CSW.

Hi All, In January, I met Maria Concepción in Hidalgo, Mexico. Many of you will remember praying for her after she was the victim of a violent attack that left her in intensive care. Maria Concepción is a Baptist, a religious minority in her hometown of Rancho Nuevo, where local authorities have repeatedly attempted to force members of the religious minority to participate in Roman Catholic religious festivals and acts of worship. In fact, community leaders from the majority religion took part in the attack on her.   Others from the religious minority have also been beaten, barred from accessing medical care and sacked from their jobs. Their children cannot attend the local school.  Your gift of £4 will help us raise the cases of religious minorities around the world until they are free to practise their faith without fear. Maria Concepción told me her health was much improved but that she was experiencing problems with her eyes. Please continue to pray for her. As I sat with Maria Concepción – grateful that she was alive - and spoke with others in the town, I saw glimmers of hope. Everyone agrees that training religious and community leaders to understand the rights of minority groups is desperately needed. CSW has been invited to lead or contribute to such training in at least three states. There is much to do, the situation is extremely complex, but there is a willingness from the religious affairs teams in Hidalgo and Oaxaca to work towards change and CSW is extremely well positioned to help.  We are only able to provide training to communities around the world and help people like Maria Concepción because of the generosity of people like you. Nothing will happen unless those with the power to intervene hear about the attacks and abuses that people are facing. You can join us in raising awareness of their stories and holding people to account in places like the United Nations and the European Union. Give £4 and play your part in ensuring violations against religious minorities are reported and recorded to ensure future accountability. In my time at CSW I have heard so many stories of cruelty and injustice. It makes me sad and angry. But there are always small victories and some big breakthroughs along the way.  I thank God that there is hope and that he invites us to be a part of bringing it to the world. Grace and peace, Scot Bower CEO PS. Give £4, or whatever you can, and help bring hope to people who are being targeted for their beliefs around the world.