'Thank you' prayers for parliamentarians

Christians have been sending handwritten prayers to their MPs to support them during the coronavirus lockdown. 

The prayers, some of which have also been hand-drawn and painted, are being sent to the UK's 650 MPs to say thank you for their hard work during the pandemic. 

The prayers are being sent as part of the #WeStandTogether campaign being run by Open Doors, which supports persecuted Christians worldwide. 

"These parliamentarians are under incredible pressure due to COVID19," says Matthew Rees, Open Doors' head of Advocacy.

"We want to show parliamentarians that we stand with them.

"Our supporters are regularly lobbying them throughout the year on issues related to Christian persecution, it's nice to have no ulterior motive except to offer them some encouragement."

David Linden, SNP MP for Glasgow East, said he was receiving hundreds of emails from constituents every day, many of which are "really heartbreaking" to read. 

"I've got constituents who have lost their jobs, whose loved ones are dying in care homes and they can't get to see them," he said.

"If MPs get an email that says 'we're praying for you', that's hugely encouraging."

Open Doors supporter Sue Southgate is one of the many Christians who have sent a handwritten thank you to their MP. 

She said it was important to support MPs in prayer.

"I think it is really important that we include our MPs in our prayers," she said.

"We all need prayer support and our MPs need it more than ever. They have so many challenges and difficult decisions right now."