You are not alone

Lape Odebode, London

Think.

Think about how many times you go to church in a year; how many times you mention God's name in everyday conversation; how many times you've taken your bible out on a bus or let someone know that you were on the way to church; how many times you've indicated 'Christian' on a form, gone into a Christian book shop or reached out to someone, anyone, in the world around you.

Now imagine that every time you experienced one of those situations, your life or the life of a family member, someone who you deeply cherish, was placed at risk.

Imagine losing your job because you follow Christ, losing your home, having your trusted friends and friendly neighbours ignore you, reject you or even actively seek to make your live unbearable because of one single name.

Jesus.

And not used as a curse word but as a declaration of your faith in the One who saved you.

Imagine being uncertain about whether your house would still be standing when you get home each day, whether you will still own your belongings or whether they will have been destroyed along with your sense of safety- in a purposely started fire aimed at wiping out your existence,

your witness.

Contemplate the possible anxiety of not knowing whether your child would meet you at the gate after school or whether they will have been taken, snatched by those who hate you because they hate what you stand for, Your God.

The fear, the pressure to conform, to give up, to release your hold on the One who gave you life. The sense of isolation, of being rejected. The early morning secret journeys to secret locations to meet secretly with others who are facing the same struggle every day.

The planning, the risk, but the deep yearning inside to really suffer for the One who suffered for you first, the One whose love You desperately crave and long to show and express to the very ones who persecute you.

Hope is not just a concept but something that you hold on to everyday, as you walk and wait.

You're pressed and persecuted yet no matter what they say- you are not abandoned.

You are not forgotten.

Mothers who have lost their husbands, fathers who have been captured, sisters in hiding, brothers on the run, children pushed aside, congregations devoured, pastors discouraged, advocates oppressed.

You are remembered because you are family.

You are not alone and your reward will be great, just hold on. Hold tight, and as you do, as you wait, as you stand, we stand with you.

Though our skin may reflect different shades, though our accents may contain different tones, though the reality of what you face every day may be foreign to us, we choose to stand.

To remember you, and act.

We chose to bring you before the Father, identify with your lives, speak out and act.

In our freedom we remember your captivity in the world, but great and immense freedom in Christ. In the openness that we currently experience we chose to acknowledge your loved ones who have been abused and attacked for the faith that we also share.

Persecuted family we stand and we pray that you stand. We hope, as you do, believing that the One who gave you this passion- this gift, will sustain you, keep you and ignite our hearts also to stand, think, imagine and remember.

A faith worth dying for, a promise worth enduring for, a hope so strong.

We stand with you, you are not alone.