Through our international network of missions, Release International serves persecuted Christians in 30 countries around the world by supporting pastors and Christian prisoners, and their families; supplying Christian literature and Bibles; and working for justice.
Pray for China
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
RI has produced new resources to help churches organise their own special prayer meeting for the persecuted church. While ideal for use as part of IDOP, the materials can be used at any time of the year. Some of these materials can be downloaded free of charge from www.releaseinternational.org/idop and include:
Pray for China PowerPoint presentation: this attractive set of PowerPoint slides comes with a script and topical prayer points, to support Chinese Christians in prayer. The presentation can be downloaded from www.releaseinternational.org/idop, and is ideal for use as part of a church meeting or service. It is designed to be used alongside the DVD below.
Pray for China DVD (suggested donation £10)
This new DVD includes a 10-minute report by Release’s President Rob Frost, who recently visited China to meet with members of both registered and unregistered churches. While the authorities claim they uphold religious freedom for all, churches and Christian leaders say they continue to face severe restrictions, and pastors and individual Christians are still being arrested and imprisoned on spurious charges.
The DVD also includes a three-minute prayer sequence, which includes the prayer of a young Chinese Christian for her country, as well as Matt Redman’s worship song Blessed be Your Name.
Witness magazine
Find out more about the pressures facing Christians in China by downloading the web edition of Witness magazine.
Prisoners of Faith
When a Christian is imprisoned for their faith, as is increasingly common in countries such as China, North Korea, Pakistan, Vietnam and others, the whole family suffers.
Children are separated from their mother or father; wives from their husbands.
If the family breadwinner is jailed, the children and older dependents often suffer financially as the main source of family income is lost, perhaps for several years.
In the worst cases of imprisonment and torture, the family member may never be able to work fully again.
That’s why Release International’s Prisoners of Faith ministry gives practical support to both Christians imprisoned for their faith, as well as their suffering families.
RI gives practical support for prisoners and their families, pastoral care and encouragement, as well as legal advice where appropriate.
In today’s world, we can’t stop repressive regimes from unjustly imprisoning Christians. But we can ‘remember those in prison’ (Hebrews 13:3).
RI produces a free monthly Prisoners of Faith email alert to encourage prayer and action, highlighting individual Christians who have been imprisoned for their faith in Jesus Christ. Find out more at www.releaseinternational.org/prisoners.
7x7 - Praying for 7 countries for 7 years
Around the world, millions of Christians are persecuted for their faith every year. And the number is growing.
In China for example, you could be arrested and imprisoned for leading an unregistered ‘underground’ church. Or for just attending your church.
In Pakistan you could be harassed or even murdered by Islamic militants, just for being a follower of Jesus Christ.
In the repressive regime of North Korea, you could be sent to one of the notorious ‘torture’ camps where literally tens of thousands have ‘disappeared’.
That is why Release International is urgently calling on Christians to pray for these and other situations around the world. In 2002 we identified seven countries where Christians face intense persecution, and we are asking Christians to commit themselves to pray for these nations through to 2009.
We believe that in God’s hands 7x7 will make a real difference, not just for believers and churches who face daily intimidation and repression, but also for the governments and extremists who are behind the persecution in these seven nations.
Please join us and dare to believe that God can act in ways beyond our understanding or imagination. When you join 7x7 we will keep you up to date by fortnightly email with the latest news and information from the seven countries: China, Indonesia, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan and Vietnam.
Click here to join 7x7.
RELEASE INTERNATIONAL
PO Box 54, Orpington BR5 9RT UK
Tel: 01689 823491
Email: info@releaseinternational.org
www.releaseinternational.org
UK charity no. 280577