Spring/Summer 2019 connect& encourage

Write to someone facing injustice for their beliefs. Human rights defenders in South Asia In this issue

How to connect & encourage 2 Get writing 3 How to Writing a letter 4-5 Africa & the Middle East 6-9 connect & encourage South Asia 10-11 East Asia 12-17

Many of the people on the following pages are Giulio Paletta/CSW Latin America 18-23 victims of violence, intimidation or harassment. Will my letters actually All of them need your encouragement. Using reach the intended person? Connect & Encourage, you can stand in solidarity Get writing Although some letters may be intercepted, with them in a very special way – by sending cards Is it ok to include Christian and letters of encouragement. most will reach their destination. Even if the greetings and scripture verses? letter doesn’t reach them, it can still have a powerful effect by reminding governments Receiving a personal letter reminds each person who gets Most of the people in Connect & Encourage it that someone, somewhere cares about their suffering. that their case is not going unnoticed by the are Christians, and we encourage you to rest of the world. Connect & Encourage is ideal to use as a group, but we write appropriate scripture verses and encourage you to use it wherever and however you can! Christian greetings. Writing relevant Bible Is it safe to include my name Could you use it at a creative prayer night, as a youth group references is useful for non-English speakers and address on my cards? activity, or at a church mission event? Be as creative in your so they can look up the same scripture encouragement as possible! verses in their own language. As long as you are happy to receive a reply, including your contact details isn’t However, some are not Christians – we have a problem. In fact, a pen pal relationship People have been putting Connect indicated this next to their names. Please with someone who is persecuted for their & Encourage to fantastic use! be sensitive to this when writing to them. faith can be extremely inspiring! However, If the person you are writing to is a Christian, you may receive letters requesting financial Be inspired by the experiences of churches and individuals it’s okay to send them cards that are help. Always contact CSW regarding these using Connect & Encourage throughout the booklet. obviously Christian. However, if you want requests before you respond to them. to be safe, or the person you are writing to Can I send letters to every is from a different faith, cards with colourful country where CSW works? pictures or landscapes on the front are always appreciated. We have only included people in Connect Keep in touch. Today. What if I can’t write in the & Encourage if we can verify they will receive person’s language? your cards safely. In some of the countries where we work, sending letters and cards Even if the person receiving your card could further endanger the recipients. how you’ve used it, and If you would like to order more Share More can’t read English, receiving a card can still Instead, please remember these people we’ll let others know so they can try copies of Connect & Encourage please bring them hope and encouragement by in your prayers, asking God to grant them using it in the same way! call us at 877-279-8723 or email us at reminding them that they are not forgotten. strength, protection and comfort. email us at [email protected] [email protected] However, if you can write in the language of You can find more tips for the person – even if it is just a phrase or two writing your cards at – please do! They will appreciate your effort. csw.org.uk/connectencourage

2 Pray with us www.cswusa.org/pray To download more copies visit cswusa.org/pray/connect-encourage 3 connect&encourage Writing a letter Letter 1

We’ve included some sample letters Dear [name] here to give you an idea of what to write. A personal letter with details I was deeply moved when I about your everyday life can be a heard about your situation. wonderful encouragement, but I wanted to write to you and it’s also the case that sometimes a let you know that your story is template letter may be a safer option for some of our cases, or a good start being told all over the world for you to write your own message. and that people are joining If you want to write your own message, together to pray for you. here are some general guidelines: • Just write a little bit about yourself – [name] where you live, what the area is like, your family, your hobbies, and so on. Most of the people in Connect & Encourage Letter 2 are Christians, so you could write an encouraging Bible verse in the card, and some Christian greetings such as ‘God Dear [name] bless you’ and ‘May the Lord be with you’. • Even if the person who gets your card I pray that God grants you can’t read English, receiving it will still strength and courage to encourage them by reminding them that they’re not forgotten. persevere in this terrible • Writing relevant Bible references is useful situation. Please know that for non-English speakers so they can look you have not been forgotten up the verses in their own language. by the world. • If you’re happy to receive a reply, it’s safe Send hope. Today. to include your name and address on the cards. Many people have developed [name] rewarding relationships in this way, Writing tip Many prisoners appreciate by writing to and hearing from people a postcard with a bright picture on it: try who suffer because of their faith. to find something colourful and uplifting.

4 Pray for the people you write to Pray for the people you write to 5 connect&encourage Africa and the Middle East Africa Egypt Iran Nigeria and the In the past we’ve asked you to write cards Unfortunately it isn’t safe to write to many of The Most Rev. Dr. Benjamin to Egyptians, but at this time it’s difficult the prisoners in Iran. Over the last few years Argak Kwashi and Middle East to ensure that cards will arrive in a timely we’ve seen a pattern of religious minorities Mrs Gloria Kwashi manner. Please keep praying for Egypt being arrested on national security charges, though the situation has become more and in a number of current cases it could Dear friends stable, religious minorities are still a target. put them at risk if they were to receive cards Dr. Benjamin Argak Kwashi from other countries. I use Connect and Encourage on the first day of each month, asking God Eritrea to guide me as I open the booklet. Many Eritrean Christians have been forced It’s good to browse through the pages to flee their country due to the severe oppression they face on account of their and to choose someone to whom faith. As they waited for acceptance in I can send that month. I love to think third countries, they have established their of my small card reaching a lonely, own worshipping communities. They are hurting prisoner somewhere in the essentially refugee churches. Many of these The Most Rev. Dr. Benjamin Argak Kwashi, Christians still live cautiously because the world, and I pray particularly for that Anglican Archbishop of Jos, is a prominent Eritrean authorities have been known to and eloquent advocate for Christians in individual during the month, track down and harass people even outside northern and central Nigeria. His family was trying to picture their situation. of Eritrea. The cards you’ve sent have been subjected to two brutal attacks in recent an amazing encouragement to many. years, but has made a full recovery. In Elaine Brown Please keep writing! addition to writing to the family, please pray for their safety and strength in the midst of Pitlochry Ebenezer Foundational ongoing tensions in Nigeria. Healing Church GPO 16147-00100 The Most Rev. Dr. Benjamin Argak Nairobi Kwashi and Mrs Gloria Kwashi Kenya Anglican Diocese of Jos PO Box 6283 Jos Plateau State 930001 Nigeria

6 Pray for Egypt Get our monthly prayer calendar cswusa.org/pray 7 connect&encourage Africa and the Middle East

Nigeria Sudan Hey CSW, Our partner organisation, CSW Nigeria, Christians in Sudan have faced severe works to promote religious freedom in an repression since South Sudan became an We used Connect and Encourage exceptionally difficult context and with independent nation in 2011. The Khartoum as one of our units of study Bahri Evangelical Church is one of several very few resources. However, despite the on global justice issues. We many difficulties they face, their work is churches that’s experienced acute harassment, with some of its buildings and land being spent some time looking at the growing! The head of CSW-Nigeria, Rev. Serefio Hervé Yunusa Nmadu, was recently elected General sold to Muslim investors and its leaders being persecuted church and Connect Secretary of the Evangelical Church Winning arrested. Please pray for the church and write and Encourage was a practical to encourage them via the address below: they Catholic Cathedral Bangui All (ECWA) denomination, one of the largest way for us to respond to what denominations in northern Nigeria with a would love to hear from you. membership of over five million worldwide. we learnt. The students enjoyed Please write to encourage Rev. Yunusa and his Central African the process - it was a small and team in their important work. powerful way to connect with CSW Nigeria c/o ECWA Gospel Church Republic the stories of those who suffer Lemu Road During 2017 and the start of 2018 thousands for their faith and on quite a Tudun Nupawa of people in the Central African Republic personal level, to get in touch (CAR) were displaced, and hundreds were PO Box 619 A protest at Khartoum Bahri killed during clashes between armed groups. with them and initiate some Kaduna Evangelical Church Nigeria These continued even after the signing of a kind of relationship. It was also a peace agreement in June 2017 that held for a good way to engage in informed CSW-USA number of days - both Muslims, Christians and prayer too. PO Box 50608 those belonging to animist communities have Casper, WY 82605 been displaced. Churches of all denominations Take care, are responding to support their communities and they would be enormously encouraged by Suhail - Canada Sudan Church of Christ your letters. You can write to churches in the vineyardschoolofjustice.org CAR via CSW at: This is the church that Reverend Kuwa Shamal and Reverend Hassan Abduraheem help CSW-USA lead (you may remember them from their PO Box 50608 arrest and imprisonment on unjust charges Casper, WY 82605 in 2015, and subsequent release after prayer & campaigning from CSW supporters). The church is now challenging a government decision to appoint an unelected leadership committee to run the denomination. You can write to them care of CSW at:

CSW-USA Rev. Yunusa Nmadu, CSW Nigeria PO Box 50608 Casper, WY 82605

8 Pray for Nigeria Get our monthly prayer calendar cswusa.org/pray 9 connect&encourage South Asia

South Asia John Dayal National Commission Farrukh Saif Foundation for Justice and Peace John Dayal is one of India’s most prominent () Salvance Jacob is a highly qualified and India voices on human rights, and the situation able Christian lawyer who is National head of religious minorities in particular. He is a NCJP is one of CSW’s key partner of the FSF network of Christian lawyers Nehemiah Christie member of several governmental bodies, organisations in Pakistan. Headed by Cecil in representing minorities – particularly including the national Integration Council. S Chaudhry, they are a well-organised Christians – who could otherwise find no Nehemiah is a human rights defender based The former president of the All India institution with offices in all provinces and legal assistance. The religious minorities are in Tamil Nadu. He is the Director of Legislation Catholic Union, he is also co-founder major cities of Pakistan. Please pray for the severely discriminated against in the Punjab and Regulation at the Synod of Indian and secretary general of the All India safety and security of the staff, especially courts. Salvance Jacob and others have Pentecostal churches, which has an oversight Christian Council. those who travel to rural areas to conduct been frequently threatened with violence in of 30,000 churches in India. He is a member and out of the courtroom; still they press on 505, Link Apartments workshops and training. Pray for Cecil and of the United Christian Forum for Human and help those most in need. Please pray 18, I.P Extension others in leadership that they may guide the Rights, an inter-denominational Christians for protection, safety and wisdom in their Delhi 11092 organisation and work in the right direction. network that campaigns for freedom of work. Please do write to encourage them as India Please do write to encourage the NCJP staff religion or belief. Nehemiah was a participant at the head office in . NCJP offices they advocate for those suffering from false at CSW’s South Asia ‘Defend the Defender’ , Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, accusations and the endemic prejudices in project where he was trained on international Hyderabad and Quetta will receive mail a broken justice system. advocacy. He is also the founder of the Calvary through the Lahore office. [email protected] Christian Centre in Erode. Pakistan Christian Study Centre (CSC) E 64/A, Street No. 8 Officers Colony Walton Rd. Nehemiah Christie CSC works to support churches in Lahore 18/8 Iraniyan Street-1 Pakistan gain a better understanding Pakistan Lakshmi Garden of the relationship between Islam and www.ncjp-pk.org Rangampalayam, Erode Christianity, and the particular nature of [email protected] 638008, Tamil Nadu their calling as churches in a Muslim state. The centre undertakes academic research Peace and Development I want to say thank you to into Islam and Christianity in Pakistan Foundation (PDF Pakistan) everyone“ who has sent me and their relationship. They also promote cards. We’ve received over 200 dialogue between Christians and Muslims Romana Bashir and Arif Gill are experienced to foster mutual understanding, peaceful workers in interfaith harmony. Their cards from CSW supporters. co-existence and promote cooperation in workshops on the subject, aimed at I’m so touched and it was nation-building. challenging the prevailing extremist overwhelming for me. mindsets have been very successful. Pray for The CSC would like to thank everyone who the safety and security of Romana, Arif and ” sent cards to them with such beautiful their staff. Do write to encourage the staff as Michelle Chaudhry, Pakistan thoughts. They mean a lot to them! their work actually changes mindsets and effects real change on the ground. Christian Study Centre 126 Murree Road House No. 1959/1 Rawalpindi Cantt, Pakistan Indus Rd. No.3, Tariqabad, Rawalpindi Cantt. 46000 Pakistan [email protected]

10 Get our monthly prayer calendar cswusa.org/pray Pray for Pakistan 11 connect&encourage East Asia East Asia Pakistan Bangladesh CSW currently understands that raising the William Samaddar international profile of individual prisoners in Pakistan may worsen their conditions so, on William Samaddar is the Vice-President of Dear CSW, the advice of local partners, we’ve removed the Bangladesh Baptist Church Sangha. them from this edition. At any time there are The Baptist Church Sangha (BBCS) is the You kindly sent me some hundreds of people in detention, without a fair oldest and largest Protestant denomination materials and pens for a letter trial. We urge you to pray for them and their in Bangladesh: it was founded by Dr William families whenever you can. writing session with our Sunday Michelle Chaudhry Carey in 1796. Their mission is to spread God’s word through the teachings of Jesus School. I am just writing to let Cecil and Iris Chaudhry Greetings from The Cecil & Christ and establish a strong church through you know how the young people Foundation (CICF) Iris Chaudhry Foundation! the Gospel. The BBCS ministry is established got on. We started all together throughout Bangladesh and supports a with a short talk about how wide range of activities, including a hospital, Michelle Chaudhry, the daughter of the late I’m writing to express our gratitude to all Christians can face hard times or Cecil Chaudhry (Senior), is a key partner of CSW Supporters who take out the time a leprosy hospital, three clinics and an CSW in Pakistan. to send us messages of love and support. educational program. The BBCS also runs be put in prison, and how God high schools for girls and boys, a junior high In response to the growing and neglected We are so touched and emotionally wants us to remember them. We overwhelmed! school, 64 primary schools, a school for posted 23 cards in total. needs of minorities, Michelle set up a blind girls, children’s homes with schools, foundation in memory of her parents, who We in Pakistan live under very trying and four hostels. Bangladesh has recently Here is a prayer that one of the spent their lives working to improve the circumstances, religious persecution seen a rise in violence targeting religious minority conditions in Pakistan. Pray for and intolerance at every level; there is so minorities, so William Samaddar and his children wrote: Michelle to have the necessary resources to much pain and sadness in our world that congregation would welcome your letters Father God, run her programmes and projects, and for frustrations and despair easily find their way and messages of support as they carry out protection for the CICF staff. Please write to into our lives, and it is at that time that we their vital work. Thank you for people that stay Michelle encouraging her. feel so encouraged and strengthened to strong in their faith even through Michelle told us “I want to say thank know that we have wonderful people out William Samaddar persecution. Thank you that there who care and are praying for us. Bangladesh Baptist Church, you to everyone who has sent me cards. we get the opportunity to send We’ve received over 200 cards from CSW 33 Senpara Parbata, I thank each and every one of you for your Mirpur10 Dhaka-1216, Bangladesh letters to them. Please help our supporters. I’m so touched and it was concern, your sentiments, your prayers and overwhelming for me.” your continuous support. It is people like letters to support people and Michelle and her team would be delighted you who give us the strength to carry on; it is to realise that they are very to write back to you in thanks for your people like you who give us hope that all is appreciated for how well they do. encouragement! If you’d like to receive not lost in this bigoted and intolerant world. Please bless them with your Holy a reply from them, please include your You strengthen our resolve to stand firm in Spirit to help them to stay strong. address in the card. the face of evil as we fearlessly continue our fight for a just and tolerant Pakistan. Amen 16C/1-A, Gulberg II, Lahore 54600 May God bless you all abundantly! Elizabeth Pakistan Michelle Chaudhry [email protected] President www.ci-cf.org The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF)

12 Pray for Bangladesh Pray for Burma 13 connect&encourage East Asia

Another leader at the church, Pastor Su Burma China Tianfu, was sentenced to one year in prison Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo Information courtesy of China Aid suspended for two years, with a further six Association and other sources. months’ residential surveillance, following In 2018, Reuters journalists Wa Lone and his trial on April 26, 2018. Both pastors were Kyaw Soe Oo were sentenced to seven years Gao Zhisheng also fined over US$1 million for collecting in prison after investigating the killing of ‘illegal’ donations from members of the ten Rohingya men in Rakhine State by the Gao Zhisheng, a Christian human rights congregation. Pastor Su Tianfu and Pastor Burma Army and Rakhine Buddhist villagers. lawyer, was given a three-year prison Yang Hua have filed several appeals on sentence for ‘violating the terms of his Both have young children. Please write to Pastor Yang Hua the basis that the money was voluntarily encourage them: probation’. The sentence related to his donated by church members and was only 2006 probationary sentence (three years’ used to fund church activities. All appeals Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo imprisonment and five years’ probation) for Living Stone Church were rejected. C/O The Governor of Insein Prison ‘subversion of state power’. He was released Insein Prison in August 2014, but was put under round- Living Stone Church is an unregistered Pastor Yang and Pastor Su would love Yangon the-clock surveillance. As a result of his time Protestant church in China. Several church to receive cards and messages of support Myanmar in prison, Gao has suffered from physical members have been targeted and the from you. and psychological health problems. government has tried to force Living Stone Both of them would greatly appreciate your church members to stop meeting: they prayers and letters! Gao disappeared again in August 2017. would welcome your messages of solidarity Although there are conflicting accounts of and support. Pastor Yang Hua led Living #5-5-8 Dongshan Yi Jing Yuan his whereabouts, it is likely he is being held Stone Church until he was detained in 2015 Da Xing Garden in some form of detention. He has not been for “obstructing justice” and “gathering a Yun Yang District seen since his disappearance. At the time, I was completely crowd to disturb social order” and later Guiyang , Guizhou, 550000 “illegally holding state secrets”. He was isolated“ because I had this It is not possible to write to him at this time, People’s Republic of China but if you would like to encourage his wife formally arrested in early 2016, and his stigma of having been a you can do so by tweeting encouraging lawyers told us that he had severe health Please also remember in your prayers Wang prisoner, but these letters messages to her Twitter handle @GengHe. conditions as a result of his ill treatment in Yao and Zhang Xiuhong. Wang Yao, the really kept me going because Please remember not to openly criticise detention. [or we could leave this last part friend of a Living Stone Church member, the Chinese government when you write out as it says almost the same thing below] has been tried for illegally acquiring and they showed me that even disseminating state secrets in connection to her. Please also remember the family in Almost two weeks after his trial on Dec. though people around me to the case, and given two years’ probation. your prayers. 26, 2016, Pastor Yang Hua of Living Stone Zhang Xiuhong is a deacon at the church didn’t understand what I was Church, Guizhou, was sentenced to two and You can read more about Gao and the church’s accountant. She was a half years in prison. In March 2017 Pastor doing, other people from across at csw.org.uk/gao arrested in July 2015 for “financial crimes”. In Yang Hua was reported to be “on the verge of the world were encouraging me February 2017, Zhang was sentenced to five paralysis” as a result of severe inflammation years in prison later reduced to a three year and writing to me. in his legs. ” sentence, suspended for five years. She was Vietnamese pastor Pastor Yang Hua was released from prison on released on August 7 after spending more under house arrest June 19, 2018 after completing a two and than two years in detention. a half year sentence. According to friends If you would like to write to them, please and supporters, he is in urgent need of send your cards and letters to Wang Gao’s daughter medical care and is suffering from several Hongwu at the address above. Grace Geng health problems.

14 Pray for the people you write to Get our monthly prayer calendar cswusa.org/pray 15 connect&encourage East Asia

Alimujiang Yimiti Nanle County Christian Church Following an appeal hearing in June 2018, Indonesia Truyen’s sentence was upheld. An Uyghur Christian from Xinjiang province, In November 2013 over 20 members of Ahok Pastor Ton has been transferred to prison very Alim is being detained ‘solely because of his Nanle County Christian Church, Henan, far away from his home, in a province in a faith’ according to the UN Working Group on which belongs to the state-sanctioned Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known as different part of the country. This makes it very Arbitrary Detention. Three-Self Patriotic Movement, were ‘Ahok’, was sentenced to two years’ difficult and expensive for his wife to visit him. detained after members attempted to in prison on false blasphemy charges Alimujiang was working as a project manager His wife has been able to send him some books petition a higher authority about a land in May 2017. Prior to this, he was for a British company, when it was targeted including the Bible. There has been some dispute involving the church. Lawyers Jakarta’s first non-Muslim governor in a series of closures of foreign businesses improvement in his health, but he still has pain representing the detainees were repeatedly for over fifty years. In prison, he is belonging to Christians in Xinjiang in in his leg and trouble with his kidneys. prevented from meeting their clients and separated from his family, who have September 2007. Alim was detained in foreign journalists covering the case were received threats. Your letters would His wife is very grateful for cards she has February 2008 and sentenced to 15 years in also intimidated and harassed. At the time be a huge encouragement to Ahok, received from people overseas. Her son says: prison in April 2009, in a court case that did and would show the authorities that of writing, most of the detainees have been “Please keep sending messages to my mother. not follow due procedure under Chinese or the international community hasn’t released, but Pastor Zhang Shaojie is in In her situation she could be very discouraged international law. forgotten about him. prison serving a 12 years sentence for fraud but these cards are very encouraging for her Following a failed appeal, Alim was moved and ‘gathering a crowd to disturb public and our family.” to a prison in Xinjiang’s provincial capital, order’. Pastor Zhang Shaojie’s daughter has Bpk Basuki Tjahaja Purnama Urumqi. In February 2011 it was announced said that he is suffering both mentally and Mafo Forps Brimab Polri Write to his family: that an appeal at the Higher People’s Court physically as a result of meagre food rations Jl. M. Yasin of Xinjiang had failed and his sentence and sleep deprivation in prison: please pray Kelapa Dua Nguyen Thi Lanh was upheld. urgently for his physical and mental health. Depok 16951 Yen co village, Indonesia Quang Yen Commune, In January 2013 Alim’s wife was informed Nanle County Christian Quang Xuong district, that her monthly visits to her husband would Central Sanctuary, (Zhong Xin Tang) Thanh Hoa province, be cut to one every three months. Old Theater of West Street Vietnam Vietnam Nanle Country Alimujiang Yimiti Puyang City Nguyen Trung Ton Or write to Pastor Ton via CSW Prison No. 3 of Xinjiang Henan Province 457400 No. 1339 People’s Republic of China Nguyen Trung Ton is an outspoken Dongzhan Road human rights defender and Protestant Urumqi city pastor. In February 2017 Pastor Ton Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region was kidnapped by state agents and 830013 was stripped naked, tied, beaten and People’s Republic of China abandoned in a remote mountainous location in the middle of the night. Be an encourager. Today. Both his knees were seriously injured and his lungs were damaged. He was arrested on July 30, 2017 on a charge Writing tip Please don’t mention of attempting to overthrow the state. In CSW or make any political comment in your April Nguyen Trung Ton was sentenced to twelve years’ imprisonment and two cards to Chinese or Vietnamese people – this years’ house arrest. Alimujiang Yimiti could endanger them.

16 Pray for the people you write to Write to Nguyen Trung Ton and show him you are standing with him 17 connect&encourage Latin America

Latin Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet While we thank God for this great result, Colombia further action on this hasn’t really happened America Many church leaders in Colombia face Dr. Biscet was released in early 2011 after and the leader of Maranatha, Rev Amado, severe persecution as the illegal armed serving eight years of a 25-year sentence has told us that he’s worried the local groups that are present in large parts of following a deal brokered by the Catholic government will simply quietly drop the Being part of St Peter’s card the country often severely restrict religious Church. He was imprisoned because of case. He and his congregation would really writing“ group brings us together activities. Consequently, church leaders and his human rights work. He is now at home appreciate your cards, as it’ll help them and reminds us that we are a members of their congregations frequently with his wife, Elsa, but they feel very unsafe know they’re not forgotten. face the threats just for attempting to so rarely go out except to attend church part of a worldwide church. It is practice their faith. At the moment it is too on Sundays. He is a devout Christian Primera Iglesia Bautista Maranatha a privilege to feel in some small risky to publish the names and details of and pacifist, and was nominated for a Fomento 298 e/ Martí y Luz way we can encourage fellow pastors currently under threat but we would Nobel Peace Prize in 2011. CSW has been Caballero Ciudad de Holguin, supporting Dr. Biscet for over ten years. Holguin 80100 Cuba Christians whose strength and ask you to keep them in your prayers. courage far exceeds our own. Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet and Elsa Pastor Reutilio Columbie ” Morejon Hernandez Acosta Barbara Rose Cuba 464 e/ 8va y 9va In February 2012 Pastor Reutilio Columbie Lawton was beaten so violently that he suffered CSW Ambassador Our recent report on Cuba showed that brain damage. It’s believed that this attack harassment of church leaders and human Ciudad de la Habana Cuba was a direct result of his challenge to the rights defenders continues to rise. Please authorities over their arbitrary confiscation write to the pastors and their congregations Send hope. Today. Father José Conrado of his church’s truck. He was found to encourage them and as a sign of unconscious in the street after the severe solidarity. Rev. Toledano and his family Father Conrado is a Roman Catholic Priest beating, and now struggles with his speech Please don’t mention are currently homeless because of the who has suffered harassment and threats for and with memory loss. Tip destruction of their house and confiscation CSW or make any political speaking out against human rights violations of their property so for the moment please and allowing the families of political prisoners to Pastor Reutilio Columbie comment in your cards to send cards care of Rev. de Quesada: attend Mass at his church. Casa #27 Cabaña de rodo-Monterrey Cuban people – this could Moa, Holguin Revs. Bernardo and Damaris endanger them. Padre José Conrado Cuba de Quesada Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco Calle 4ta No 27 de Paula, Calle Fernando Hernández Dagoberto Valdez Versalles, Camaguey esq. a Piro Guinart CP 70600 Trinidad, Sancti Spiritus Dagoberto Valdez is a Catholic lay Cuba Cuba leader who has been the target of threats and harassment because of his Rev. Juan Carlos Núñez Maranatha First Baptist activities in independent civil society, Maceo 19 Church of Holguin including working on independent Las Tunas, Las Tunas Christian publications. Cuba We are pleased to report that Maranatha First Baptist Church is no longer Dagoberto Valdez under threat from being closed by the Polvorín #8 e/ San Juan y Raverio government. In addition, the process to Pinar del Rio CP 20100 legalise the construction of a new, larger Cuba church building to house Maranatha’s congregation has begun. Dr. Biscet

18 Pray for Latin America Get our monthly prayer calendar cswusa.org/pray 19 connect&encourage Latin America

Pastor Onel Pastor Yuri Castellanos Perez The following pastors have all been targets Pardillo Garcia Yaguajay Baptist Church of harassment and threats and would be Calle Quintin Banderas #15 much encouraged by letters and cards: Pastor Onel Pardillo Garcia and his church Yaguajay have been under pressure and could use Sancti Spiritus CP 65100 Reverend Pastor prayer and encouragement. We can’t report Cuba Ariandys Aguiar del Sol many details of his situation at the moment but when possible we will give you further Pastors Rolando and Reverend Pastor Ariandys Aguiar updates in Connect & Encourage. Elizabet Ortiz Bode del Sol Iglesia Bautista ‘Antioquía’ de Potrerillo Ave. de Ranchuelo No.315 Calle 97a No. 3802A e/38 y 38a, Over the last decade, Rolando and Elizabet Potrerillo, Cruces Loteria, Cotorro have been involved in leading a steadily- Cienfuegos, Cuba CP14000 growing house church affiliated with the Omar Gude Pérez Havana Eastern Baptist Convention. In July 2014 Pastor Esmir Cuba they started receiving anonymous death Torreblanca Cortón Omar Gude Pérez was a threats. This is often how persecution of Rev. Roberto Rodríguez church leaders in Cuba begins. Please pray Pastor Esmir’s church was destroyed in July prominent church leader who for courage and strength for Rolando and 2014 – please write to encourage the whole served three years in prison in In an answer to prayer Reverend Rodríguez Elizabet, and for their church, as they deal church family. Cuba enduring the most brutal was cleared of the charges against him. He with this new situation. Pastor Esmir Torreblanca and his family continue to live in difficult physical and mental torture. Pastors Rolando and Cortón Iglesia Estableciendo circumstances and have been unable to el Reino de Dios He was tempted to abandon return to their home. Elizabet Ortiz Bode Cespedes 53 e/ Villuendas y Juan M. Micro 10, Distrito José Martí his faith and adopt the vicious Rvd Roberto Rodríguez y Familia Feijó, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba lifestyle of the prisoners around Princesa No. 52 e/ Laborde y Gene Jatibonico Alain Toledano him, but at his very lowest Cardenas, 42110 Sancti Spiritus point his wife, Kenia, brought Matanzas,Cuba Cuba Alain Toledano him a card from a little girl. It Edificio: 36, Escalera B, Yaguajay Baptist Church read, ‘God still has faith in you, Juana, Peru Apartamento: 2, Micro: 3, As part of a dispute over the ownership of El Salao. and I trust you.’ This simple this church’s property, the local authorities Santiago de Cuba - Cuba. message renewed Omar’s faith claimed that the church’s land was and helped him to continue to nationalised in October 1980 and that endure his captivity. Shortly they were planning to turn over the church property to two state-owned companies. afterwards, Omar was released. Subsequently, the church property We would like you to share this was confiscated and handed over to with“ the friends of CSW, what Omar Gude Pérez, Cuba government businesses. The historic church these beautiful cards mean to us. building belonged to the Western Baptist Convention prior to the Revolution. 17 years ago you were all able to get us freedom.” Juana, Peru

20 Pray for Latin America Get our weekly prayer email csw.org.uk/prayer 21 connect&encourage Latin America

Thank you to everyone. Pastor Tomaza Pastors for Change This“ encourages us to continue Mexico Victoria Ayala Zellero striving to fight the good fight Pastors for Change are an inter- Supporters can send cards of Pastor Tomaza Victoria Ayala Zellero and denominational group of church leaders of the faith encouragement to persecuted Christians in the city of Bayamo who have been ” in Mexico, including those who have been her family were evicted from their home Pastor Onel, Cuba on May 22, 2009. She is also part of the subjected to arbitrary detention, beatings forcibly displaced care of the following Apostolic Movement and pastors an and threats when carrying out public two addresses. Since there are so many, Apostolic Church in Central Elia, Las Tunas ministry, for example, during open air Apóstol Marcos Antonio and new cases occur on a regular basis it’s evangelism and street cleanup initiatives. province. They were originally told that the Perdomo Silva best to address them generally and let our house, which also served as the church, contacts in country distribute them. would be confiscated in July 2008, despite Aveida Granma Edefico 22 Apóstol Marcos is a pastor from the Attn Luis Herrera the fact that Tomaza and her husband, Apostolic Movement whose church was Jorge, had lived there for almost 30 years Apartamento J Calle Gonzalez Bocanegra No. 16-C Jesús Menéndez destroyed in July 2014. Since then he has Barrio de San Antonio, CP 29250 and were the legal owners. When they had his house taken from him, turning him were finally evicted, the authorities gave Bayamo San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas Cuba into a tenant, he has been imprisoned, his Mexico them documents prohibiting Tomaza from family have been abused, and his children holding any religious services and the Reverend Arcadis Solano have been persecuted in school for being police chief threatened to imprison her for pastor’s children. Dr. Jorge Lee Galindo ‘dangerousness’. Finally, the authorities also Reverend Arcadis has been experiencing Ave Mirador de Queretaro #21 forcibly closed their carpentry shop, leaving severe harassment from government and Apóstol Marcos Antonio Interior 51 the family homeless and depriving them of Communist party officials for many months. Perdomo Silva Presidente, Fraccionamiento El Mirador an income. In May, three officials visited him in an Ministerio Apostólico y Profético El Marques, Queretaro attempt to intimidate him and show him “Estableciendo el Reino de Dios”, CP 76240 Pastor Tomaza Victoria Ayala Zellero he was being watched. As well as this, he’s Santiago de Cuba, Mexico Iglesia Apostolica been receiving regular ‘warnings’ and has Cuba Cooperativo Agricultural Leningrado even seen a neighbour taking photos of him. Victoria de las Tunas Government officials have also pressured Pastor Roinelbis Matos Pupo Cuba members of his congregation. Despite this, Pastor Roinelbis Matos Pupo he is still determined to serve God and train Rev. Pastor Abel Calle Justo Sánchez 53 entre others to do so, too. Thank you very much for the Gonzalez Matos Ricardo Pérez y Libertad, Connect“ and Encourage cards that He specifically asked to be included in Majagua, Coronel Mejias #18-Casa Pastoral-, Connect & Encourage and would love to Ciego de Avila, I have been receiving. For me they Alto songo La maya, hear from you! 67700, are like “la lluvia en Mayo’’, which Santiago de Cuba Cuba translates as “the rain in May’’. Cuba Arcadis Rafael Solano Carretera Country Club, Daniel Josue Perez Naranjo This means they are so needed Nro 106 Km 1 and such a relief to me when El Caney Daniel Josue Perez Naranjo, leader times are hard. Thank you. Santiago de Cuba of Iglesia Bautista Mision Bereana ” Cuba (Berean Baptist Mission Church) Dagoberto Valdez, Cuba. Arroyon Chaparra Las Tunas 77300 Cuba

22 Pray for the people you write to Pray for Mexico 23 Our manifesto #9 We believe your voice holds unimaginable power and can save lives.

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