Bread
When things go wrong, I phone my dad. I’ve phoned him while he’s in meetings to tell him that I just can’t do my coursework. I’ve called him while he’s driving, because I just spoke to the boy I like and had butterflies in my tummy! I’ve phoned him while I was jumping on my bed because I just got offered to join a trip to Uganda! But whatever I need, he always tries to help.
Since joining Release and going on my journey with persecuted Christians, I’ve found myself asking God to teach me about something that I thought I understood. Kids get taught that prayer is like talking to your Daddy who loves you so much! Ask for anything you need, and he’s right there for you. But I’m wondering now what that really looks like. What is it that we’re meant to pray for?
Angry at God
Last week, the family that I’m staying with were thrown into a really difficult time as their middle daughter (who is 9 years old) was suddenly taken to hospital with a collapsed lung. It really shook me. This family is on the front line of serving persecuted Christians across the world. They are red hot. So why? Why would God let their little one get ill? Surely He protects his workers. Surely He looks out for their children?
Red Hot
I don’t live round here. The Release Potential office is in a quiet street somewhere near London. I am from Nottingham – somewhere in the Midlands. So I’ve been making the most of being in London and seeing my ‘southern friends’ during my weekends off.
This weekend, I went to a friend's 21st birthday party, where I met a fantastic girl called Santosh. Santosh just asked me, straight out, ‘So who’s your Christian hero then, someone you really look up to?’ She’s a bold and beautiful girl! I told her about the story of a missionary in Africa, called Simon Guillebaud, who spent 10 years in war torn central Africa, not expecting to reach age 30 but loving people and preaching Jesus. She liked the sound of his work! ‘Yeah!’ She said, ‘It’s like that verse in Revelation, if you’re not hot or cold but just lukewarm, God’s not interested! That man (Simon) sounds red hot!'
I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, 'I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone,' oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.
Revelation 3:15-16 The Message
If there’s one thing I want to be, it’s red hot. But we all know about the dangers of red hot things, don’t we… you can get burnt. Are we prepared to give God permission to rule our whole life, not knowing what that will look like? Not knowing if we’ll reach 30, or even 21…
The persecuted brothers and sisters I’ve met and heard stories about in these past weeks strike me as the best antidotes to lukewarm faith. When I see that they’ll look a police officer in the face and refuse to deny Jesus, even when that means prison or even death – how can I not step up to the plate? How can I continue to walk my race, not run it – wholeheartedly, with all I’ve got, taking risks and steps of faith.
Because “Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not mine, but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.” (Galatians 2:20 The Message) It’s a beautiful challenge.
Lucy – @ Release Potential on work experience
Who is Lucy?
A couple of months ago twenty-one year old Lucy got in touch with Release; she wanted to find out a bit about what we did, how we did it and why we did it.
So we said "Okay, come and hang out with us!" She packed her bags, left her hometown of Nottingham and joined us for a couple of weeks of work experience!
Praise God for released Iranian Christian!
Praise God!
Pastor Vahik Abrahamian, a 45-year-old Armenian Christian from Iran, was released from prison on Monday 29 August, after suffering greatly behind bars for a year, and has now rejoined his family.
FRESH
We are so excited to announce that this autumn Release Potential will be joining forces with Share Jesus International and Tearfund to bring you FRESH!
Gyeong Ju Son’s story
Rufus the Centurion
Did you miss this year's EasterLIVE on twitter? Over 70 different profiles tweeted over 4800 tweets each telling the Easter Story from a different perspective. It was pretty awesome!
Here at RP we told the Easter Story from the point of view of Rufus, a Roman Centurion; he's not shy about sharing his opinion! Journey with him through the week as this rough, ruthless & rugged family man shares his thoughts on who "that religious bloke" is…
Hear Nigeria’s Story of Healing…
At Release we hear stories of persecution around the world every day. Our partners engage with Christians suffering extreme hardships, providing them with the essential support they desperately need. For young people, trauma can be especially difficult to deal with, as it is often their parents or extended family that have been targeted, attacked or killed due to persecution.
How to design a T-shirt
This is a great way to creatively express yourself and in doing so bless someone else!
Difficulty: Medium/Difficult
