At our Sunday morning
service, we were privileged to hear from Revd Stuart Windsor the National Director of
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) and we also saw one of their short videos.
Stuart challenged us to follow the calls of the Christians in the early church be
prayerful and concerned for other Christians across the world who are suffering for
their faith. He highlighted particular problems in Eritrea, Northern Nigeria
and North Korea. In North Korea, people are put in prison without trial, simply
for having friends or family who are Christians and they may bear children who reach
adult life without leaving prison.
Christians may be in very
difficult positions, needing relief and assistance, but that is not the role of
CSW. Theirs is one of advocacy – of claiming the Human Rights of religious conviction and
conversion. They interact with government leaders, UN organisations and NGOs.
Whilst a Christian organisation, CSW upholds the rights of all religions to
choose and practice their faith.
CSW is currently running “Operation
18”. This relates to article 18 in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights,” which
guarantees the rights to choose and to change one’s religion. CSW is organising
a petition upholding the right of everyone to choose and practice their faith. The
Operation 18 petition will be delivered to: Baroness Warsi, UK Minister for
Faith & Communities, Eileen Donahoe, US Mission to the UN in Geneva, Baroness
Ashton, High Representative for the EU, and to the Heads of Mission to the UN
for Australia, Brazil & Canada.
All church members were
encouraged to sign postcards which were part of this petition. If you wish to know more,
there are links as follows:
Christian Solidarity
Worldwide. HomepageThe “Operation 18” petition.
We pray this petition may
influence world leaders such that the plight of many, including Christians, may
be alleviated.
