Saturday 22 January 2011

Persecution and breakfast

After a week of taking in lots of information from various staff at my new workplace, I spent part of the morning lying in, finally getting to making a lazy man’s breakfast, mainly involving toast – and picked up the Open Doors magazine I was sent recently. I was quickly struck by the gap between my relaxed Saturday morning existence and the people who are living in danger and difficulty because of their faith in Christ and the political or societal situations around them, so I thought I’d share some details.

For instance, a Pakistani Christian woman is the first woman in the country to be sentenced to death for a charge of “blasphemy” – an observer says this verdict was given under pressure from a “mob outside the courtroom”. Outrageously, the woman, Asia Bibi, held in isolation since June 2009, and her family, who are in hiding, are in danger for their lives from hard-line Islamic groups, who want to take the law into their own hands.

Another article talks about some young boys in Orisso, India, who Open Doors have provided beds for at Ladruma Boys Home. Many of these abandoned children are traumatised from anti-Christian violence in the area in 2008, when the home became a target – during which time the caregivers were taken away because of the danger! So different to the UK where a lack of sufficient care for vulnerable kids will rightly cause an uproar.

What conditions to be trying to live in, to be trying to learn in or grow in or form relationships or work and earn a living. What a poor situation many fellow believers are in!


I need to grasp just how much opposition to Jesus and his people is out there in the world, and recognise that some people are paying a high price to be identified with the Lord Jesus – because they know what a privilege they have to know Him.

If you do, how do you remember to read about and pray for less fortunate people?

2 comments:

Frances said...

Hey Rich,

It's Fran from (London) Relay!

I just thought it would be good to let you know about a few things that can spur on prayer/thinking about Indian/Pakistani Christians, in relation to the thoughts you posted here.

I work for Christian Solidarity Worldwide which does lobbying, advocacy and solidarity for persecuted Christians around the world. You may want to keep your eyes peeled for the 'Being Untouchable' photographic exhibition about Indian Dalits, organised by my colleague David Griffiths, South Asia Team Leader for CSW. It'll be showing in St Paul's Cathedral soon if all goes well. That would be an amazing place to see it! http://www.csw.org.uk/beinguntouchable.htm

But also, I recommend to you CSW's weekly Relay e-newsletter (of all names!) which gives you a weekly manageable concentrated burst of up-to-date developments and advocacy info, news and prayer points. You can sign up on CSW's website www.csw.org.uk and you can also unsubscribe at any time.

Take care for now!
Look forward to reading more of your blog revelations...
Fran :)

Richard Townrow said...

How are you doing Fran - I was just checking my blog and reread your comment. I think CSW are insteresting and doing some good stuff :)