Andy Dipper is the Chief Executive of Release International (RI), a Christian organisation that seeks to help persecuted Christians. It does this by supporting pastors and Christian prisoners and their families, not just by practical means, but also by being their voice in the UK and elsewhere. And most importantly by prayer.
Andy and his family have lived and worked with different organisations in Afghanistan Nepal and Sudan. So why RI?
He says: ‘Having lived with the reality of the persecuted church in Muslim, Hindu and post-communist nations, I can empathise with how it feels to live as a Christian where freedom is restricted. I want to serve the persecuted church by speaking up on their behalf – and by bringing their hard earned insight and understanding to the church in the UK. Often, we have very little idea of what is going on in places where being Christian is very difficult.’
For example RI has recently focussed on the plight of North Korean Christians who often feel that their only recourse is to flee the repressive regime of Kim Jong Il. But life can be tough. One woman told RI; ‘Two Chinese traffickers caught us and wanted to sell us. A man came to buy me. His sisters wanted to see if I could have children. They removed my clothes and examined me.’ This lady was fortunate in that she was able to escape. Others are not so lucky.
RI also works in China, Vietnam, Eritrea, Sri Lanka and other places. All these are areas where people are arrested, or worse, for their faith. In Nigeria, Islamic militants have declared war on Christians: in these ‘protests’ Hanatu’s children were at home, but the home was attacked, set on fire, and the children prevented from leaving. They died in the fire, holding hands.
Andy says: ‘I live in a world which is increasingly intolerant, insensitive and unforgiving. Believers in Nigeria want to forgive those who destroyed their buildings and killed their children – however hard that might be, it’s God’s way. These people need our prayer indeed. I want to see RI being more effective at walking alongside those who are suffering for their faith; and I want to see God at work in a powerful and effective way.’
If you want to know more about Andy’s work with RI, see the web site www.releaseinternational.org
Tags: Persecution, Release International, RI