The Bible commands us to “remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners,” Hebrews 13:3. This means more than simply to ‘call to mind’. In the same way that Jesus identifies with His Body, we as members of His Body are to identify with Christian prisoners, with heart-felt understanding, “as if we ourselves were suffering”.
Multitude of Christians face criminalization for their faith and are persecuted through litigation’s and discrimination. Most of the Christians, do not have the resources to bail themselves out. Persecution Relief makes every effort to support and defend prisoners of Jesus Christ, to make a tangible impact on the welfare of Christians languishing in jails.
Most of the cases registered are false cases, because someone had a disagreement or a fight, leaving the accuser with a personal vendetta against the defendant. Most of the Christian brethren are victims of simple assault, murder, rape, discrimination, false allegations of conversion, church attacks by mobs etc.
Anti-Conversion Bill:
Jharkhand, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh etc have passed the ‘Anti-Conversion Bill’. These laws claim to merely remove the use of force, fraud and inducement from religious persuasion in the interest of public order. But these laws are extremely broad and do not clearly define it making it an arbitrary matter. It clearly violates religious freedom and is used as a pretext for serious human rights violations against religious minorities. Restrictions of this ‘ambiguous law’ are one of the many ways Christians face sanctioned hostility toward their faith
These laws make it extremely easy to retaliate which has led to the common mentality that citizens can take the law into their own hands. 80% percent of cases filed against Christians, in particular, are false cases in which parties had other ulterior motives. Often perpetrators are not held accountable for their actions, which is what further serves to feed a vigilante mentality.
Christian Missionaries risk their lives in India to bring the true hope of Jesus Christ’s to those who have none.They put their lives in danger so that individuals who are oppressed and afraid can be empowered by the truth of the gospel. The Church needs to identify with Christian prisoners.
When Saul the persecutor became Paul, the persecuted and was later imprisoned in Rome, he told the story of a ‘brother’ called Onesiphorus who, he said, had often refreshed him and was not ashamed of his imprisonment: “…when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me” 2 Timothy 1:16-18.
What does Persecution Relief do?
It is our ministry to support and defend prisoners of Jesus Christ. Persecution Relief is involved in the following:
- Persecution Relief provides initial help by identifying a Lawyer to plead the case
- If a Lawyer has already been identified but unable to meet Lawyer’s fees, Persecution Relief provides financial help to meet the same
- When the bread-winner, usually the husband has been imprisoned, we try to be in regular touch with their wives. We pray and counsel them and give them the assurance of prayer and all support needed;likewise, we also counsel the parents whose child is in jail.
- We encourage local Pastors to go and meet the inmates who are jail and comfort them by keeping them updated on the proceedings outside
- If the imprisoned inmates are ill-treated or if they face any problems inside the prison, we speak to the concerned officials to make them aware of the situation and provide relief
- We gather relevant information about a particular case and create awareness on social media and other circles to ensure it gets the attention and required action is taken
- Persecution Relief has tied up with other Advocacy organisations to take counsel and if needed and to use their advocates to defend some cases
How can you receive the Legal Counsel or Aid / whom should you contact?
To learn more about receiving Legal, Assistance, call us on our Toll-Free Number 1800-1234-436, or write to us at persecutionrelief@gmail.com
Just as Jesus exemplified in His ministry and teachings, you can help meet the physical as well as spiritual needs – free the prisoners, feed the hungry, heal the sick, care for the widows and orphans“for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me”. Matthew 25:35-40 (NKJV)