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Release David DVD 13

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12 A short intro to Release A short intro to persecution THE VOICE OF THE PERSECUTED! A short challenge / encouragement from Philippians chapter 1 An encouragement to pray for our FAMILY TODAY WE WILL HEAR:

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7 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated— since you yourselves are in the body also. Hebrews 13 verse 3

Richard Wurmbrand The persecution and ministry of Pastor Richard Wurmbrand who was imprisoned for fourteen years and tortured for following Jesus in communist Romania in the 1950s and 1960s. 7

Mission To help Christians in the UK and Ireland actively engage with their persecuted brothers and sisters around the world: praying with them, standing with them, helping them, and learning lessons of true Christian discipleship with them. 6

A world in which the whole Body of Christ understands persecution and responds prayerfully, pastorally and practically every time a Christian is persecuted. 6 Vision

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What can YOU do? 3 Hebrews 13:3 > Pray! We can help you start a regular prayer group in your church and resource you with prayer alerts. > Stay informed. Sign up for our free magazine etc. > Volunteer Become a church representative or local speaker. > Become a financial donor Women’s ministry > Young people’s ministry > Visit website for more resources

Greetings from your FAMILY! > Pakistan > Nigeria > North Korea > Sri Lanka > Egypt > Sudan > Eritrea > China > Saudi Arabia > Iraq > 50+ countries around the world “…we have all been baptised into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit… If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honoured, all the parts are glad.” (1 Cor 12: 13, 26) 9

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What is Christian persecution? > A situation where Christians are repetitively, persistently and systematically inflicted with grave or serious suffering or harm and deprived of (or significantly threatened with deprival of) their basic human rights because of a difference that comes from being a Christian that the persecutor will not tolerate 3

The scale of persecution > Christians are the largest single group persecuted globally – an estimated % of all those persecuted for their religious belief 1 > Over 200 million Christians in at least 50 countries are denied fundamental human rights solely because of their faith 2 1 Suffering, Persecution and Martyrdom. Theological Reflections. Sauer and Richard Howell (editors), World Evangelical Alliance, Prayer Bulletin September 2010, [accessed 28/07/12] 4 “I believe in Jesus”

THE WAR ON CHRISTIANS ‘ The global persecution of churchgoers is the unreported catastrophe of our time’ “In effect, the world is witnessing the rise of an entire new generation of Christian martyrs. The carnage is occurring on such a vast scale that it represents not only the most dramatic Christian story of our time, but arguably the premier human rights challenge of this era as well.” 3 Oct 2013 John L. Allen Jr. 5 October 2013

CRISIS POINT DVD

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Pastor ‘Moses’ Nigeria

13 ‘Sushila’ Sri Lanka

13 ‘Stephen’ Egypt

Release International Our brothers and sisters, there alone, are waging the most courageous battle of faith, equal to the heroism, courage and dedication of the early church. Don’t abandon them, remember them. Tortured for Christ p.145 Pastor Richard Wurmbrand 7

Philippians 1:14 “And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.”

Philippians 1:21-24 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.”

Pray for those who share our FAITH but not our FREEDOM

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