Thursday, 5th April 2007

*Barnabas Fund launches a new campaign to call on the other nine to care more for their suffering brothers and sisters*

If one part of the Body of Christ suffers, then every part suffers (1 Cor 12.26)

– that’s what the Bible says. But for many Christians living in places where persecution seems far off both physically and spiritually, it can be difficult to relate to the suffering of our brothers and sisters.

To help, Barnabas Fund has created “The Other Nine” campaign based around the fact that some 200 million Christians [1] are persecuted because they choose to follow our Lord Jesus Christ.

Globally, that’s as many as one Christian in every ten. [1]

Persecution takes many forms, and the intensity varies greatly, but for the one in ten being a Christian can mean:

* You live in daily fear of violence, kidnap, rape or even death. * Talking to a non-Christian friend about Jesus could land you in jail. * You live in utter poverty, trapped by a system which limits your opportunities to break free. * You carry a social stigma which affects the jobs you can get, or how your children are treated in school. * The police are not interested in helping you, and may even arrest you if you are the victim. * In a shari’a (Islamic law) court your testimony can be worth less when compared with the testimony of a Muslim witness

These people are our family. While they are the one in ten, we are the other nine – we live with freedoms they are often denied.

So what does all this mean for the Church in the West today? Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Fund explains:

“As the other nine, we first need to recognise that we are indeed a global family and that we have a duty to care for our brothers and sisters in Christ. As Paul explains in his letter to the Galatians:

‘Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers’ (Galatians 6.10)

Barnabas Fund is here to give Christians in the UK and other Western environments the opportunity to do the ‘especially’. We support projects in over 50 countries worldwide – our focus is on strengthening the existing local church where it is under the pressure of persecution, particularly in Muslim majority areas.

I pray that this campaign will help Christians realise the scale of persecution globally and help them identify with their suffering brothers and sisters.”

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A free “The Other Nine” resource pack is available from Barnabas Fund, which includes a DVD, prayer cards and other resources. Telephone UK 08700 603 900 or Fund, The Old Rectory, River Street, Pewsey, Wiltshire SN9 5DB. From overseas please call +44 1672 564 938.

Barnabas Fund provides practical aid for persecuted Christians in more than 50 different countries.

[1] – Source statistics compiled from Operation World, World Evangelical Alliance.

Links:

Daily Prayer Point <http://www.barnabasfund.org/news/news_03.php> Prayer Focus Update <http://www.barnabasfund.org/support/pfu.php> Barnabas Aid Online <http://www.barnabasfund.org/news/news_01.php> The Right to Justice Campaign <http://www.righttojustice.org> Contact Barnabas Fund <http://www.barnabasfund.org/about/about_01.php>

Latest appeal : *Easter Appeal 2007* More info <http://www.barnabasfund.org/projects/projects_01.php> <http://www.barnabasfund.org/projects/projects_01.php>

Right to Justice <http://www.righttojustice.org> Sign the petition today <http://www.righttojustice.org>

*BARNABAS FUND EMAIL NEWS SERVICE*

Barnabas Fund’s email news service provides the media and our supporters with urgent news briefs concerning suffering Christians around the world. If you would like to receive news briefs from Barnabas Fund please contact us with your name, postal and email addresses. Further details, quotes and photos on this and other stories may be available for news editors on request. Barnabas Fund works to support Christian communities around the world where they are facing poverty and persecution.