HELPING THE FAMILIES OF CHRISTIAN MARTYRS - JUL-SEPT 2022 - Release ...
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JUL-SEPT 2022
of Persecuted Christians
HELPING
THE FAMILIES
OF CHRISTIAN
MARTYRS
News, stories and prayer requests
from persecuted Christians around the world
Welcome Be inspired by
their example
by Paul Robinson, CEO
Even in the context of the horror of killing of Christian martyrs such as in Nigeria
that has been going on in northern Nigeria as well as prisoners of faith. In China, the
for a number of years, the death of Christian church is refusing to bow to the demands
student Deborah Yakubu stands out. Her of an authoritarian state, and suffering the
murder shocked many people around the consequences. But it keeps going. With its
world. And not surprisingly. Apparently all pastor in prison and members under 24-hour
she did was refuse to go on a date and would surveillance you would think the Early Rain
not retract a social media statement thanking congregation would have given up. Nothing
Jesus for her exam results. For that she was of the sort. As Titus Wu says on page 18, the
brutally slain while, we understand, police church is seeing tremendous growth in China in
officers stood by and watched. the face of increasing oppression. That’s because
Hers is not the only upsetting story to come out the church at large refuses to roll over. As our
of Nigeria recently. As you can read in our feature partner Pavel says in our Ukraine feature on
on page 6 the presence of Christians in the region page 10: ‘The time of crisis is the time of the
is becoming an existential matter. greatest opportunities’. That’s what the church
in Nigeria and the church in China and in other
Given all this and the seeming unending violence places where it is persecuted has come to
meted out to Christians by terrorists and heavily understand.
armed militants over the years it would be easy
• I’m delighted to say that one of our
to despair.
Nigeria partners, Dr Ben Kwashi, the
However, that is not the end of the story. With Archbishop of Jos, will be speaking via
amazing bravery and disregard for their own Zoom at the Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast
safety Christian evangelists are taking the gospel on July 5 as well as at the Bangor convention
into the very remote blood-stained lands of in August (see page 20), updating us all on
northern Nigeria. Rather than be deterred by the the situation in Nigeria.
evil in their country, they are facing it head-on.
(Find out more on page 6.) THANK YOU
Finally a huge thank you to Rev Robert de
Praise God for raising up those willing to pay Berry and his team for the amazing cycle ride
the ultimate sacrifice for the faith. We thank God undertaken in May and June to raise funds for
for them; we pray for them and we support our persecuted Christians; and to all those churches
partners as they equip these brave ministers of that took part in our All Out for God event in
the gospel. May and those commemorating the Day of the
In this edition of Voice, we focus on the families Christian Martyr on June 29.
Cover photo: stock image
CONTENTS
4
FAITH UNDER FIRE
News for your prayers
12
HELPING SOMALI
CHRISTIANS FIND A HOME
The partners who step in when
6 the local church fails to act
EXISTENTIAL THREAT
Paying the ultimate price
20
ALL FOR JESUS
Course answers the tough
16 questions
INSIDE STORY
Chinese prisoners and families
10 targeted by the state
NO DESPAIR
A message of hope from
Ukraine 19
BACK TO THE FUTURE 21
New Korean Bible translation SPECIAL ONLINE EVENT
Put your questions to Archbishop
Ben Kwashi
Release helps Christians in the UK and Ireland to actively engage with their persecuted brothers
R119
and sisters around the world: praying with them, standing with them, helping them, and learning
lessons of true Christian discipleship with them.
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releaseinternational.org releaseinternational @ReleaseInt releaseinternational releaseinternational
Chinese authorities extend
religious clampdown
At the beginning of June new measures came into effect that place church
finances into the hands of the authorities. Decisions on the use of registered
church finances and buildings will no longer be able to be made by the
churches themselves.
This latest clampdown follows a ban on using the word ‘Christ’ on the
internet which came into force in the spring.
Faith
The authorities picked up on the use of the word Christ in a WeChat post
published by the Early Rain Covenant Church – a regular target for the
Chinese authorities.
under The church’s WeChat account ran a book review group where members
recommended book titles and voted on their favourites.
fire
But WeChat’s censorship team, prompted by new government regulations,
fired back the following:
‘The word “Christ” you are trying to publish violates regulations on Internet
Information Services, including, but not limited to the following categories:
pornography, gambling, drug abuse, incitement.’
The only way the church administrator could get away with using the word
Christ online was to substitute part of the word.
A partner of Release International warns: ‘The Chinese government has
dramatically tightened its control on religion.’
The ban prevents any organisation or individual from posting religious
information on the Internet without first obtaining the permission of their
provincial government. It bans religious groups, schools and organisations
without valid permits from conducting online sermons.
Newfound freedom Anyone performing online religious activities without a licence ‘shall be
for Kyrgyz Christian listed as untrustworthy individuals or organisations’.
Thank God that a Christian from
Kyrgyzstan, who was imprisoned
by the Chinese Communist Party
Persecuted church
(CCP) and tortured in a Xinjiang couple marry
concentration camp, has found Despite several attempts by the
freedom in the US. Chinese authorities to sabotage
With his wife and 11-year-old son their attempts to get married,
beside him, Ovalbek Turdakun Early Rain Covenant Church
(pictured) praised God for his members Zhang Qiang and Xiao
family’s newfound freedom as they Yue were finally able to wed.
stepped foot in their new homeland. The couple had to pick another
An ethnic Kyrgyz, Ovalbek was venue for their wedding after who was supposed to officiate at
detained in 2018 by CCP officials Chengdu Municipal police canceled the wedding, could not make it
who claimed he stayed too long their wedding twice. They moved because he was being watched by
in neighbouring Kyrgyzstan. He their wedding to the evening national security officers. Elder Li
endured numerous interrogations. of May 24 but the owner of the Yingqiang could not attend for the
Ovalbek was released later in wedding venue had to cancel their same reason, so he and Dai joined
2018 and went with his family to reservation because of pressure online. Dai officiated, and Li opened
Kyrgyzstan in 2019 where they were from the police. the ceremony with prayer.
kept safe until they could travel to Few members of the church could
Christians at the church, which has
the US. attend the wedding in person
been relentlessly persecuted by
the authorities, helped the couple due to police obstruction, but our
find a wedding venue in Wenjiang, partner, ChinaAid, reports that the
Sign
Sign up
up to
to so they tentatively rescheduled
their wedding to the afternoon
entire wedding was ‘filled with
God’s presence and grace’.
Release
Release of May 24. Minister Dai Zhichao, (Source: ChinaAid)
4
Listen to our Children killed in Nigeria church attack
latest podcasts The killing of Christians in Nigeria is continuing at an alarming rate. At the
time of writing at least 50 people were reported to have died and more than 70
injured in a terrorist attack on a church in Ondo State in southern Nigeria.
It is understood that a large number of children were among those who lost
their lives in the attack on St Francis Church in Owo in June.
Gunmen, said to be of Fulani origin, reportedly threw explosives into the
building before opening fire just as the Pentecost service was finishing.
Although it is understood that the attack lasted 20 minutes and could be heard
from another nearby church, police officers stationed close to the area failed to
respond.
Ukraine, Russia and Central Asia The Christian Association of Nigeria described the violence as ‘raw persecution’
Release International partner and called on the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, to find a lasting
Pavel from Ukraine talks about solution to ‘the unending killings in the country’.
the current situation in Ukraine Separately six Christians were reported to have been murdered in the first
and how the war has prompted terrorist attack of its kind in Nigeria’s eastern Taraba state.
churches to pray and serve with
After an explosion killed the six believers and wounded more than a dozen
a new urgency. Pavel shares his
others at a Christian-owned market on April 19, Islamic State West Africa
story of growing up in the Soviet
Province released a statement admitting that it had detonated the explosive at
Union where being arrested ‘a gathering of infidel Christians’, according to local reports.
and imprisoned was a common
occupational hazard for Christian A week later militant Fulani herdsmen were among those who attacked four
villages in the northern Kaduna state, killing 18 Christians and burning down
pastors. And we talk about Pavel’s
92 houses, it was reported. Kaduna has witnessed horrific violence against
ongoing work today supporting
Christians in recent weeks.
persecuted Christians in Central
Asia who are determined to reach • Please pray for the church in Nigeria following these latest attacks.
out in a hostile context.
A captive story While travelling
to a conference in October 2020, Boost for Egyptian More arrests
Nigerian pastor Rev Polycarp believers in Eritrea
Zongo was kidnapped by the
Around 240 churches and places of A total of 17 Christians were arrested
terrorist group Islamic State
worship in Egypt have been granted in the Eritrean capital of Asmara at the
West Africa Province. He was
legal status. end of May. The group of 11 women and
held for 7 months before he was
eventually released. Listen in as The decision by the government six men, who were at a prayer meeting,
Rev Polycarp bravely recounts his committee that oversees the were taken to Mai Serwa prison. It is
ordeal and tells how God has used legalisation of churches brings to understood that an informant in one of
the experience to build his faith. 2,401 the number that have been the nearby houses had contacted the
granted legal status since the authorities.
Making room for the gospel committee began its mandate in 2017.
Release International CEO Paul Since around the end of last year about
In Egypt, churches must apply for
Robinson, who recently visited 70 to 80 Christians have been arrested
legal status for their buildings, which
one of our ministry partners including church leaders; 15 were
in the past had to be approved by the
in East Africa, outlines the rearrested. There are now about 250
security agencies.
challenges that believers from a believers in prison.
Muslim background face in that A few days after the committee’s
decision, nine Coptic Christians were Our partner said: ‘The government does
part of the world, and about the
creative provisions our partners released from prison. The group were not appear to have changed its policy.
have put in place to support them. provisionally arrested in January after Fear is their main tool. Even those they
You’ll hear about an iman who taking part in protests demanding release they don’t want them to feel free.’
came to faith; about a woman who permission to rebuild a church
• In the last edition of Voice, we
in Minya, which was destroyed in
learned about love; and about asked you to pray that aid would get
suspicious circumstances in 2016.
how all of this can encourage you through to those in need in the Tigray
in your own faith. Our partner in Egypt said: ‘Things are
region of northern Ethiopia and that
certainly much better now than they
Our topical Voice podcasts were, and the President’s release of the there would be an end to the conflict.
are available from nine detained Christians is definitely Our partner recently reported that a
releaseinternational.org/podcast a positive step that we pray is a sign temporary truce had been declared
or via your favourite podcast app. of even further progress in the near and the Ethiopian Government was
future.’ allowing food aid to get through.
5
HELPING THE
FAMILIES OF
CHRISTIAN
Existential
MARTYRS
threat to
Nigeria’s
vulnerable
Christians
Fearless believers in Nigeria are paying the said I should come immediately. I said,
“But I just spoke to him a moment ago.”
ultimate price for sharing the gospel of Jesus He repeated that I should just come
Christ, reports Kenneth Harrod right away.’ On the way, and fearing
the worst, she called a friend who
R
everend Ibrahim Isa has won ‘I called him at about 6.30 am and confirmed that her husband had been
many people for Christ – and asked if he was okay and he said he killed.
was determined to continue had slept well. I asked him about the ‘It seems that while I was speaking to
preaching despite threats to his life. village and he said all was fine. He my husband on the phone the killers
Now he has paid the ultimate price said he was going out that morning to
for his Lord. plant some wheat on the farm. He said ‘He had been warned
Ibrahim and his wife Laraba, along
a friend had called him and they were several times that he
going to the farm to do some planting.
with their five children, lived in a
I said, “okay”, and prayed that God was possibly going to
village not far from Jos, in Nigeria’s
Plateau State. Laraba and the children
would protect him,’ said Laraba. be a target.’
had been staying in Jos on the About a quarter of an hour later she were already there waiting for him.
morning her husband was killed by received a phone call from a church When I got there what I saw was that
Fulani militants. member, calling her to the village. ‘He it seemed they had attacked him in the
6
an evangelist in the Kpachudu Your support has
community near Jos, working among
CEASELESS
helped refugees in this
Fulani Muslim groups and seeing camp in Kurdistan.
ATTACKS
many come to faith in Christ. A
community leader told a Release
International partner, ‘He had been
As we spoke to our partner
warned several times that he was
about Ibrahim and Laraba’s
possibly going to be a target for
killing by the Fulani Islamist militias story he informed us of another
ravaging the villages in Miango. targeted attack by Fulani
militants in May in which six
‘But Ibrahim said that he had a duty people were murdered. It was
to preach and bring the gospel to his
the second time that their
people.’
village, Gora Gan, had been
When asked how she can be prayed attacked. Many locals had fled
for, Laraba said, ‘As long as you are the area and were taking refuge
a Christian, you know that someday in neighbouring communities.
we will leave this world. I know my
husband is at rest with the Lord. I ‘The attacks and killings are
know also the Lord will be with me ceaseless now. In April this
and provide what I need for these year, Boko Haram executed 20
children’s needs. Christians in an online video,
‘But my biggest challenge now is where posted on a website, to send a
to stay. Because the house where my message and avenge the killing
husband was killed was our of one of its leaders in the
Middle East.
‘Ibrahim said that he ‘As a Release International
had a duty to preach partner I would say that the
and bring the gospel situation Christians find
to his people.’ themselves in in Nigeria today is
dire. It is fast becoming more of
home. We bought it and built it. It was
an existential matter for many
a place where my husband built his
Christian communities in central
ministry and where we held meetings
with missionaries.’ Nigeria. It is apparent, much
more now, with government
Two years ago we reported a similar complacency, manipulation
Laraba: ‘I know my husband targeted killing. Matthew Tagwi had
is at rest with the Lord’ of electioneering processes
been serving as a pastor near Miango
and rising terrorism by ISWAP
for just three months when Fulani
(Islamic State West Africa
militants attacked his village. They
room; he had tried to escape through Province) and Islamist Fulani
went to his house, called him out by
the window – and as he fled they shot cattle herdsmen militia that
name and shot him. At the time his
him dead. I saw his body lying where Christians are likely to face
pregnant wife, Rose, was in another
he was shot,’ Laraba explained. town for an antenatal check-up. persecution for a long time to
Like many Nigerian Christians in come.’
After the incident Rose – already a
rural areas, Ibrahim was in the habit mother of two young daughters – He added: ‘We ask for prayers
of sleeping outside at night, as this is spoke powerfully of her prayer that for God to raise men and women
often considered safer than sleeping her husband’s killers would come who will continue to stand for
in homes which may be targets for to know Jesus Christ as Lord and the Church and be voices for the
attack. Saviour. vulnerable. We ask for prayers
‘They specifically came for him,’ Laraba Rose subsequently gave birth to for God to raise men and women
continued. ‘He came [to their home] in another daughter, who she named who will fight for justice for the
the morning to get ready to go to the Patience. However, our partner told victims of this religious carnage
farm and it seems they followed him us recently that sadly the child later and slow the genocide unfolding
and killed him.’ died. in northern Nigeria.’
Ibrahim was a pastor from a ‘The trauma and challenges facing
Fulani background. He served as Rose in a village which is constantly
7
Our partner has been offering Rose
pastoral counsel and support
under threat and where people are However, that has not deterred bring hope, to bring the love of Christ,
always running to the bushes at night Christians from continuing to share and to continue to stand with their
or sleeping in another relatively safer the gospel in the most dangerous of congregations and communities.’
village then walking back to their circumstances. One of the projects • Please pray for Laraba, for Rose
houses the next morning often takes its Release International supports in and for other Christian widows,
toll,’ he said. Nigeria actually involves strategic whose faithful husbands have been
Rose told him: ‘It has been hard to live training to equip church leaders and targeted and killed because of their
as a single mother with two children evangelists to take the message of gospel ministry. Pray that the Lord
and to have to go to farm and then Christ into areas most ravaged in will sustain them and provide for
recent years by Islamist violence. them.
‘I am so excited about
Our partner told us: ‘The pastors • Also pray for the strategic
the enthusiasm of the training is going very, very well. I am training of pastors by our partner
pastors... to bring the so excited about the enthusiasm of and for effective gospel outreach in
love of Christ.’ the pastors, and their commitment to central and northern Nigeria.
take the children to school. If Matthew
were still alive it would not have been
so hard.’ Population: 219 million
NIGER
Our partner has been offering Rose Capital: Abuja
pastoral counsel and support. CHAD
Government: Federal presidential
In the past year, he noted, there have NIGERIA republic
been a number of church leaders Religion: Muslim 53.5%, Christian
and pastors specifically targeted by Abuja
C.A.R. 45.9% (to 51.3%), Other 0.6%
Islamist groups in central Nigeria.
Some have been killed while others CAMEROON
Sources: World Factbook, Operation World.
have been kidnapped for ransom
payment.
88
‘POLICE STOOD BY AS STUDENT SLAIN’ WARGRNIAPNGHI:CCODENTTAAIILNS
On May 12, Christian college student Deborah and the Nigerian President
Emmanuel Yakubu (pictured, Facebook) was beaten Buhari simply pointing
and stoned to death. Her killing in the northern Sokoto out that “Muslims demand
state shocked many Christians in Nigeria, including our respect for Islam”.
partners, and around the world.
‘The disdain for
Following the arrest of two suspects for her murder in Christians in Nigeria
Sokoto, the state capital, rioters started bonfires and by fundamentalists
damaged churches including an Evangelical Church and radical Muslims
Winning All (ECWA) building in Sokoto and looted and continues to grow as
damaged Christian-owned shops, area residents said. the violence increases.
The interesting
Deborah was beaten and then stoned to death after
development from the
being falsely accused of blaspheming Islam’s prophet
killing of Deborah is the support for the murder by many
Mohammed because she had refused to date a Muslim,
prominent politicians, Islamic scholars
according to sources. Her body was then set on fire.
and imams.’
Local media reported that Deborah had said in a class
He added: ‘There have been killings of Christians in the
WhatsApp chat group that she had passed exams
past on the simple accusation of blasphemy by young
thanks to Christ, and when she was pressured to
Muslim boys who, we are very sure, do not even read or
retract the statement and apologise, she declined.
understand the Koran. It has happened in Gombe, Zaria,
Our partners were ‘shocked but not surprised’ at Kano and Zamfara states at one time or the other.’
Deborah’s murder.
He said that another girl who had made an angry
‘What was most curious in the killing of Deborah was response to the killing of Deborah was now ‘being
that more than a dozen policemen watched as she was sought to be killed by angry youths in Maiduguri [in the
battered to death but did nothing to stop the murder, northern Borno state]’.
Please help
families of
martyrs around
the world
These precious believers need your prayers
and gifts to survive – and rebuild their lives.
Your gift could:
• Support trauma-healing workshops
• Provide food and other essentials for
survivors of attacks
• Provide direct support to widows
and orphans
To make a gift please use the enclosed
form, call 01689 823491 or give online at
releaseinternational.org
9
NO DESPAIR!
Ukrainian Christians’
message of hope
Four months on from the Russian invasion meeting in homes. Positively,
however, the upheaval of the war has
we caught up with our partner Pavel*, who made it possible for some Christians
is based in Ukraine, to find out how believers in newly occupied areas of the
country to reconnect in fellowship
are responding to the war with Christians in the separatist
areas.
Q : In our last magazine we
highlighted the restrictions on
churches in areas under Russian
Around 90 per cent of the Christians
in Mariupol were able to escape. In
other cities such as Kyiv some more
What is the message coming out of
the church in Ukraine?
separatist control. Since the war have remained, and churches have The Ukrainian people have a strong
began has the situation deteriorated been gathering for daily prayer. belief and hope for the future of their
further? country. Many Ukrainian men who
In the areas under Russian separatist
A : Like the rest of the population, control the situation is the same as were working outside the country
many evangelicals have left before. Many evangelicals had already have returned to fight. People who
Ukraine because of the war, and they have left because of the war are
been forced out and some who left the
are dispersed across neighbouring expecting to come back.
regions were not allowed to return.
countries. It is a miracle of the Lord Church buildings were confiscated, Ukrainian Christians have a strong
that Western borders have been and evangelical Christians are not faith. They are praying to God every
opened so freely and Ukrainians have officially permitted to gather, although day and they expect that their
experienced such generous hospitality. some have been able to continue prayers will be answered. Although
10despair. Christians are a special sort be a changed country. Those who
of people who always have a hope. return will bring new ideas and
new expectations. They will want
Are Christians concerned about what
to improve living standards and
will happen if Russia takes control
introduce new technologies.
over parts of Ukraine?
Christians can also bring back new
I do not believe this will happen but
ideas. I am praying that the church
if it does it will only be for a short
will benefit from new ideas about
time. I believe that occupied areas
mission and outreach.
will be given back. The invasion is
Putin’s vision but too many Russians What does the future hold for
have too much invested in the West believers in Russia?
and the sanctions are hurting them.
I believe they will experience
And of course, there is God. Ukrainian
increasing oppression. But this is not
Christians are expecting that God
necessarily a bad thing. Unfortunately,
will do something in answer to our
some Russian Christians have been
prayers.
manipulated by Putin’s propaganda,
Were Ukrainians fearful of a Russian even some evangelicals. They have
invasion even before 2014? been tempted by a comfortable
lifestyle and they need to ask
Yes, we always expected something
themselves where their true loyalty
like this would happen. We knew that
lies. Too many are currently neutral
the partitioning of eastern regions
and not bold enough to speak up
eight years ago was only the start of
against the regime. However, for a
Putin’s plans. Even when the Soviet
Christian, there comes a time when
Union collapsed more than 30 years
you have to stand up, when saying
ago and we experienced real freedom,
nothing is no longer an option.
some Christians left Ukraine because
they anticipated it would only be How can we pray for Christians in
a short window of freedom. Some Ukraine and Central Asia?
evangelicals including my own father
Please pray for peace, but not at
always believed that Russia would
any price. People need to know that
return and attempt to re-establish
freedom does not come automatically,
Stock photo
an empire.
it can be costly. Up until this point
What impact has the war had on Ukrainians may not have appreciated
believers Release International their freedom enough.
supports in Central Asia?
Please pray for the church, especially
We are still able to support them, in terms of outreach and evangelism.
many Christians have fled the country but there are more challenges. It is Local churches have to understand
those who remain have taken the no longer possible for them to travel that the time of crisis is the time of
opportunity to serve practically in to Ukraine for meetings, training the greatest opportunities. Christians
their towns and cities. One church in and fellowship, and it is much more need wisdom to know how to use the
Mariupol was providing food, water difficult for us to travel to Central time wisely. Today the most important
and accommodation for local people. Asia. We are still able to communicate thing is to show compassion and help
But the people also wanted spiritual daily, but they are more isolated than people with their practical needs
help, and some became Christians as before. – this is the most understandable
a result. sermon. This will impact communities
What impact will this war have on
and prepare the ground for
One pastor told me that since the the church in Ukraine and the wider
evangelism.
war started the church has had more region?
opportunities to share the gospel with *Not his real name
More than five million people have
their neighbours than they ever did left Ukraine but, when the war ends, I
before. suspect that not everyone will return.
I visited a church in the western part But this gives an opportunity to LATEST PODCAST
of Ukraine where more Christians existing Ukrainian diaspora churches Hear Pavel talk more about
have stayed. Every night it was full of across Europe. They will become Ukraine and Central Asia in our
people praying. Ukrainian Christians more active, especially in reaching out June Voice podcast (see page 5
to their own dispersed people.
are praying for security for today for more details).
and revival for the future. There is no After the war is over Ukraine will
11SOMALIA
‘We have left but
we haven’t arrived’
Despite forsaking everything to follow Christ know Jesus. Her father publicly said,
‘I’m not afraid of going to jail; if you
many Somali believers find the church in their see her, kill her.’ She fled to another
new homelands unwelcoming and distrustful. country, but her brothers followed
her there.
However, thanks to your support, our partners Forced to hide in a house for months
are able to provide them with vital practical and on end, she lived with the realisation
spiritual care, writes Release International’s that she could be found at any
moment. However, while praying one
Ben Gardner day, she felt the Lord ask her how long
she would hide from human beings.
I
f you mention the word ‘safari’ (or walk of faith with Jesus. They all use Suitably convicted, she left the house
‘safar’ as it is known in Somalia) a similar expression: ‘We have left but and went to the market where she
it no doubt conjures up images of we haven’t arrived.’ met her brother. As expected he
Land Rovers rolling across the African threatened her, but she told him that
plains with excited tourists taking Despite committing their lives to
she would scream if he tried anything.
photographs of the native wildlife. Christ, and fleeing their Muslim
As a result she was able to walk
families, they are not yet welcomed
However, the Swahili word ‘safari’ away unharmed; but more than
by fellow believers and in fact many that, she was able to testify that God
more accurately means ‘journey’,
are distrusted. delivered her from fear of human
which turns out to be how our
brothers and sisters who have Recently we met ‘Lula’, who had beings that day.
escaped Somalia often refer to their to leave her family after coming to However, Lula’s family continued to
12Your support has
helped refugees in this
camp in Kurdistan.
apostle Paul and how distrustful Terrorist group al-Shabaab have targeted
the early believers were of his Somalis who turn to Christ
conversion. Meeting our partner
‘Abdul’ changed all that for Lula, just until a group of believers were able
as meeting Ananias led to Paul’s to free him. He fled the country and
acceptance in Acts chapter 9. over time began a new life, marrying,
With the support of Abdul and his having children and serving his local
team Lula now has a job providing
‘Somalia used to be a
‘Andrea’ milk for local schools. The team also
helped to rebuild her house and bring closed door, but... now
her into a community of like-minded there is space for them
believers. They meet regularly, and
pursue her, and one day she returned
she is now taking a leadership role
to hear the gospel.’
home to find her house had been
demolished, with all her belongings herself. church as a pastor and evangelist. As
taken. a result of his teaching ministry many
In fact Lula is even helping to
Muslims in his new homeland came to
In spite of all the hostility from her translate the Bible into her mother
know the Lord.
family, she told us of her great love for tongue so that her countrymen might
them, and a passion to see them come be able to read it. However, the work But his story did not end there.
to know Jesus. She has continued she is doing is raising her profile
A Somali group tracked him down,
to reach out to them and, when her again. ’I know what this is going to
and offered his wife thousands of
father died, she found a way to go to cost me, but He has been with me
through all my journey and in my pounds to take his children away from
the funeral, despite the risk to her him. She agreed and left Samuel,
own life. bad times.’
moving back to Somalia. He told us:
‘It was only after then that things
Lula shared the impact of meeting
our partners. Until that point,
‘God used al-Shabaab’ really started!’ Following an open-air
she had been struggling to make a Another Somali who has been helped religious debate he was beaten and
by our partners is Pastor ‘Samuel’, left for dead and, after the terrorist
living, as well as to become part of a
who as an imam came to know Jesus
community. As a Muslim-background group al-Shabaab discovered his
through the work of a missionary
believer (MBB) as well as coming whereabouts, a fatwa was declared
doctor in 1987.
from a different country, she told us against him. Sadly even his church
the local churches distrusted her, After telling his father that he had began to abandon him out of fear, but,
believing she was either a spy or come to faith in Jesus, he was tied up with obvious gratitude he declared:
a terrorist. It reminded us of the and then held in an underground cell ‘The Lord helped me.’
Continued overleaf...
13Release International team members pray with Somali Christians many of whom have been rejected by their families and communities
In an effort to seize Samuel, al- believers (MBBs). He was acutely hand moving in the midst of it.’
Shabaab began to publish his story aware of MBBs who had ‘left but not
Please pray for Samuel’s safety and
on billboards and even showed a arrived’, and he strongly felt that
protection and for his efforts to
YouTube video of him in various discipleship of these new believers
disciple MBBs.
marketplaces. ‘The most wonderful was essential to ensure they were not
thing was that God was using that to lost through loneliness and isolation.
preach the gospel; they were preaching He actually had a young believer ‘Evil’ religion
the gospel to those I could never living with him when we visited, a The journey of faith began for
reach!’ man whose conversion had led to his ‘Amanda’ when she heard of Muslim
wife and children leaving him. women in her community who had
For Samuel it was a challenging time,
converted to Christianity. She had
living alone and in hiding, unable ‘I will share my house and my food always been taught that Christianity
even to attend church. with our brothers who come to me; we was an evil religion, and that
‘Every time I am want a safe place where our brothers Christians were mean. As a result
can feel loved, and know that they she was passionate to ‘win them
persecuted, I see the have a family and a community,’ back’.
Lord’s hand moving Samuel said.
However, when she met these
in the midst of it.’ ‘Somalia used to be a closed door, but women, and a foreign doctor who
However, Abdul and his team were now it is much more open. People are spoke her native language, she
able to help, befriending him and hungry. They are tired of war. They was confused. These people were
offering support, protection and have been shaken, and now there is generous and kind.
friendship. space for them to hear the gospel.
She was also amazed that she did
When the immediate risk to his life ‘When I see my community suffering, not need to learn a new language to
had passed, Samuel began to rebuild I must help them. Furthermore, every find out about their God – ‘In Islam,
the community of Muslim-background time I am persecuted, I see the Lord’s Allah only speaks Arabic. Here is a
14God who is willing to speak to me in
my mother tongue.’
Eventually, Amanda built up the
courage to tell her husband that she
had been meeting with Christians.
She asked him if he would like to go
along to meet them but he forced her
into the shower and told her to wash.
A personal safari
‘You’ve been to a dirty place,’ he said
angrily.
Despite her husband’s reaction, she
decided to meet the Christians again; Like most Christians in the UK I have never really experienced
it was then that she gave her life to persecution for being a Christian – perhaps a bit of teasing or a raised
Christ. When she returned home, eyebrow but no hostility on the scale that believers in other countries go
her husband was waiting for her. through. In fact, until recently, I had not particularly suffered at all.
He beat her and locked her in a room. However, following a recent acute loss, which was unexpected and severe,
He even stopped her from seeing I learnt a very important lesson: pain and suffering hurt but they cannot
her son. destroy us – we survive.
After a year of being mistreated, he Before I went through my recent suffering, I, like ‘Lula’, ‘hid’ in my church,
finally left her; she was alone, grateful in my house, in my job, but since then, I have found it easier to tell others
that the abuse had stopped but now about my faith.
without a job or a home. Spending time with believers in East Africa reinforced that lesson. I
Despite this, she said, she came to met Christians who had suffered but as a result wanted to do more for
know that God loved her, and that the gospel, in spite of the risks. In fact one man, knowing full well the
implications, wanted us to use his real name in the magazine. ‘I want my
He cared for her: ‘In Islam, even our
story to be heard!’ he declared. He is in exile, and he longs to return to his
husbands never tell us they love us,
country, to tell his people the gospel, but the church needs him where he
but here is God telling me that He
is for the moment.
loves me!’
Or ‘Andrea’ (main picture p12), a Somali woman who after mocking
Our partners have helped her to Christians came to faith herself in her homeland. ‘As children we would
set up a shop so she can make a pick up stones and throw them at Christians. We would push them over or
living. And, despite great risk, she make them wear veils,’ she said.
reaches out to women in the Muslim
community in the hope that she can Sadly the pastor who cared for her in the underground church and
helped her and other believers to escape Somalia, was recently martyred.
lead some to Christ.
However, unfazed by his death and instead of hiding away out of fear for
Because the local churches are afraid her own safety, she is now doing more than ever to spread the gospel in
of MBBs and tend to shun them, while the community where she has found herself. ‘I call my work the seed of
their families either want to harm hope. I believe the Lord is planting seeds in people’s hearts.’
them or have nothing to do with We in the UK may not have to risk death threats, imprisonment and
them, the support and community our beatings like many of our brothers and sisters, but will we use our
partners offer these ‘underground’ freedom to hide or to be as bold as our suffering brothers and sisters?
believers are crucial. Through your
Ben Gardner
prayers and financial support, they
are helping them to ‘safari njema’ or
‘journey well’.
• Abdul and his team, in addition Population: 12.1 to 16.3 million (est)
to supporting believers on the
Capital: Mogadishu
ground, also have many projects
for reaching out into Somalia, ETHIOPIA Government: Federal Parliamentary
including radio and social media. Republic
Please pray for the growth of this SOMALIA Religion: Sunni Muslim (99.7%);
ministry and its impact. Christian (0.3%)
Mogadishu
*Names in inverted commas have been changed KENYA
to protect identities
Sources: World Factbook, Operation World.
15PRISONERS
A prayer meeting in Hong Kong to support Pastor Wang Yi
Knowing God
business operations’. His ‘subversion’
was leading an unauthorised church;
his illegal business: producing
inside and out
Christian books.
On Boxing Day the following year,
they convicted, fined and sentenced
Pastor Wang to nine years in prison.
There are now too many prisoners of faith in China It was the longest sentence handed
to be able to keep count, according to Release out to a house church pastor in more
International partners. But it is not just those behind than a decade, according to Release
International’s partner, ChinaAid.
bars who are paying a price for the gospel, reports
Andrew Boyd as he follows the plight of one jailed The reason? ‘Because they proclaimed
the full gospel of Jesus Christ and the
pastor and his family ultimate authority of the Bible, and
E
arly Rain Covenant Church in On December 2, 2018, the authorities honoured Christ as the only head of
Chengdu, Sichuan province, ran the Church,’ said ChinaAid president
seized its influential leader, Pastor
a Bible college and a primary Bob Fu.
Wang Yi, his wife Jiang Rong, and
school; it reached out to down- around 100 church members.
and-outs and its weekly meetings Heart of the issue
attracted upwards of 800 people. It They closed the church, accusing And for many Christians in China,
was becoming simply too large to Pastor Wang of ‘inciting subversion this is the heart of the issue: that
ignore. of state power’ and running ‘illegal an atheist state is demanding total
16control over the church. It has
driven many Christians to worship
in unregistered or underground
churches.
Yet even the state’s Three-Self
Patriotic church is not immune
from persecution. Church buildings
have been demolished and their
crosses torn down. Congregations
are monitored using face-recognition
cameras, pastors are state-appointed
and preaching regulated.
Pastor Wang Yi, a former legal
scholar, had been outspoken in
calling for religious freedom. He
held annual prayer meetings to mark
the massacre of pro-democracy
campaigners in Tiananmen Square.
And in one sermon, he called on
China’s President Xi Jinping, to repent
of his sins.
In a public declaration, Pastor Wang Wang Yi and Jiang Rong before the pastor’s imprisonment
recognised the authority of the
The authorities have forbidden Mrs world’, and even took their two pet
Chinese government, but said when
Jiang from contacting other church dogs.
human laws contradict the laws of
members. They have pulled Joshua, They accused Shu of running a
God, Christians must follow God.
her son, from his Christian school private school and held her for almost
That declaration was signed by 439 and escort him every day to a school 24 hours. And for good measure
Chinese pastors, who joined him in chosen by the state. According to someone slashed the tyres of her car.
affirming their Christian faith and ChinaAid the teenager has become
calling for an end to persecution. withdrawn and uncommunicative.
‘Terrifying’
Pastor Wang had now become a Pastor Wang’s parents, who are in Another church member, 25-year-old
victim of that persecution. And those their 80s, have had their home raided, Ren Ruiting told her story to World
left behind were forced to share in his and have been forced to stand to magazine. After Pastor Wang was
suffering in scores of petty ways. attention for extended periods. arrested Ren’s phone lit up with calls
The authorities refused to let his from other church members. Then
Other church leaders have faced
family visit him, and kept up that ban those calls stopped, as one-by-one,
similar humiliations. Dai Zhichao and
for three long years. His wife could more than 100 were detained. ‘It was
his family have been detained several
phone, but any mention of God and terrifying,’ said Ren.
times. And when they go out, they
those calls would be cut off. return to find their keyhole filled with She was ordered to stop attending
They fed Pastor Wang on mouldy rice glue, or their doorknob covered in church services, cease engaging in
that was years beyond its sell-by date. fresh paint. a cult, and sign up for government
And they blocked all news about him, ‘correction work’.
Shu Qiong was a member of a church
save some scraps and a paragraph in home group. Seven police officers When they eventually let her go,
2020, when he wrote: ‘I am mute. I broke into her house to find her more than 12 officers camped outside
don’t open my mouth.’ son and six other children studying her apartment, keeping her family
And since his conviction, his wife and together. under surveillance for more than a
fortnight and following them when
family have been subject to 24-hour During the tussle, the boy fell, cutting they went out.
surveillance. National security police his head.
have installed 360-degree cameras in After the authorities closed their
their home – even in their bathroom. And when Shu Qiong tried to protect building, the church continued to hold
her son, they broke her jaw. Then, services online, until the government
Banality of evil when her husband tried to intervene, banned all unauthorised religious
they beat him, too. content on the Internet.
SUBSCRIBE TO GET OUR
Those left behind have had to endure
what philosophers describe as ‘the They confiscated their books, seized SoLATEST VIDEOS
the church has continued to gather
banality of evil’. a plaque declaring, ‘God loves the in inconspicuous small groups in
Continued overleaf...
17no longer fears it… a church that has
died and has been resurrected.’
New leaders have stepped up. ‘Titus
WHEN THE
Wu’ (not his real name) told World CHURCH HAS
TO CHOOSE
magazine that there have been new
converts, baptisms and members. The
growth since the 2018 crackdown has
Release International works
been ‘tremendous’.
in partnership with US-based
He said the example of Pastor Wang, ChinaAid to support persecuted
who has stood firm in his faith, has Christians. Its founder, Bob Fu,
spurred them on to serve God with says: ‘Persecution has been getting
even greater fervour.
worse and worse under the Maoist-
Another church member, who was style “Cultural Revolution” of
jailed for five days for posting on President Xi Jinping.
social media, ‘God protect your
Police officers broke Shu Qiong’s jaw when she church’, led three of his cellmates to ‘The persecution and massive
tried to intervene to protect her son during a Christ – and baptised them in the sink detentions have so intensified
raid on their home
in their cell. in recent years that our annual
homes, teashops and back rooms of report has stopped estimating the
And in Hong Kong, where the Chinese
restaurants. crackdown grows ever tighter, a number of Christians who have
pastor told World magazine: ‘With been arrested or detained!’
But when the authorities find out,
they haul everyone, including the no regrets or fear, we are willing to Eighty per cent of the persecution
children, to the police station. walk alongside Pastor Wang Yi. It’s in China, he believes, is directed
dangerous to follow Jesus Christ today, towards underground or
And if the police discover meetings but still we go on.’
unauthorised house churches,
taking place in private apartments,
they put pressure on the landlords to such as Early Rain Covenant
evict the Christians from their homes. Please help prisoners of Church, made up of Christians
It sounds like a triumph of darkness faith and their families who see Christ, not the state, as
head of the Church.
over light, a victory for the banality of around the world
evil. A thriving church forced to close, The decision by Early Rain and
Your gift could provide food
its members intimidated, humiliated other congregations to stay
and toiletries for a prisoner,
and scattered. financial support for a independent from the state and
prisoner’s family or for an ex- suffer the consequences is an
But they are not fearful. And that in
itself is a sign and a wonder. prisoner struggling to support example to Christians worldwide.
themselves How would the church in the West
Regime ‘full of fear’ Please give using the enclosed
respond in similar circumstances?
As Pastor Wang wrote in his form or securely online at Would it submit to state control
declaration: ‘The Chinese communist releaseinternational.org/give and join the state-registered,
regime is full of fear – for a church that state-regulated church, or would
it choose freedom of faith – even
UK SPEAKER TOUR FOR BOB FU if it meant jail for many believers
and a loss of freedom?
We are delighted to confirm that Release International Pastor Wang and the members of
partner and ChinaAid President Bob Fu (pictured) will
Early Rain Covenant Church have
be visiting the UK in October. Bob was born and raised in
made their choice.
mainland China and today he is one of the leading voices
supporting persecuted Christians in the country. ‘Keep praying for the persecuted,’
We will be arranging a series of events across the country says Bob Fu, ‘for perseverance
as well as a central online event in which Bob will share and courage. And pray for the
about the growing restrictions in China. persecutors, that their hearts can
Events will take place between October 1 and 7. Further be changed to respect religious
information will be available nearer the time on our freedom.’
website, social media and news update emails.
18Defectors help to translate
scriptures that will be sent
into North Korea
An estimated 15,000 copies of
the Ross New Testament were
distributed throughout Korea
and northeast China by Korean
colporteurs and Bible smugglers
before foreign missionaries
became established in Korea and
Back to
decided to develop their own
Bible translation.
the future
While the official translation
committee ultimately created
their own version, respect for the
Ross translation has grown
A
new Bible translation autumn, followed by John’s gospel
specifically designed to and Acts in 2023 and a full Ross ‘Ordinary Korean people
reach ordinary Koreans Contemporary Reader’s Version deserve to hear that voice
with the gospel is being produced in 2024, will not only bless the again today, exactly as it
by Release International partners church in South Korea but more first sounded.’
with the help of North Korean crucially help to strengthen
over the years. Pastor Foley said:
defectors. North Korean believers who have
‘In 1960 when the committee was
defected and those inside the
Just as Scottish missionary working on the new translation
‘Hermit Kingdom’.
John Ross discipled Koreans of the New Testament, a liaison to
by giving them the task of Ross’s Gospel of Luke, first the committee from the British and
translating scripture into their published in 1882 and smuggled Foreign Bible Society, Richard Rutt,
native language back in the 19th into Korea from Moukden, wrote, “The best piece of [Bible]
century, so our partner, Voice ‘The Ross Bible was the translation work so far done in
of the Martyrs (VOM) Korea, is Bible of the Korean church Korean was Ross’s”, because of how
marking the 140th anniversary of during its formative easy it was for ordinary Korean
the publication of Ross’s Gospel people to understand.’
period.’
of Luke by producing an easy-to-
He added: ‘How can it be that the
understand contemporary version China (today’s Shenyang), was
the first portion of scripture only place to see a Ross Bible is
with the help of North Koreans.
ever translated into the Korean in a museum and the only people
‘Today, Korean Christians are able language. who can read it are scholars of
to read the Bible in a large number early Korean writings? The Ross
and variety of translations. Sadly, Pastor Foley said: ‘The Ross Bible Bible is how the voice of Christ first
the one Bible that is not available was the Bible of the Korean church came to ordinary Korean people.
during its formative period, and
for them to read is the Bible that Ordinary Korean people deserve to
it left a permanent imprint on the
has been called the foundation hear that voice again today, exactly
Korean church in the form of a
of the Korean Church,’ said VOM as it first sounded — or as close to
church that is Bible-centred and
Korea CEO Eric Foley. how it first sounded as possible.’
lay-driven. God used the Ross Bible
As well as helping to disciple powerfully to impart the saving The distribution of Luke’s gospel
those who translate it, it is hoped knowledge of Jesus Christ to the first is planned for both North and
that the new version of Luke this generation of Korean Christians.’ South Korea.
19RELEASE
INTERNATIONAL we ran an online (Zoom) course, which
AND YOUR was well attended by supporters from
CHURCH all corners of the UK – and even some
from overseas! Here is what some said
about the course:
Study course
‘It was great discussing with like-minded
folk from throughout the country and
answers the
beyond; it felt like we were part of the
one body!’
tough questions ‘Thank you so much for the study course
over the past five Wednesday evenings.
The response from supporters to It has been such an encouraging time,
our study course All for Jesus has
sharing views based on Bible truths and The booklets, priced at £4 for an
been so encouraging. Thank you for
meeting like-minded people. We actually individual copy, are available for groups
all your comments.
experienced “iron sharpens iron”. The at a special price of £9 for packs of ten
If your church’s small groups have course has helped me enormously to (including postage and packing).
returned to meeting in person you understand that God’s word has so much
In the booklet’s introduction Paul
might like to consider using the application to truly support and answer Robinson, Release International’s
material this autumn. difficult questions – even on persecution CEO, writes, ‘Being persecuted is not
and suffering.’ something we are ever encouraged to
All for Jesus is a five-part small-
group study course that examines ‘The passages and the questions were aspire to as disciples – as if it were some
Christian discipleship and how the really helpful in stimulating discussion kind of badge of honour. But neither is
reality of persecution speaks into that and fellowship, and we all seemed to get it an extraordinary phenomenon that
discipleship. Each study focuses on a on so well. Thank you for producing the we can, to all intents and purposes, rule
passage of scripture and includes both material.’ out of our experience of the Christian
life. The five studies in this short
introductory notes and notes for group
‘I am always looking for teaching and series enable you to reflect on genuine
leaders.
interaction that will grow my faith and discipleship and serve to remind us
Release International published the make it more real and relevant. So I was how normal persecution was for New
booklet last year. In March this year glad to come upon this study.’ Testament Christians.’
Persecution drama
at Keswick INVITE A SPEAKER
If you are going to the Keswick
Convention in the Lake District Our team of experienced
this summer, you will have a great speakers are available
opportunity to see the Artless Theatre to join your church or
Company’s powerful production,
online meeting to help
If Prison Walls Could Speak.
CYCLE OF LIFE: Retired vicar Robert you support and pray for
de Berry and fellow cyclists The Christian company will be persecuted Christians.
gather at the North Foreland performing the drama in weeks one They would love to hear
Point Lighthouse in Kent, the and three of this year’s popular Bible from you!
starting point of his amazing convention.
900-mile cycle ride to Cornwall Artless are also putting on two Ireland:
and back. Robert was due to be performances at the Emmanuel Centre Stephen on 028 9334 0014
back in Kent by June 25, having in Westminster, Central London, on July or 07933 313169
spoken at many churches along 4 and 6. London & South:
the way, raising awareness Chioma on 07861 656269
about persecuted Christians The play, which has been touring since
and encouraging prayer. If you last autumn, is based on Petr Jasek’s Midlands & North:
would like to help Robert and his account of his time in prison in Sudan, Allister on 07916 396178
team of riders meet their aim of as told in the book, Imprisoned with Scotland:
raising £250,000 in sponsorship ISIS. Jasek was arrested as a result of James on 07434 894016
you can still do so through our his ministry to persecuted Christians.
For other performance details go
Wales & West of England:
website: releaseinternational. Paul on 07861 651139
org/bikepilgrims. to: releaseinternational.org/artless-
theatre-tour
20You can also read
