From family stories to faithful action

Growing up, I would often hear stories about my uncle Dr Martin Panter. 

There were stories of him flying round the world offering medical help and care. There were stories of him working in Saudi Arabia, praying publicly that new Christian converts would not be executed. And there were stories of him travelling to Burma (Myanmar) to visit the Karen and Karenni tribes, who were mainly Christian and being targeted by the military Junta; he informed governments and the UN about the use of chemical weapons against the tribespeople, and was proscribed because of it by the Burmese government. 

I have another uncle who smuggled Bibles into places where access is restricted. The Bible is often banned because it changes lives and is subversive. 

Hearing these stories, I caught the bug of praying for and supporting our brothers and sisters in Christ, as Scripture exhorts us to do.

Often the marginalised don’t have a voice, or it is suppressed through fear or punishment. Christians face persecution around the world, but our compassion should be for all those whom God has created. 

For many years now, I have supported the work of CSW and others who advocate for people of all faiths or none. And in my role as a vicar, I have encouraged the churches I served to do the same.

River Parish, where I currently serve, has a history of supporting this work. I have built upon it, and we have had various speakers over the years who bring an up-to-date perspective, as well as regular issues of Response. These help us target our financial giving and prayers as a community. 

We have a regular prayer meeting most months for the persecuted Church. We write postcards, letters and emails, and make information available to the wider congregation physically and virtually.

Bringing in a guest speaker can help reinforce the support we give. It helps remind the church family that we are part of a worldwide Church community — many of whom do not have the freedom we enjoy here in England. 

We will continue to support both in prayer and financially the sterling work of CSW because it is work we believe in. The Gospel, the good news of Jesus, must be for everyone, or it is for no one. We must continue standing for truth, honesty and justice where it is short supply.

Hear more stories of justice:

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