The CSW London Conference 2009 Moving testimonies... Captivating speakers… Uplifting worship… An extraordinary experience... The CSW London Conference on 10 October was certainly one to remember! It was so inspiring for us all to stand together and raise our voices for change. But if you weren’t able to be there, you won’t miss out! Here’s how the day impacted one of the delegates…
“Prayer and action makes a difference! It has made a difference, and it will continue to make a difference.” Congressman Frank Wolf
Congressman Wolf’s message was a challenge to me. It was great to hear from someone who has played such an important role in advancing religious freedom around the world. He told of his authorship of the International Religious Freedom Act, and his battle to get human rights on the agenda at the Senate; as well as how he came to feel moved to be a voice for the voiceless.
CSW has spent many years campaigning for justice – both for the perpetrators of religious persecution, and for their victims. Congressman Wolf gave us a timely reminder that “in both Old and New Testaments, the Bible teaches us to seek justice.” He read from Isaiah 59:16, “He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene;” and from Isaiah 1:17, “learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”
He also spoke about how well-respected CSW is as an effective human rights advocacy organisation, for its work on religious freedom. He remarked...
“We have many groups in the United States that work on this but there’s none more powerful, none more compelling, than Christian Solidarity.”
It’s such an encouragement to hear from a US Congressman that the integrity and accuracy of CSW’s work is esteemed in Washington and around the world!
Successes and challenges
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Tina Lambert, CSW’s Advocacy Director, reminded us of the many ways CSW has made
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a difference in 2009…
- Cuba: Together, we lobbied MEPs to protest the wrongful imprisonment of Pastor Omar Gude Pérez. As a result of this, the EU is monitoring the situation closely, and the family receives weekly phone calls from EU representatives. Hundreds of letters of encouragement and support have also been sent to the family, uplifting them in their time of need.
- Nigeria: We’ve stood in solidarity with the victims of horrific anti-Christian violence perpetrated by an Islamic fundamentalist group. We’ve shown the Christians of northern Nigeria that they’re not alone – that there is hope in their suffering.
- India: CSW’s Inclusive India campaign has played a significant part in bringing justice for the victims of anti-Christian violence in Orissa State. As well as lobbying the international community, CSW has been working with lawyers in India to support the victims and address the longer-term issues.
It was thrilling to hear the outcomes of situations that I had prayed into, and I was inspired to re-commit to supporting people of faith are still being discriminated against across the globe. I know that with our support we can make a difference, and we have the privilege to help achieve even more in 2010.
Challenged to pray for Pakistan
Mr Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs, gave a moving account of the need for prayer to uphold Pakistani Christians facing terrible persecution. We were inspired and challenged by his call to action – to give even a small amount of our time every day to raise our voices for the situation in his country. One delegate thanked us “for safeguarding [Mr Bhatti] whose appearance was courageous.” We were very much aware that the Pakistani Cabinet Minister was putting himself at risk by speaking at the CSW London Conference – I was so humbled by his willingness to do this in order to tell us about persecution of Christians in Pakistan.
Blessings in prayer and worship
Raise your voice
We heard some incredible worship from the Tribe of Judah gospel choir. I’d heard their music on CD before, but was still amazed at the blessing they were when I heard them live. As I looked around the auditorium, it was wonderful to see hundreds of people joining in with making a joyful noise unto the Lord!
Use Connect & Encourage to send letters and cards of encouragement those who are suffering persecution... or hold an International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) event in your area this November.
I also spent some time in the Creative Prayer Room during the day: a place to pray for situations of persecution around the world, and take practical actions. Many people wrote cards to those listed in our Connect & Encourage booklet, which gives addresses of persecution victims around the world. The LADS organisation of Christian lawyers in Pakistan has told us in the past how encouraged they’ve been by the hundreds of cards they’ve received from their Christian brothers and sisters in the UK. Writing to them is a really tangible way to show your support, and gives the persecuted something of infinite value – the knowledge that people around the world know about their situation and are thinking of them.
"Thanks to all the friends who have showed their love, sympathies and concern with blasphemy victims and LADS. May God Bless them all." LADS lawyers in Pakistan
In the afternoon, the Emmanuel Centre in Westminster was filled with the sound of one of the most beautiful voices I’ve ever heard – belonging to Alice Halstead, the BBC Young Chorister of the Year 2008. Alice is only fifteen, but her singing has already taken her around the UK and to several TV and radio programmes. Her Christian faith obviously means the world to her, and she told Stuart Windsor, CSW’s National Director, about her concern for the persecuted Church and how she writes cards to imprisoned Christians.
On the front lines
Our last speaker of the day was Dr Arun, whose firsthand testimony of the experience of the Chin people of Burma moved many of us to tears. Dr Arun grew up in a poor village in Chin state, but his unstoppable determination took him to education and medical school abroad, where he’s just qualified as a medical doctor. Now his mission is to take his medical skills back to his country, and to serve the people of Burma by informing the world of their plight.
Inspired to speak up
This was the second CSW London Conference I’ve attended, and I came away exhausted but elated! All of us felt the unmistakable presence of our awesome, prayer-answering God; and we all took with us a renewed determination to lift up our voices in whatever way we can, to be a voice for the voiceless, to bring change for all who suffer for their faith.
We are looking forward to raising our voices for change in the coming year.