Persecuted for His Name's
Sake
(Editorial - April 2004)
Our Afghani friends joyfully flew to their country on the 19th. God gave me two more days to encourage them to stand with faith in this time of trouble. I arrived back here to find a letter from a friend which had in it a section of one of our daily papers.
“There was an article against me quoting all previous reports that had been published in different magazines against me. It says that in spite of all these reports and articles, I am still openly preaching and it is a great insult to Islam-loving people as they can not stop me.
“This newest article strikes fear in me. It’s writer is District Coordinator of the Islami Party Pakistan. So again I need to continue my run; if I be arrested it’s clear I’ll never come out from prison. I need to run place to place. I need your encouragement, I need your love and I need your trust and prayers as I continue my run visiting baptized friends whenever I can..
“I’ve sent my loving wife and playful kids to live with her parents for their safety.”
“I trust that the God I worship is very big, almighty and powerful. In Jesus our Savior, Karl”
Before learning the truth, Karl was an active preacher. Two years ago, he learned the truth of the gospel and was baptized into the saving name of our Lord. He has continued his evangelizing work, but now with a much fuller understanding of God’s plan of salvation. In Pakistan, this would be acceptable if he confined his activities to the three million nominal Christians in the country. But our brother’s efforts have been effective in the Muslim community and this has brought on him the threat of imprisonment and death.
Other countries
Several months ago, wide publicity was given
to Iranian Christadelphians who had fled for refuge in Turkey. Through the
valiant efforts of many, and the miraculous help of our Lord, these brothers
and sisters are gradually making their way to safety. Some have reached
Canada and America while others are still in Turkey and refugee camps in
Azerbaijan.
Another brother fled religious persecution in Eritrea across the desert to Libya and now has been helped to a place of refuge in Italy.
Efforts are also ongoing with brothers and sisters facing family persecution in such places as Albania and Latvia. In some cases, visits are undertaken and in others, safe housing has been provided.
The wonder is that interest continues from these areas – the contacts are made mainly via internet preaching. When friends, relatives, and neighbors see a person willing to suffer for his/her faith, interest is aroused and the work moves forward. Thus the gospel spreads in spite of all efforts to suppress it.
Funding needed
The brotherhood has been
generous in their support of the funding needed to help in these cases,
particularly when a specific situation is given publicity. But the need
continues.
At the forefront of providing help is the Karolyn Andrews Memorial Fund. Since May, 2002, $111,228 (USD) aid has been given, all in cases of persecution for His name’s sake. The available funds have come mainly in the form of small donations from regular donors responding to an appeal made in the Spring, 2002.
With the continued and increasing demands on this fund, we make an appeal to increase the donor base.
Typically the KAMF supplies help early in situations of persecution. If the cases are long-term, the Bible missions frequently become involved and take over. But the KAMF is particularly good for quick aid in the early stages as help is given confidentially and upon the agreement of two directors.
Requests for assistance can be sent to any of the directors. UK donations can be sent to KAMF: Bro. Stephen Smith, 9 Waterworks Rd., Worcester, WR1 3EX, UK; elsewhere to: KAMF, Box 87371, Canton, Michigan, 48187, U.S.A. (checks in any currency are easily negotiated without bank charges) or to any of the directors who are: Bro. Alan Eyre, Kingston, Jamaica; Bro. Tim Galbraith, Hyderabad, India; Bro. Patrick Rodney, Cayman Islands; Bro. Stephen Smith, UK; Bro. Don & Sis. Ellen Styles, Ann Arbor, MI; Bro. Chris Tarry, the Hague, Netherlands; Bro. John Warner, San Francisco (Peninsula), CA. All addresses are in the ALS Diary.
Don and Ellen Styles, Coordinators