Release to mark 40 years of supporting persecuted church

Christian human rights organisation, Release International, is celebrating 40 years of championing and supporting persecuted Christians around the globe, with presentations in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Their Voices Cry Out will take place at venues in London, Belfast and Glasgow in October and November.

Release will premier the screening of its new DVD and speakers include key partners working with the persecuted church around the world - often at risk to their own lives.

They are expected to include Tim Peters, who runs the underground railway from North Korea, smuggling out refugees from the world's most repressive nation, and Bob Fu, president of the China Aid Association.

All have taken great risks to help Christians facing severe repression in some of the most dangerous nations on earth. Different partners will be sharing their stories in each venue.

"We're delighted to be celebrating 40 years. It's great to be able to have an opportunity to remember how much God has done," says Andy Dipper, head of Release.

Release's ministry grew out of the work of Richard Wurmbrand, the Romanian pastor whose influential book Tortured for Christ is being reprinted.

Wurmbrand was imprisoned for 14 years and brutally tortured in communist cells. After his release and escape to the West, he galvanised Christians across Europe and the USA to pray for and support their persecuted brothers and sisters.

"At that time the greatest threat to Christians was communism. Today Christians also suffer under militant Islam, and even radical Buddhism and Hinduism. Right now some of the worst violence against Christians is being carried out in Orissa, India," says Mr Dipper.

Through its international network of missions Release supports Christians imprisoned for their faith and their families in 30 nations. It supports church workers, pastors and their families, and provides training, Bibles, Christian literature and broadcasts. Release is a member of the UK organisations Global Connections, the Evangelical Alliance and the Micah Network.


The presentations take place in central London on Saturday, October 25, at 7:15pm, in Belfast on Saturday November 1, at 7.15pm, and in Glasgow on Saturday November 8 at 7.15pm.

All tickets are available from tickets@releaseinternational.org or by phoning 01689 823491.