Voice.

If the layout of this email looks wrong we recommend that you View this email in your browser   Release International is committed to bringing the voice of our persecuted Christian family to churches and supporters across the regions of the UK. We have a dedicated team of regional Engagement Managers who regularly visit churches, attend Christian conferences and organise local events. Allister du Plessis is Release International's Engagement Manager for Central England & Wales.

ALLISTER'S NEWS | JUNE 2025 Dear Friend, 'I will teach you the way you should go…'  Psalm 32:8 I will never forget interviewing Luka in Nigeria, a man driven out of his village when it was attacked by Fulani militants. He escaped the village with his only surviving child, Magnificent, who was left with life-changing injuries.  As Christians in the UK, it is unlikely that we will have to flee our homes because of persecution. However, sometimes we might feel like running away from the difficulties of life. Maybe our spouse has died, we have lost our job, we develop health problems or have financial difficulties. We do not know what is ahead and are not sure of our path. Thankfully, however, we have God as our refuge and guide. Though we may not realise it at the time, He is with us even in the darkest moments of life.  From a place of doubting God after the attack on his village, the Lord has given Luka the compassion to want to help other Christians who have fled persecution. God can turn our most difficult times into ones of hope and purpose that can help others who are suffering. Previously:   May was a very busy month where I clocked up over 1,000 miles travelling between various engagements in the region! The highlight was exhibiting at the Elim Leader’s Summit in Harrogate with more than 500 pastors, followed by the Baptist Assembly in Birmingham with another 600 pastors. At both events I had so many good conversations, drawing attention to Release International’s work across the world. Our Prayer Map was, in particular, very popular. Several pastors signed up to receive our information and were very interested in having a speaker from Release International visit their church.   Coming Up:   ‘If God is sovereign, why does he allow the awful persecution of his beloved children?’ This is the question that Release International’s Kenneth Harrod wrestles with in his new book, Providence and Persecution. To mark the launch of the book we are hosting a special online event with a panel of guests including Release International partner Archbishop Ben Kwashi from Nigeria, and FIEC National Director, John Stevens, who will discuss Providence and Persecution and the important issues it raises. Afterwards there will be an opportunity to submit your own questions to the panel and the book will be available to buy on a special offer. The online event takes place on Tuesday, June 24, at 8pm. Click here to book your tickets. This summer we’ll again be exhibiting at the New Wine Festival. If you happen to be there, then please do come and say ‘hello’ to our team. I will be on duty, along with other staff and volunteers. Like last year, we will have a coffee stand in the food court area with samples of our very own Hazaq Coffee, the proceeds of which go directly to our ministry. One further bookmark for your diaries: we are very excited to be welcoming former prisoner of faith Andrew Brunson and his wife Norine to the UK in November as part of our focus on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP). Andrew and Norine served as long term missionaries in Turkey before being arrested and falsely accused of terrorism in 2016. For the next two years, Andrew was held in Turkish prisons. Following a worldwide prayer movement, he was dramatically released in 2018. Look out for details of confirmed dates in Wales and the Midlands soon.  My confirmed speaking engagements for the next period are listed below: June 29 | Preaching at St Hilda’s, Manchester July 6 | Preaching at Machynlleth Community Church, Wales July 13 | Preaching at Millpool Hill Church, Birmingham July 29 – August 5 | Exhibiting at New Wine Festival  Pray: Give thanks that Christianity continues to thrive in places of great persecution. Give thanks that I had the opportunity to be amongst more than 1,000 pastors in May. Pray for our Christian brothers and sisters in Nigeria, like Luka, who face sustained and violent persecution. Pray for all the visits I make in the region, including the time at New Wine, later this summer. As always, thank you so much for your ongoing prayers and support. Allister du Plessis Engagement Manager, Central England & Wales