CHINA: Looking the tiger in the eye
Tom Hardie meets courageous Christians who have challenged the Chinese state yet known God’s amazing provision in the midst of their suffering. ‘One minute my little son was playing with a mobile phone, the next a police officer had knocked it out…
What hope for the church in Nigeria?
In a special interview, our partner Hassan John explains what the future holds for Christians in areas where killing has reached genocidal levels; how God has protected and strengthened him personally and how the prayers and gifts from Release International supporters are…
NORTH KOREA: ‘Let us worship God’
‘Let us worship God.‘ Faced with the death penalty these are the last words of Christians to their captors A group of North Koreans who met Jesus in China took the gospel message back to their homeland but according to a state…
‘We have left but we haven’t arrived’
Despite forsaking everything to follow Christ many Somali believers find the church in their new homelands unwelcoming and distrustful. However, thanks to your support, our partners are able to provide them with vital practical and spiritual care, writes Release International’s Ben Gardner…
No Despair! Ukrainian Christians’ message of hope
Four months on from the Russian invasion we caught up with our partner Pavel*, who is based in Ukraine, to find out how believers are responding to the war. Q: In our last magazine we highlighted the restrictions on churches in areas…
Existential threat to Nigeria’s vulnerable Christians
Fearless believers in Nigeria are paying the ultimate price for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, reports Kenneth Harrod Reverend Ibrahim Isa has won many people for Christ – and was determined to continue preaching despite threats to his life. Now he…
The Cost Of Conversion
Afghans take their lives in their hands when they convert to Christianity. Our partners met families who managed to escape after the Taliban takeover and others including a former imam, who survived a grenade attack after turning to Christ. They own only…
The Valley Of The Shadow
Even just an accusation of blasphemy can bring devastation to a family in Pakistan. Victims suffer in prison while their loved ones are forced into hiding. We visited two Christian women whose husbands have been jailed to find out what impact it…
Caring For Those Left With Nothing
After fleeing attacks from militants, many Christians in Nigeria continue to live in difficult conditions. But Release International partners are there to support and encourage them, as Kenneth Harrod reports. Daniel will never be able to forget the night Fulani militants attacked…
Crisis in Afghanistan
The tumultuous events of the past few months have changed the shape of Afghan society and the future of its people – possibly for decades to come. But what does it mean for the tiny underground church which was already suffering persecution?…
Standing strong in Central Asia
Despite continuing restrictions and the pressures of the Covid-19 pandemic, your gifts and prayers are helping Christians in Central Asia to remain strong in their faith, writes our partner ‘Pavel’. Throughout Central Asia there is freedom of religion – but only in…
Caring for families in Sri Lanka
Thanks to your giving, our partner NCEASL has been able to help persecuted pastors in Sri Lanka – providing an essential lifeline for them and their families during the relentless Covid-19 pandemic. ‘While I was at home last year with my wife,…
IRAQ: Running for their lives
Thanks to your support, Release partner Jamal continues to help Christian refugees living in Kurdistan, northern Iraq. Some families have even managed to return to their homes. Nahal, a Christian widow, lived with her young son in the city of Afrin, northern…
Sharing God’s love
Christian refugees from Syria living in Lebanon face both severe economic crisis – worsened by last year’s devastating port explosion – and the Covid-19 pandemic. Release partners are helping families to survive – and to find new hope and strength in Christ….
Eritrean refugees in crisis
Thousands of persecuted Christians from Eritrea –who were previously settled in refugee camps in northern Ethiopia – have been forcibly displaced by the conflict in Tigray. Your support is making a real difference. In recent weeks some 30 young girls and women…
INDIA: Hindu Extremists Attack Pastors
In India gospel ministry continues to be targeted by Hindu nationalists, with church leaders frequently being accused of breaching conversion laws, writes Release’s Kenneth Harrod. Pastor Ram Niwas (pictured) and his wife willingly accepted the invitation to attend a prayer meeting at…
INDONESIA: Christians killed by militants
Indonesian believers are concerned by a number of attacks in recent months, reports Release’s Stephen McIlroy. In November 2020, a militant group attacked half a dozen homes in Lembantongoa village in Central Sulawesi. The mob were said to have used swords and…
NIGERIA: Kidnapping on the rise
The abduction of Christians is becoming the latest potent weapon used by Islamists, says one of Release’s partners. In recent years, the death toll in Nigeria has been high, as heavily armed Islamist militants have continued their relentless assault on Christian communities….
GROWING IN FAITH
Your support is helping Somali Christians in Kenya to stand strong, despite oppression and the risk of attacks by militants. When Hawa became sick and went to hospital, little did she realise the impact this would have on her life. There she…
FALSELY ACCUSED
Christians in Pakistan continue to be the victims of the country’s notorious blasphemy laws – suffering abuse, violence and imprisonment. Christian Asif Pervaiz, a 37-year-old father of four, last year received the death sentence in Pakistan for allegedly sending ‘blasphemous’ text messages…
ESCAPE FROM NORTH KOREA
After surviving six years in a labour camp, widow Minji defected to neighbouring China – only to be detained once more. Yet it was in prison that she came to understand the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ. When North Korean authorities caught…
CHINA’S DIGITAL AUTHORITARIANISM
The Chinese authorities are using an army of cyber experts and volunteers to monitor almost all online communications – part of their strategy to restrict churches and to contain all forms of dissent, writes Development Manager James Fraser. During the past year,…
PERSECUTION TRENDS 2021
You can download a pdf of this report here. Listen to our Persecution Trends podcast here. AFRICA NIGERIA Throughout 2020, Release partners have reported on the continuing brutal attacks on Christian communities by militant Fulani herdsmen. ‘We have seen well-planned, well- orchestrated,…
STATE OF REPRESSION
Christians in China face growing, systematic persecution by the communist government, reports Development Manager James Fraser. Throughout its history the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has targeted and oppressed the Chinese church. The Cultural Revolution from 1966-76 was a particularly dark time. China…
BUILDING THE CHURCH IN CENTRAL ASIA
While governments throughout Central Asia oppress Christians systematically, Release partner ‘Pavel’ and his team of co-workers are patiently strengthening churches in eight nations. Here he describes his important mission, and asks for your continuing prayers. Currently, working with Release, we financially support…
CHINA: Pastors say ‘Thank you’
Your support has enabled leaders in China’s underground (unregistered) churches to continue their vital gospel ministries – despite the Covid-19 pandemic and increasing persecution by the Government. Release partner Bob Fu of China Aid recently told us how the Chinese Government is…
INDIA: No peace during the pandemic
Violent attacks on Christians in India have been increasing during the Covid-19 pandemic, reports Release’s Kenneth Harrod. Pastor Balwinder Bhatti had spent a joyful evening leading a prayer meeting in the house of one of his small congregations. At about 9pm he…
SRI LANKA: Bomb Victims Need Our Prayers
More than 250 people were killed and 500 injured when militants bombed churches and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka at Easter 2019. Survivors of the attacks are making steady progress, but still need our prayers, writes Release’s Linda. Like us in the…
NIGERIA: The killings continue…
Covid-19 may have stopped much of the world in its tracks, but in Nigeria’s north and central-belt areas Islamist militants continue to attack and kill Christians. Release’s Kenneth Harrod spoke to one of our partners there who helps care for survivors. Back…
EZRA – RELEASED!
Thank you for praying for Middle Eastern prisoner of faith Ezra – featured in our magazine in October 2019 – who was released from jail in April. Our partner tells his amazing story… Middle Eastern believer Ezra, a former soldier, was first…
Sharing the gospel behind bars
Waseem, a Release partner in Pakistan, describes what happened when fellow worker Pastor Akbar was recently detained for six days by police for standing up for persecuted Christians. Pastor Akbar is an evangelical pastor who has worked with me since 2004 as…
Looking to the future
Tsedal, whose name means ‘halo’, is a young widow, just 32 years old, and mother of four from Eritrea. She and her husband Ftsum married in Eritrea in 2005. As Christians, persecution came initially from her own Orthodox parents. For several years…
‘We are filled with hope and faith’
…says courageous believer Pastor Tesfahans – despite being imprisoned five times in Eritrea because of his Christian faith. Release’s Marian reports on a visit to northern Ethiopia. Early this year, in a small town in northern Ethiopia, 37 Eritrean Christians gathered for…
Imprisoned With ISIS
It was supposed to be a four-day visit to Sudan. It turned into a 445-day imprisonment, sometimes alongside hardened ISIS fighters. Release’s Jack Norman reviews Petr Jasek’s inspiring new book. How do you prepare to be imprisoned with a group of ISIS…
Indian Christians Face New Legal Challenges
Hindu extremists are increasingly using the law to attack Christian pastors, reports Release’s Kenneth Harrod. Over the past two decades a growing nationalist movement in India has been behind attacks on Christians, on pastors in particular, and on church buildings. Release staffha…
Is it OK for me to cry?
Release’s Jack Norman heard on a recent visit to Egypt how Christians continue to suffer in a culture of oppression. Life for Christians in Egypt has been marked for 2,000 years by persecution. Most recently, for example, suicide bombers attacked St Peter…
Free Raymond!
Please sign our petition calling on the Malaysian government to freePastor Raymond Koh abducted three years ago. Release is pressing Malaysia to set free a Christian pastor who was abducted in a military-style operation in February 2017– and who hasn’t been seen…
STANDING STRONG
Attacks by terrorists in north east Nigeria have forced thousands of Christians to flee for their lives. Release’s Kenneth Harrod recently spoke to some of those displaced – and saw first-hand how your support is helping believers stay strong in their faith….
CRACKDOWN IN IRAN
Increasing persecution by the Iranian authorities is forcing hundreds of believers to escape to neighbouring Turkey, reports Release’s Tom Hardie. Morteza, who came to faith in Christ in 2005, had a small but successful office equipment business in the ancient Iranian port…
IRAQI CHRISTIANS SET TO FLEE
Renewed conflict in Syria and insecurity in Iraq may force another exodus of Iraqi Christians, warns partner Jamal. By Release’s Andrew Boyd. Only around 300,000 Christians remain in Iraq from a peak of 1.8 million in the year 2000. They’ve been driven…
PERSECUTION TRENDS 2020
Key partners report on the pressures they are likely to face in 2020… AFRICA NIGERIA ‘In 2020 Christians are likely to suffer continuing attacks by Fulani herdsmen militia in the Middle Belt region and Boko Haram Islamic terrorist group attacks in the…
God is our refuge
Development Manager Imtiaz shares how persecuted Christians – and us – can find comfort in the truths of Psalm 46. Many generations of Christians have found that reading and meditating on the Psalms has helped them find peace and comfort. The Psalms…
Abducted pastor missing for two years
Please pray for pastor Raymond Koh (pictured) who was abducted in February 2017 – and has not been seen since. ‘We were due to meet with pastor Raymond in 2017 around the time he was taken,’ recalls our Development Manager for Ireland,…
Sold to Traffickers
‘Esther’ (pictured) was so desperate to escape from brutal North Korea that she agreed to be sex-trafficked into neighbouring China. Then she tricked ten of her friends into being sold to traffickers too. Yet today all these lives have been remarkably transformed…
Threatened and Beaten by Extremists
Threats of violence are forcing a growing number of Pakistani Christians to seek refuge in Thailand. Your support provides pastoral care and practical help to those who have lost everything. Ron owned and directed a successful Christian TV channel in Pakistan. Then…
Visions of Jesus
‘God is revealing himself to refugees in amazing ways,’ says Release partner in Lebanon Pastor ‘Timothy’. ‘Many hundreds say Christ is revealing himself in dreams – even on the road from Syria. One woman who was desperately escaping with her children said,…
‘I LOST A MILLION DOLLARS – BUT I GAINED JESUS CHRIST’
says Syrian refugee John, now living in Lebanon. John was a nominal Christian, a wealthy agriculturalist who lost everything in the civil war. And when IS moved in they made him pay jizya tax – a fine in gold for being a…
On The Run
The rapidly dwindling Christian population in the Middle East has prompted the Archbishop of Canterbury to warn of ‘Christian extinction’ in the birthplace of the faith. Release’s Andrew Boyd travelled to Iraq and Lebanon to meet persecuted Christians being helped by your…
PERSECUTION TRENDS 2019
According to the current report on religious restrictions around the world by the Washington-based non-partisan Pew Research Centre, ‘In 2016, Christians were harassed in 144 countries, up from 128 countries the year before.’ This includes harassment by both governments (114 countries) and…