDOP) on November 5. The special online
event will include a film featuring former Eritrean
prisoner Twen Theodros (see page 21), whose
story we covered in January’s Voice magazine.
Cover photo: Nawab Bibi, wife of prisoner of faith Zafar Bhatti in Pakistan
CHRISTMAS CATALOGUE
Please use the enclosed leaflet to order your Christmas cards and
gifts and so help persecuted believers. NB: you can order these items
online, over the phone or by post but please make sure to use the
contact details as given on the leaflet.
e
Ethiopia Blend
A high-quality arabica bean coffee.
The beans were grown in Ethiopia,
where many Christians from Eritrea
live in refugee camps, having fled
persecution.
250g £7.00
Specify your preferred grind on the
order form:
26. C for cafetière 27. F for filter
Hazaq Blend
A rich coffee, whose beans have
been sourced from Indonesia,
Colombia, Vietnam and India –
all countries where Christians face
persecution.
250g £7.00
Specify your preferred grind on the
order form:
28. C for cafetière 29. F for filter
ase International www.releaseinternational.org Reg Charity No 280577 (SC040456)
Christmas 2023
www.releaseinternational.org
31. £25 Virtual Gift
£25 could be used to provide a relief pack with food,
medicines and toiletries for Christians who have been
forced to flee from their home in Nigeria, Iraq, Eritrea
and elsewhere
32. £50 Virtual Gift
uld be used to provide 20 Bibles in local languages in
ia, Lebanon, North Korea, Afghanistan and elsewhere
(in some areas the cost of Bibles may be higher)
30. £10 Virtual Gift
could be used to provide pastoral care support
ocal underground church ministry in Pakistan,
Central Asia, Egypt and elsewhere
ifts For an extra special Christmas present, select one of our virtual gifts below
and we’ll send you a gift card to give to a family member or friend.