Send a message of hope this Christmas

Have you written your Christmas card list yet? This year, join our Love Letters campaign and send a message of encouragement to someone experiencing harassment or imprisonment because of their faith. We know that many of you already include some of the people we work with in your personal lists, and we’re so grateful. To make it a little easier this year, here’s a list of some of the people the Love Letters campaign has featured so far, who would love to hear from you this Christmas:

Pastor Wang Yi and Early Rain Church, China

Pastor Wang Yi is the head of Early Rain Church. In December 2018 over 100 church members were arrested, including church leaders and seminary students. Several of those arrested are still in detention, including Pastor Wang Yi.

The remaining members of Early Rain Church are working hard to keep their community going, though their reduced numbers and resources will likely make Christmas especially difficult for them. Your card will be a huge encouragement.

Please send your card to: Early Rain Church c /o CSW PO Box 99, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 3YF

Ruth and Joel Rigal, Cuba

Ruth and Joel are the children of Reverend Ramon Rigal and Adya Expósito. They attend school online – their parents didn’t want to send their children to a state-run school in Cuba where they would be bullied because of their beliefs.

However, protecting Ruth and Joel in this manner is illegal in Cuba. Parents are legally required to send their children to state-run schools where, their father worries, they will be singled out for harassment by both staff and pupils because he is a church leader. Make their Christmas special by sending a card.

Ruth and Joel aren’t able to live in the same house at the moment, so please write separate cards to each of them.

Please send your card to:

Ruth Rigal c/o CSW PO Box 99, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 3YF

Joel Rigal c/o CSW PO Box 99, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 3YF

Rebecca Sharibu, Nigeria

Rebecca is likely to spend another Christmas without her daughter Leah, who was one of 110 girls abducted from their school in Dapchi, Nigeria by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists – an offshoot of Boko Haram – in February 2018.

The next month, following negotiations with the government, the surviving girls were put into trucks to go home. However, Leah wasn’t among them. She wasn’t released because she refused to convert in exchange for her freedom. She remains a prisoner. Rebecca, her husband Nathan, and Leah’s brother Donald, will be spending their second Christmas waiting for Leah to come home.

Please send your card to: Rebecca Sharibu c/o CSW PO Box 99, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 3YF

These are just a few of the people you can write to – find the full list at csw.org.uk/connectencourage